Sydney Youth Band

The Sydney Youth Band of the Salvation Army (or SYB) is a brass band based in Sydney New South Wales, whose membership is that of people aged 13–30. It is primarily made up of Salvation Army soldiers, and others that attend The Salvation Army. It is financed by the Salvation Army's Sydney-East Illawarra Division but serves more as a regional youth band for the Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong area. It is the only Salvation Army combined brass band of its type in Australia.

The band

The band is made up of young people who are, in some way, affiliated with The Salvation Army through both attendance and active participation in a local corps. It is a moderately sized band and consists of:

• 11 cornets
• 1 Eb soprano cornet
• 1 flugel horn
• 4 tenor horns
• 2 Baritones
• 4 trombones
• 1 bass trombone
• 2 euphoniums
• 4 EEb and BBb basses
• percussion

These figures generally remain consistent.

Bandmasters

The Band Executive

As at 1 January 2011, the SYB band executive is:

Notable Performances & Tours

SYB in an alley in Melbourne during their tour in 2008.

• SYB performed with the Melbourne Staff Band^[1][2] when they toured in 2007.

• They participated in 2007's Salvation Army commissioning weekend activities playing in a concert with Sydney Congress Hall Band, The Sydney Veterans Band and Brisbane City Temple Band. These four bands then combined to make a "mass band" celebrating Sydney Congress Hall's 125th anniversary celebrations.

• The band performed at 2008's World Youth Day celebrations in front of 200,000 people. Specifically, at the re-enactment of the Stations of the Cross at Barangaroo on Friday 18 July.^[3]

• A group of six performers from the band performed the Salvation Army hymn tune Abide With Me on Channel Seven's Sunrise morning program.^[4][5]

• The band toured Victoria from the 29th to 31 August in 2008. They visited South Barwon and Warragul Corps as well as Melbourne City Temple.^[6]

• SYB played with James Morrison and The Onfire Big Band at Sydney Congress Hall in November 2008, for a Christmas concert.

• The 'PNG Tour 09', which commenced in early July '09, saw the band playing their unique style of Brass in crowds of up to 3000+ people, they were the first foreign Salvation Army band to tour Papua New Guinea since The Salvation Army, Campsie Corps Band in 1985.

Cancelled Tours

The band's tour of Chile in 2009 was launched at the Sydney East Illawarra Divisional rally at Sydney Congress Hall on 2 November 2008. The band was to play at the 'Centenary Of The Salvation Army in Chile' celebrations from 22 July to 8 August 2009. This tour was canceled in early 2009 and the band toured Papua New Guinea instead.

References