News

Black Dyke Band would like to acknowledge the wonderful service given by David Thornton as Principal Euphonium over the last ten years.

Dr Nicholas Childs said:  "David was the first soloist I appointed at Dyke over 10 years ago he has held this position with great distinction. We all wish him every success in his ever developing career"

David Thornton commented "I've been in the band for ten years and have given 100% commitment during that time. I have spent a lot of time considering my future recently, and it's come to the moment when I feel I want to look for other opportunities that simply wouldn't have been possible whilst giving that commitment to Black Dyke."
 
"I've recently been appointed as Musical Director at Wingates Band and this is just one of the ventures I'll be now able to launch myself into. I have two large solo tours planned for 2011 already - Australia and the USA - as well as other solo opportunities that would have simply clashed with the Black Dyke diary should I have stayed with the band. They will all now be possible and of course I hope other exciting possibilities will begin to arise now that I have more time.

"It goes almost without saying that there is an element of sadness involved, I'm leaving a fantastic band and an amazing team of musicians. I'd like to thank all my playing colleagues and friends for their support and camaraderie over the last ten years. They, along with Nick Childs, have made me into the player and musician I am today, as well as being my musical family along the way."

From Dr Nicholas J. Childs:

Dear Friend,

I have produced an illustrated diary in hard back and full colour to mark the last ten years of the most famous brass band in the world.

The book gives a real inside story of some fascinating situations with over 50 colour photographs which tell their own stories.

The book's author, Alan Jenkins, researched the material and gained unlimited meetings with myself to bring to life this fascinating read, with photos from Black Dyke official photographer John Stirzaker, the stories become crystal clear.

The book "A Decade Beating Time" is available direct from Black Dyke at £9.99 plus P&P which is £2.56 in the UK, £4.51 in Europe and £7.67 for North America/Canada or Australia.

To order this great present and receive your personally signed copy simply fill in below who you would like the book dedicating to.

Eg. To John

Available from

Black Dyke Band, The Bandroom, Sandbeds, Queensbury, West Yorkshire, BD13 1AB

All cheques payable to Black Dyke Band or email credit card number, expiry date, and 3 digit security code, along with your address to secblackdykeband@btinternet.com

Good reading and thank you for supporting your band.

Kind Regards

Dr. Nicholas Childs

A Decade Beating Time

Marking a decade as Music Director of Black Dyke Band, and also charting his accomplishments with other high-profile bands and musicians, is Nicholas Childs' 10 year diary. This fully illustrated book, written by Alan Jenkins and introduced by Philip Wilby is dedicated to Nick's wife, Alison, ‘my best adjudicator and love of my life'.

Black Dyke Band will once again present an open rehearsal at Morley Town Hall, this time for the National Championship test piece Terra Australis by Martin Ellerby. The rehearsal will start at 8.00pm on Thursday 7th October 2010 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

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.

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.

Black Dyke became the most successful brass band in history by retaining the 2009 National Brass Band Championships.

The competition, regarded as the FA Cup for brass bands, started with qualifying rounds at the beginning of the year, culminating with the UK's top 20 Grand Final on Saturday,17th October, at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall.

Nicholas Childs, Director of Music, commented "The band were in outstanding form and the audience reaction said it all, with the cheering still resounding in our ears."

Composer of the test piece, Professor Peter Graham, commented "Black Dyke's performance was full of character and brought the very best of my music out."

Adjudication trio of David Read, David King and Derek Broadbent, all agreed, Black Dyke's mixture of technical brilliance and musical nuance was enough to give them a clear victory over All England champion Fodens, with European champion, Cory in third.

This was Black Dyke's 22nd National Title making it more successful than any other brass band in history.

Black Dyke Band will once again present an open rehearsal at Morley Town Hall, this time for the National Championships test piece The Torchbearers by Peter Graham.

The rehearsal will start at 8pm on Thursday 15^th October 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

Black Dyke Band will once again present an open rehearsal at Morley Town Hall, this time for the British Open test piece Titan's Progress by Hermann Pallhuber.

The rehearsal will start at 8pm on Thursday 10^th September 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

The band is on currently on tour in Australia and has over 1800 followers on FACEBOOK. If you would like to join FACEBOOK and watch their progress, go to the FACEBOOK pages on www.facebook.com/blackdykeband and the system will then give you instructions.

On June 27th, in Preston, the band won the English National Brass Band Championship playing Paul Lovatt-Cooper's "Within Blue Empires". As Champion Band, we will now be invited to represent England in the European Championships which take place in Linz, Austria, between April 29th and May 2nd 2010.

Dr Nicholas Childs commented "Black Dyke showed, with some sublime solo playing and the quality of sound, why it will be welcomed at the European Championships. Our next goal will be to raise the money required to represent England at these prestigious championships."

Black Dyke Band is pleased to report that Eb Bass player Phil Goodwin, who was ill in hospital for over 4 weeks from the end of April to the end of May, is now back at home and making good progress on the way to a full recovery. Everyone was delighted to see Phil lead Delph Band, who he conducts, down the village for the Whit Friday parade last week.

Although not quite well enough to play for Black Dyke at the English Nationals at the end of this month, Phil is expected back in his rightful place with the band the following weekend, July 4^th, at the Deal Festival.

Nick Childs commented 'Phil has been greatly missed, a great tuba player and of course a member of the band for over 24 years, a bandsman to the core and a friend who will be welcomed on his return.' 

Black Dyke Band will once again present an open rehearsal at Morley Town Hall, this time for the English National Brass Band Championship newly commissioned test piece Within Blue Empires by Paul Lovatt-Cooper.

The rehearsal will start at 8pm on Thursday 25^th June 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

Coverage of three of the elements of the Brass Festival 2009 is now available to view on the band's website.

Dr Nicholas Childs' inaugural lecture on the History of Brass Bands - The Golden Period, illustrated by Black Dyke Band, is available together with full coverage of the Gala Concert and an interview with Dr Childs.

The link is http://www.blackdykeband.co.uk/14/

4barsrest have included a full review of the upcoming Brass Festival at the end of this month. The link to their excellent report is:

http://www.4barsrest.com/articles/2009/1010.asp

On Sunday May 31st, there will be a presentation and informal recording of new compositions for brass instruments. Composers Philip Wilby and Emily Howard will be on hand to offer advice.

The music has been chosen from the British Trombone Society's recent composers competition, the junior department of the Royal Northern College of Music, and the Yorkshire Youth Brass Band. Performers include Stephen Sykes (Winner of the Radio 2 Brass Musician 2009), and The Black Dyke Trombone quartet and friends.

The session will be held in the Albert Room at Leeds Town Hall and begins at 12.45