About Us

The Fountain City Youth Brass Academy was founded in 2008 by Helen Harrelson while she was on a sabbatical from her job in England. Helen is a native of England and grew up in the brass band tradition before attending the Royal Northern College of Music. From there, she became one of the world’s foremost baritonists and performed with some of the finest bands in the United Kingdom. Her passion for music education and this rich tradition led her to establish the FCYBA.

The FCYBA began as day-long ‘Expo’ workshops and has grown into season-long brass bands with over 150 members. The bands within the Academy are made up of brass and percussionists of all standards and abilities from late elementary through young adult. The bands of the FCYBA are non-cut programs for participants 18 years of age and younger. The conductors and specialists for the FCYBA bands are professional music educators that also perform with the Fountain City Brass Band. 

Since its inception, the bands of the FCYBA have won numerous national championships at the North American Brass Band Championships and the US Open Brass Band Championships, and been featured at prestigious events such as the Great American Brass Band Festival and the Kansas Music Educators Association’s annual conference.