Bromley Youth Concert Band

Bromley Youth Concert Band was founded over 30 years ago to give top quality training and experience to the best young woodwind, brass and percussion players in the London Borough of Bromley. It is now recognised as one of the foremost bands in the UK.

Since 1981 it has enjoyed world champoinship status by virtue of its repeated successes at the World Music Concours in Holland. The Band also won first prize at the Valencia Competition in Spain, competing largely against local adult bands.

Operating under the aegis of the Bromley Youth Music Trust, the Band is based at the Bromley Youth Music Centre. Here it rehearses regularly and intensively to sustain a busy programme of performances. It travels extensively and during the past ten years has given over 50 performances in various parts of Europe and North America. Its activities also include the commissioning of new works, playing with professional soloists, and performing in major concert halls, as well as locally in Bromley.

The Band took part in the World Music Contest in Holland, where they were awarded a Gold Medal and First Prize. There then followed a successful concert tour of Poland. Last summer, the Band undertook a tour of Italy. In July the Band will be undertaking a tour of Spain, where it will perform in a series of five concerts.

BYCB  relies on funding from Bromley Council, local commerce, business, industry and private patrons. This strong identification with the local community has been a tremendous feature of the Band’s success.

The Band is Conducted by Michael Purton.

Michael Purton was born in London but grew up in Watford. He was a boy chorister and took lessons in piano and violin, eventually studying french horn with the legendary Ifor James. In 1967 Michael was invited to join the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, becoming Principal Horn in 1970.

After successfully completing a degree in Music at Surrey University in July 1973, Michael was appointed Principal Horn at the prestigious Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, a position he held until 1986. During his time in Manchester, Michael appeared as soloist with the orchestra on many occasions, and as a chamber musician and Guest Principal with other orchestras such as the BBC Philharmonic, the CBSO and the LSO. He was also Senior Horn Professor at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and, later on, Head of Wind and Percussion at Trinity College of Music.

Concentrating on educational work since 1986, Michael has been Principal of Bromley Youth Music Trust (BYMT) since January 2007. He feels that BYMT is right at the top of British music services, clearly speaking from the heart as his three children grew up as members of BYMT, even though this meant being ferried from home in Tunbridge Wells several times a week. The three (all string players) are now in Manchester, with his son John playing violin regularly with the Hallé, Michael's old orchestra.