NYBBW players to represent Wales as part the 2026 European Youth Brass Band

National Youth Arts Wales (NYAW) is excited to announce that three National Youth Brass Band of Wales (NYBBW) members – Dylan Savage, Matthew Slade and Elis Jones – have been selected to represent Wales as part of the 22nd European Youth Brass Band (EYBB) which will meet this year in Linz, Austria.  

Every year, the European Brass Band Association brings together some of Europe’s finest young brass musicians to form the EYBB, who meet and rehearse together for just a week before performing several concerts, including one as part of the prestigious European Brass Band Championships.  The Band has worked with many prestigious Brass Band conductors, including previous NYBBW conductors Erik Janssen and Philip Harper, who returns to lead the NYBBW this year.  This year, hugely experienced Austrian conductor - Karl Geroldinger - will lead the EYBB for the second time, having first conducted them in 2010. 

Musicians go through a multi-stage selection process with each member country first nominating a few musicians to represent them. These musicians then submit “audition” videos for final selection. Wales has had good representation in each of the previous European Youth Brass Bands, and we are delighted that once again all three of our nominations have been selected for membership. Dylan who plays cornet, Matthew on Baritone and Elis on Bass, will all be travelling to Linz this April.  

Matthew Jones, Senior Producer and Deputy Chief Executive of NYAW, said: “Dylan, Matthew and Elis are not only very fine musicians, but they have also shown dedication to their local bands and of course the National Youth Brass Band of Wales over a number of years. I’m delighted that all three have been selected to join the EYBB and have no doubt that they will represent themselves, their bands and Wales brilliantly. It will be a fantastic opportunity for them to perform alongside musicians from so many different countries and backgrounds, and we look forward to hearing all about it when they come back to NYBBW this summer.”  

Before Dylan, Matthew and Elis team up with their peers from across Europe however, they will join up with their fellow members of the 2026 National Youth Brass Band of Wales this Easter holidays for its first rehearsals of this year’s exciting programme.  

For more updates and to follow the incredible journey of our NYBBW ambassadors, make sure you follow us on social media @nationalyouthartswales and @nationalyouthbrassbandofwales.