TALENTED brass and percussion players from across Cornwall are being invited to audition for one of two prestigious national youth brass bands. 

The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB) is open to musicians aged 12 to 18 and the National Children's Brass Band of Great Britain (NCBBGB) is open to musicians aged eight to 14. 

The auditions will be held in the St Dennis bandroom in St Austell on Saturday, September 17.

NYBBGB, which has 80 members, holds two one-week intensive residential courses each year and the 56-strong NCBBGB holds an annual one-week intensive course.

The current courses are beginning in Derbyshire this week.

Courses are led by internationally renowned conductors and a team of high profile instrumentalists from the brass and orchestral field, with courses culminating in a series of high profile concerts. 

Philip Biggs, who is the administrator of both the NYBBGB and the NCBBGB, said: 'We are looking at talented children and teenagers from across Cornwall to audition for one of the two bands.

'Both bands are a great breeding ground for talented youngsters, with many former members going on to become leading performers in the professional music and brass band world.'

Former members of both bands include the 2008 Young Musician of the Year, trombonist Peter Moore, the current London Symphony Orchestra principal trumpet, Philip Cobb and former principal trumpet of the same orchestra, Maurice Murphy.

Each youngster who auditions will also be able to participate in a masterclass. Go to http://www.nybbgb.com">www.nybbgb.com for more details or call Philip Biggs on 01223 234090.