At Camden Music, we love what we do and always enjoy the opportunity to perform in our community, raise awareness of our work, and play for new audiences. The Camden Youth Brass brought festive cheer to the Kentish Town Christmas lights event on Saturday, November 30th.
The band’s performance was a highlight of the evening, filling the air with the joyous sounds of Christmas carols and festive tunes. Organised by Kentish Town Road Action and held in the heart of Kentish Town, the event saw families and friends gather to celebrate the start of the holiday season. The band’s repertoire included beloved classics such as “Silent Night” and “Jingle Bells,” with the audience singing along and spreading holiday cheer. The grand finale, a powerful rendition of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” left everyone in awe and truly captured the spirit of the season.

“The Christmas music was great on Saturday – we really enjoyed it!”

Most of the band members began their brass playing journey through Camden Music’s Whole Class Ensemble Teaching (WCET) curriculum at their primary schools. WCET allows pupils to learn an instrument together as a class with one of our specialist music tutors. From WCET, the pupils continued learning their instrument at secondary school and in the band, they work together to nurture new players. The band started preparing the Christmas tunes just before half term, but the other “bangers” (as the band likes to describe them) have been worked on since September.
“‘They really were the high point of the Event and they were so concentrated and professional. They made a terrific sound. Everyone loved them!”
The Kentish Town Christmas lights event is a cherished tradition, and this year’s celebration was no exception. The twinkling lights, the crisp winter air, and the harmonious melodies of the Camden Youth Brass created a magical atmosphere that brought the community together.
A special thank you goes out to all the band members for their dedication and hard work. Their passion for music and commitment to excellence were evident in every note they played. We also extend our gratitude to the event organisers for their efforts in making this event a success and to the community for their unwavering support. Each year, a member of the band is called to switch on the lights.
“We were delighted to be invited once again to showcase our young musicians at this wonderful community event. They performed brilliantly, and it was especially heartwarming to hear the crowd singing along to the well-known festive tunes.”
Camden Youth Brass also performs each July on the bandstand at Hampstead Heath for family, friends, and members of our local community. We look forward to many more performances and opportunities to share the joy of music with you all.
#WeMakeMusic
Want to get involved?
Camden Youth Brass meets at William Ellis School every Thursday from 4:15 to 5:30 pm. The group is for brass and percussion players in Year 6 and above who have been playing for at least a year and love to play popular, well-known tunes. This band plays at exciting venues such as the British Library.
Sign up here.