Sellers International Youth Band

Sellers International Youth Band was formed in May 1998 when a lottery grant for new instruments for the Sellers International Band allowed David Armitage, Chairman of Sellers International, to make a full set of instruments available for the new group. Many of the young people who attended the first rehearsal had never played a brass instrument before. The band's concert debut was in December 1998 at Dewsbury Town Hall when it appeared alongside the Sellers International Band.

Ex Black Dyke horn player, David Essex was the founding conductor of the band and led the band through its infancy for a number of years. During this time Sellers Horn player Jim Fletcher gave valuable assistance, tutoring many of the young musicians. Tuba player Richard Wilton succeeded David for a brief period before current Musical Director Mark Bousie took over the baton in May 2002. Mark was the Principal Euphonium of the Sellers International Band for over 10 years and now occupies the same position with the Fairey Band.

Since its formation, the band has gone from strength to strength, increasing in membership and gaining prizes at many local and national youth competitions.

2007 was a very successful year for the Band, including 4^th place at the Action Research UK Youth Entertainment Championship, a Gold Award in the Community Section of the National Youth Championships, and 1^st prizes at the Pontins British Open Championship and Tameside Youth Festival. In recognition of its achievements, Sellers International Youth Band was named Best Lower Section/Youth Band in the 2007 awards of the leading brass band website, 4barsrest.com.

2008 saw the band attain its best ever result at the two ‘major' contests of the year: 3^rd place at both the Action Research UK Youth Entertainment Championship in Blackpool and the National Youth Championships.

Sellers International Youth Band has also commissioned a number of new pieces of music from one of the countries leading young composers, Peter Meechan: ‘The Chronicles of Odersfelt ‘ (2005), Fanfare for a Festival (2007), Apex (2007) and Curtain Call (2008).

The Band is also proud that a number of its players are also members of both the National Childrens' and National Youth Brass Bands of Great Britain. In 2008 Principal Cornet Joe Murray held the same position with the National Youth Brass Band and solo cornet player Jamie Smith was also the Principal Cornet of the National Childrens' Brass Band.

2009 was undoubtedly a very exciting year for Sellers International Youth Band as alongside its concert and competition appearances the band launched its first ever CD titled Apex and also embark on its first foreign trip: a four day concert tour of Belgium in April. In April the band became National Champions when they won the National Youth Championship Advanced Section at the RNCM Manchester.

2010 already seems like it is going to be a busy year for the band, with the appointment of Alex Kerwin as the bands new Musical Director.

The band is in constant demand to give concerts around West Yorkshire and a significant amount of its work is dedicated to raising money for charity. Since its formation the group has helped to raise over £100,000 for good causes.