News

Black Dyke Band is pleased to announce the signing of two talented young percussionists. 

Sam Tunstall is in his first year of a four year Bachelor of Music course at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. He was a member of the RNCM Junior School for over four years and has been Principal Percussionist of the National Youth Wind Orchestra. Sam will be playing with the Band as a member of the percussion team playing in Linz, Austria, later this week in the European Brass Band Championships.

Ashley Clegg is currently a percussionist with the Newstead Band in the Midlands. He will be fulfilling his contest obligations with them until the end of June, but has been appearing in concerts with Black Dyke Band during April. Only 17, Ashley is still completing his A levels, and plans to go to Music College after school. He is currently the Principal Percussionist of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. 

Dr Nicholas J. Childs, Principal Conductor and Director of Music, said "Sam and Ashley are outstanding prospects and will work closely with Andrea Price and Paul Lovatt-Cooper in ensuring a strong delivery from a team of immense importance.  For the past decade the band has had a stable team of percussionists and I would also like to acknowledge Lee Skipsey and Neil Edwards who have been real stalwarts and excellent bandsmen for Black Dyke."

Black Dyke Band will again present an open rehearsal at Morley Town Hall, this time for the European Championship set test piece Spiriti by Thomas Doss, and also their own choice test piece. The rehearsal will start at 8pm on Wednesday 28^th April.

This is a unique opportunity to listen to the two test pieces which will be played by Black Dyke Band in Linz, Austria on Friday 30^th April and Saturday 1^st May.

Admission is free and doors open at 7.30pm

Black Dyke Band will once again present an open rehearsal at Morley Town Hall, this time for the Yorkshire Area test piece English Heritage by George Lloyd. The rehearsal will start at 8pm on Thursday 4^th March and, as well as the open rehearsal and a full run through the test piece, Dr Childs will put on a short concert programme.

Admission is free and doors open at 7.30pm

Please note that the open rehearsal is Thursday and not Friday as it was last year.

The CD of the Tour to Australia, which was exclusively sold on that tour and sold out of the 1000 we took, has been in demand since we returned last August. I have just 20 of these available to the first people to email me with credit card details at secblackdykeband@btinternet.com. The cost is £15.70 delivered in the UK and £16.70 by air mail.

The content of the CD is similar to Essential Dyke Volume 9 but with an exclusive cover and inside pamphlet:

1. Queensbury
2. Willow Echoes
3. Cats Tales    

                                 I.      Catalonia

                               II.      Cat Walk

                              III.      Scat

1. Fantastic Polka
2. Kings of Cool

                                 I.      The Lady is a tramp

                               II.      That’s Amore

                              III.      Luck be a Lady

1. Autumn Leaves
2. Swinging Matilda
3. Deep Harmony
4. Theme and Variations
5. Immortal
6. Vienna Nights

Black Dyke Band is pleased to announce the signing of two new cornet players. 

Neil Day will play on the front row, and joins from the EYMS band where he has been Principal Cornet. Joining on 3^rd cornet is David Smith, who joins from the Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band. Both Neil and David have been playing with Black Dyke for the last few weeks.

Nicholas Childs commented "Neil has a vast experience with a beautiful sound and will be a great asset to the cornet section, whilst David is a talented young player who will have a promising career."

Both players are looking forward to an eventful 2010.