Camborne Brass - About Us

Camborne Youth Band is known as one of the best youth brass bands in the UK, performing concerts and competing in contest across Cornwall and beyond. Although in existence for many years, the band was at a low ebb when Alan Pope became Musical Director in 1999. His enthusiasm and commitment to encouraging and teaching young people has since ensured that the Camborne Youth organisation has gone from strength to strength. Between 2004 and 2011, Alan led the band to an incredible seven wins at the National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. They have also been crowned champions of Cornwall, the South West, Greater Gwent, and the West of England Bandmen's Festival at Bugle.

Camborne Junior Contesting Band was formed in 2008, giving parents with previous experience the opportunity to play in the same band as their children. The Junior Contesting Band won the Junior Section of the Cornwall Brass Band Championships in 2008. They then went on to win the Ungraded Section of the Cornwall Championships in 2011, and later the Fourth Section of the West of England Regional Championships in 2013.

In 2014 the band came third in the Fourth Section of the West of England Regional Championships. They won the Fourth Section of the West of England Bandsmen’s Festival in June and then took sixth place in the same section at the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. They also commemorated the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War by going on tour to Belgium in August, and playing at the Menin Gate.

The following year Camborne Junior Contesting Band achieved second place in the Third Section of the West of England Regional Championships in March. They then won the Third Section of the West of England Bandmen’s Festival at Bugle in June, following this success with a remarkable second place at the National Brass Band Championships.

In 2016 Camborne Junior Contesting Band was promoted to the Second Section, and competed in the West of England Regional Championships again in March 2017, followed by the West of England Bandsmen’s Festival. In June they took part in the famous Whit Friday Marches in Saddleworth for the first time.

2018 saw Camborne Junior Contesting Band add to their collection of trophies at the West of England Bandsmen’s Festival. In August that year they returned to Belgium to play once more at the Menin Gate, a memorable experience which received extensive media coverage.

In March 2020 the band competed for the first time in the First Section of the West of England Regional Championships. They retained their position there in 2022 and will be returning in 2023. In autumn 2022 Camborne Junior Contesting Band made the decision to change their name to Camborne Brass inc. Youth Band.

Camborne Brass and Youth Bands are incorporated in the registered charity Camborne Town Band Music Society.

Registered charity name: Camborne Town Band Music Society | Registration charity number: 1135992

A company limited by guarantee | Company registration number: 6824932.

Registered office: The Bandroom, Camborne Community Centre, South Terrace, Camborne, Cornwall TR14 8SU