Castle Hill RSL Youth Band

The Castle Hill RSL Youth Band came into being in 1993 as the City of Sydney Youth Band. In 2000, the band began its association with the Castle Hill RSL, and became the Castle Hill RSL Youth Band under then Musical Director Michael Butcher OAM.

In early 2005 Mike stepped aside and appointed James Brice as the new Musical Director. James has brought a wealth of banding experience to the podium, being the Principal Euphonium / Trombonist with the RAAF Air Command Band from 1996-2006.

The Castle Hill RSL Youth Band has a proud tradition of being regarded as one of the Australia’s finest Youth Bands. The members range in age from as young as 11 through to 19 years of age to be part of this 65 piece Community Band. With one 2 hour rehearsal a week, the Castle Hill RSL Band performs an impressive 20-30 performance engagements each year. The band regularly competes at State and National levels, proudly being judged the Australian National Champion Junior A Grade Concert Band, for the third year running. The band is also the current NSW State Champion Band in the same grade.

In addition to the active competition schedule, the Castle Hill RSL Youth Band performs extensively throughout Sydney with ‘Feature Concerts’ and premier ‘Marching Engagements’. The band participates annually in the Sydney ANZAC Day March receiving praise for the band’s precision drill and outstanding musical performance.

At this year’s Australian National Championships the Castle Hill RSL Band was complemented by the Melbourne based adjudicator, Mr. Mark Ford, for the brilliant performance of Frank Ticheli’s ambitious work ‘Blue Shades’, a work that featured the tremendous work of David Coleman (Principal Clarinet).

   More recently the Castle Hill RSL Youth band has once again received outstanding accolades for   their performance at the NSW State Band Championships held in Penrith over the weekend 8th/9th September. Performing ‘They Led My Lord Away’ - Allen, ‘Music For A Jubilant Occasion’ - G.Butcher, and concluding with ‘Cartoon’ - Hart, the Castle Hill RSL Youth Band was praised for the exceptional standard and musicianship, by the adjudicator, Mr. Michael Forsyth. "The performance of Cartoon was just stunning" said Forsyth.

The Castle Hill RSL Youth Band is a vibrant and social ensemble that always encourages new members. All instrumentalists are welcomed however there are specific vacancies for Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon & French Horn. Anyone interested in finding out more about the band should contact James Brice on 02 8824 3484.