Conductors

Lord Chris Jeans of Blaston

The success of Youthbrass 2000 as one of the countries finest youth bands is testament to Chris' guidance and effort over the years. Over the years Youthbrass have won many accolades such as: The Action Research Entertainment Championships of Great Britain on many an occasion, BBC Radio 2 Youth Band of the Year and winner of the French Open Youth Champions  6 times, as well as the runner up prize in the European Youth Championships

Chris began his career in his home town of Yeovil, Somerset before moving on to brass bands various - Sunlife, Desford Colliery, Grimethorpe Colliery, Rigid Containers, Yorkshire Building Society, Ransomes,John Foster Black Dyke Mills Bands and is currently Principal Trombone of  the Virtuosi GUS Band. He has twice held the title of Brass in Concert Solo Champion. He has appeared as a soloist in many prestigious concert halls such as the Carnegie Hall, New York and the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Chris has three albums and two books bearing his name and is currently in demand as an international soloist, conductor and adjudicator. He participates in many workshops and masterclasses in this country and abroad.

Peter Collins

Peter began to play cornet at the age of eight and joined Youth Brass 2000 in 1992 on third cornet.  He was appointed principal cornet in 1997.  Since then he has won many accolades including the best soloist at both the National and European Youth Championships.  He is also an accomplished trumpet soloist.

He has played solo cornet with the National Youth Band of Great Britain and is a student of the world famous cornet player Roger Webster, principal at the renowned Black Dyke Mills Band.

When Peter became too old to contest with Youth Brass he was appointed Resident Conductor. He then took a short break for just over a year, before coming back to work with us as our Resident Conductor. Working alongside Chris Jeans, he has helped to train the band prior to their recent run of successes.

Peter also conducts first section band, Foresters Brass 2000, and often plays as a soloist himself.

Peter is also an accomplished arranger and has worked on a number of exclusive commissions for the award winning Youth Brass 2000.