News

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.

At the 2009 Black Dyke Band Annual Dinner and Award Ceremony, the Bandsman of the Year Trophy was presented by Director of Music Dr Nicholas J Childs and the Pondasher Trophy was presented by Trustee Mr Ian Thompson and his wife Jan. The ceremony and dinner were attended by all of the band members, Trustees and their partners, together with a number of guests from the Bands' Partners. 

The Bandsman of the Year Trophy was awarded to Flugel Horn soloist, Alex Kerwin, described by Dr Nicholas Childs as "an ideal bandsperson, who combines motherhood and her passion with the band she clearly loves". This coveted award is voted for by the players of the band, and always reflects a player who is held in consistently high esteem by their peers throughout the year. 

The Pondasher Award was presented to Principal Cornet player Richard Marshall. Dr Childs commented "Richard epitomises a perfect bandsman, an outstanding talent, and a conscience to reflect his kind personality."

Black Dyke Band has been selected to receive a "Letter to the Future" from Cambridge University as part of their year-long plans to celebrate their 800^th anniversary. The letters, of which there will be only 800, will be stored in archives at the University Library, not to be opened until the University's 900^th anniversary in 2109. 

A representative of Black Dyke Band in 2109 will be able to retrieve the letter from the Archive in 2109 by presenting a numbered certificate to the University. The certificate for Black Dyke Band will be presented to the Band's Principal Conductor and Director of Music, Dr. Nicholas J. Childs, by Dr Cynthia Lampert Moore, a representative of the University, at their concert in Selby Abbey on Saturday 21^st November.