The band is excited to announce the start of a new project in November 2025 which will focus on providing opportunities for young people to enter the world of music as part of the brass band movement. The project is named ‘Roots’ after the origins of the band which go back to 1966. Tom Wright was one of the local peripatetic brass teachers who had the idea of forming a youth brass band to provide a platform for young brass players. This was initially based at Portsoy School before moving to Keith Grammar, later becoming a community band. Several of the current members can trace their musical roots back to that time.

The aim of the project is to start a youth training band. This is a direct result of work done in 2024 and 2025 on our Tesco funded Outreach Project. The project took the band into various settings including running 'have a go' sessions with young people using plastic cornets and trombones purchased specially for this purpose.

The training band will be led, initially, by Angie Simpson who has first hand experience of working with young people from her work as a music teacher in Aberdeen. Members of the senior band will be trained by Angie to take over as they gain experience so that we always have experienced tutors available. All adults involved with this initiative will have successfully passed the PVG disclosure process which allows them to work with children. Our safeguarding office (Christine McKay)  will be on hand to ensure the well-being of all students.

A rehearsal afternoon is planned for 2 November 2025 so that any interested persons (adults and children) can come along and have a go. Classes will start shortly after and will run from 5.00 to 6.00pm in the Longmore Hall, Keith.

Training sessions will run every Sunday at the Longmore Hall in Keith from 5.00 to 6.00pm. Teaching and use of instruments will be supplied free of charge. If you are interested, please contact us via our CONTACT PAGE and we will arrange a telephone call to discuss details. Either our Events Secretary (Lesley Watt) or our Secretary (Steve Page) will call you back in order to provide more information about the project and how you or your children can get involved.