The 21st European Youth Brass Band will be gathering in Stavanger 3 – 11 May 2025.
The conductor, accomodation and rehearsal venue looks promising and will ensure that the players will have an amazing week in Stavanger.
Line-up players
The European Brass Band Association is pleased to announce the line-up of players who willform the 2025 European Youth Brass Band (EYBB) in Stavanger.
This year will see the 21st edition. 34 players aged between 18 and 22, from 15 different countries, will come to Stavanger, Norway in the week prior to the 2025 European Brass Band Championships.
The week will start on Saturday 3 May with seating auditions and first rehearsal under the baton of Margie Antrobus. She has together with EBBA’s Chris King chosen the repertoire described as a musical journey from the early 1900s to the current date. The thought behind the choices is to serve up a varied program containing old and new traditions and flavours. There is a mixture of original compositions and more recent arrangements.
During the week the EYBB will have a very busy schedule with rehearsals and concerts and social events. The players will also be able to enjoy listening to the very best bands in the World during the 46th EBBC on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 May.
The annual highlight will be the band’s participation in the Gala Concert on Saturday evening. The week closes with a Farewell Concert following the European Youth Brass Band Contest on Sunday 11 May.
Margie S. Antrobus – conductor EYBB 2025
Margie S. Antrobus is a conductor, teacher at Manger Folkehøgskule, adjudicator and baritone player. She is an experienced conductor and has conducted bands such as Hordaland Youth brass band, Kleppe musikklag, Manger Old Star brass, Flesland Musikklag and is a member of the conductor team for the Manger folkehøgskule brass band course.
Conducting highlights are winning 1st section of the entertainment contest Siddis brass with Flesland Musikklag in 2022, and representing her father by conducting Nimrod at Manger Musikklag’s centenary anniversary.
Among contests she has adjudicated are the Norwegian wind band nationals, Danish brass band nationals, Brass In Concert, Dutch Open and the European brass band championship.
As a player, Margie is hugely respected in the brass band community. She got her Bachelor in band musicianship from The University of Salford, a Master of Music at university of Manchester and has played Solo Baritone with the award-winning Yorkshire Building Society Band, as well as spending several years with Manger Musikklag.
She is also a member of the Yamaha Neo Ensemble and a Yamaha ambassador.
Accomodation
The players in the European Youth Brass Band will be staying at the Viste beach hotel.
The hotel is one of three unique beach hotels in Norway with a great location at the beach called “Viste” located in Randaberg.
The hotel has 26 rooms in historic surroundings on the beachfront and within a short distance to Stavanger and Sola.
Find peace, enjoy nature and lower your shoulders with a walk along the beach in historic surroundings.
The hotel also has 7 conference rooms.
For more information: https://vistestrandhotell
Historical attractions near the hotel:
Vistehola is close to the hotel. More info here
Vistnestunet from about 1897. More info here.
Rehearsal venue
The band will have their rehearsals in a large hall with great acoustic.
The venue, which was built in 2021, is designed as a local cultural arena where concerts, conferences, parties and other events are held for the residents of the local community. The main hall where the band will have their rehearsals has a capacity of 450 people. The Stavanger Brass Band practices here before the entertainment competition Siddis brass, and before the Norwegian national championship.
Performances
As previous years, the EYBB is an important part of the championships. The band will play the second half of the final of the European Conductors Competition, they will take part in the Opening Ceremony, Saturday Gala Concert and finish off with a concert and award ceremony for the European Youth Brass Band Contest Sunday 11 May.
In addition they will play a concert in Stavanger’s neighbour town Sandnes. This concert is organised by Riska Brass Band, and the youth county band of Rogaland will also perform at the concert.