The National Youth Band of Canada (NYB) is the Canadian Band Association's flagship project. The CBA was formed in 1934 to promote and develop the musical, educational and cultural values of band music in Canada. In 1978, 1991, and annually since 1994, the National Youth Band of Canada has offered an unparalleled musical opportunity for outstanding Canadian instrumentalists, woodwind, brass and percussion, between the ages of 16 and 21.

Martin Boundy, Dr. Dennis Prime, Bramwell Tovey, André Jutras, James Hargreaves, Stéphane LaForest, Bobby Herriot, Dr. Gerald King, Dr. Glenn Price, Dr. Gillian MacKay, Dr. Tania Miller, Alain Cazes, Dr. Denise Grant, Marvin Eckroth, Dr. Fraser Linklater, Dr. Karem Simon, Colin Clarke, Dr. Shelley Jagow and Dr. Wayne Jeffrey are all accomplished Canadian musicians and conductors who have brought outstanding artistry and musicianship to the NYB podium.

National Youth Band of Canada 2012 will take place May 6th - May 13th, 2012 at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.
Acting as Music Director for the 2012 National Youth Band of Canada will be Dr. Colleen Richardson, Coordinator of Bands, Wind Ensemble Director, Assistant Professor, Music Education & Music Performance Studies at the Univerity of Western Ontario.

Yamaha Canada provides a guest artist to perform with the NYB. The 2012 guest soloist is TBA..

National Youth Band of Canada 2011 took place May 7th-14th, 2011 in Montreal, Quebec.
Acting as Music Director for the 2011 National Youth Band of Canada was Dr. Cynthia Johnson Turner, Director of Wind Ensembles at Cornell University, NY

Yamaha Canada provides a guest artist to perform with the NYB. The 2011 guest soloist was jazz pianist and composer Lorraine Desmarais.

***Please click here for a list of members by section for NYB 2011

Watch the 2011 NYB Video!!

Send auditions to:
Barbara Stetter - NYB Coordinator/Manager
67 Catherine Street
Glace Bay, Nova Scotia B1A 2K1

Brass/Woodwinds/Double Bass:

Scales

Full Chromatic on your instrument (lowest to highest notes), AND F and A flat Major Concert Scales (two octaves right into arpeggios)

Solos

Two contrasting solos or etudes

Percussion:

Scales

Full Chromatic Scale F and A flat Major Concert (two octaves right into arpeggios)

Solos

One solo or etude performed on each of the following instruments:
Tympani, Mallets and Snare Drum

Copies of Audition Music:: One copy of all music performed for audition must be included in your audition package. Be sure to indicate clearly what passages were performed (please do not send originals).

Recording your audition:: Make the recording the highest quality possible on a CD. Please write your name on the case or cover of the CD - NOT ON THE CD ITSELF!
(Auditions are anonymous and this information is not shared with the jurors.) Do not digitally alter a recording or splice during a scale, arpeggio, piece or etude.

Audition Application:

Audition Requirements: