Rochdale Youth Big Bands

Photos of our Rochdale Borough Youth Band and the Rochdale Youth Wind Band performing in the Music For Youth Nationals (2007) in Birmingham have been posted to the Photo Website (follow the menu on the left side of the screen).  

The videos of our Big Bands and Just Four have received over 10,000 viewings on YouTube. This is amazing and can only do our young musicians and the town of Rochdale good. More details on the 'Latest News' menu.

Photographs of Rochdale Borough Youth Band recently winning (yet again!) the Entertainment Championship of Great Britain have been posted to the photo section ... just follow the menu on the left-hand side of this page.

Check out the local music events in the 'Useful Links & Goodies' section to find events that may be useful to you and your music.

We have three big bands, the Junior, Intermediate and Youth. The Junior and Intermediate Big Bands rehearse on a monday evening with their band leader Ian Nelson, whilst the Youth Big Band rehearse on a Saturday morning with their band leader Alec Wares. the majority of the musicians are multi-instrumentalists and also play in a number of other bands at the Music Centre e.g. Brass Band, Orchestra, Wind Band etc. so all in all they get a lot of practice. All three big bands play regular gigs for churches, community, charity and masonic events along with national competitions.

The Rochdale Youth Big Band has also played at the World premier of the film "The Jealous God". Not only did they entertain the audience in the cinema itself, but were also featured in the soundtrack playing a Glen Miller style number called "Blush", composed by their Music Director, Alec Wares and  "Laura", composed by the bands' piano player Oliver Kraweckyj and performed by the rock group Layered of which Oliver is also the keyboard player. Layered also consists of other people who either are, or have been members of the Rochdale Youth Big Band.