Information: The NABBA Youth Section Reading Band is designed to give middle and high school students the opportunity to join the brass banding community. This reading session will offer students the chance to work with world class conductors and educators, Dr. Lucy Pankhurst and Dr. Evan Harger. Students will receive their music ahead of time via email and are encouraged to prepare as much of their part as possible prior to the reading session. You must print this music yourself and bring it with you to the Championships. We will not have extra copies available.
Eligibility: The band is open to all middle and high school brass and percussion students. Students who are performing with a competing band at the Championships are welcome to attend the reading session. If you did not travel to NABBA with a competing band, you must have a parent or guardian in attendance for the duration of the reading session. If you are a senior in high school and you are 18 years of age, you do not need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. NABBA welcomes brass and percussion musicians of all skill levels and backgrounds to join the Instant Band.
Registration: Registration for the Youth Band Reading Session will open on February 1st on the NABBA website. Registration will close on March 1st. You do not need to be a NABBA member to register for the reading session. Registration for the Reading Band is $45 per member. The registration fee includes a student ticket to enter the performance venues and exhibits. Parents and guardians accompanying the student can observe the Reading Band at no cost, but will have to purchase a ticket at the box office to enter the performance venues and exhibits. If you are the director of a competing youth band or a high school or middle school band director who plans on chaperoning a group of students, please contact jpayne@nabba.org for group registration information.
Schedule: The reading session will begin at 1pm in the Pearl Event Center Auditorium and will last approximately 90 minutes. Please plan on arriving by 12:15pm to check in at the registration table that will be located outside the auditorium. After the reading session, students are encouraged to attend the remainder of the Championships. Prior to the reading session, several colleges will be hosting recruitment presentations at the Embassy Theater, which students are encouraged to attend. The Embassy is a short walk from the Pearl Center.
Please use the form below to register for the 2025 NABBA Championships Youth Band!