News

Black Dyke Band will once again present an open rehearsal at Morley Town Hall, this time for the English National Brass Band Championship test piece Martin Ellerby's ‘Elgar Variations', and the own choice test piece.

The rehearsal will start at 8pm on Thursday 23rd June and, as well as the open rehearsal and a full run through the test pieces, Dr Childs will put on a short concert programme. 

Admission is free and doors open at 7.30pm

Nicholas Childs and Black Dyke would like to thank Morvern Sinclair for her great service to the band.

Nick Childs said 'Morvern is a terrific player and I was saddened when, after nine years of service, she decided to call time on her cornet playing at Dyke. Morvern has won many contests with the band and is a wonderful and caring lady. I wish her well.'

Morvern married Danny, who plays Bb Bass with the band, in December and she's now looking forward to having more time to explore other interests. Indeed, this weekend she will be taking part in the Mull of Kintyre 10k run to raise funds for the Kintyre Songwriters Festival.

Morvern said 'I've had a fantastic time at Black Dyke and have made so many great friends over the years. I'd like to wish the band every success in the future.'

Morvern's position of Assistant Principal Cornet has been taken by Alex Kerwin.

Black Dyke Band is delighted to announce Sheona White as their new Principal Horn. Nicholas Childs commented "Sheona has an international reputation as one of the world's finest tenor horn players. Her sound and artistry are the hallmark of her terrific talent."

Sheona said "I am very excited about playing again after quite some time, and to open a new chapter with the Black Dyke Band and all that brings is a journey I am really looking forward to being a part of."

Sheona joins with immediate effect where her first concert will be at The Castle Theatre in Wellingborough on Saturday 26^th March.

Nicholas and the band would like to thank Alex Kerwin who has decided to move from horn to solo cornet. "Alex is a wonderful person, very talented, and always puts the band first" said Secretary, Mike Shenton.

Black Dyke Band will once again present an open rehearsal at Morley Town Hall, this time for the Yorkshire Area test piece Paganini Variations by Philip Wilby. The rehearsal will start at 8pm on Friday 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 Friday and not Thursday as it was last year.

After 16 years of playing percussion at the highest level Paul Lovatt-Cooper has decided to retire due to his developing music career as a teacher, composer and conductor.

Paul has enjoyed playing at the highest level. He joined Black Dyke in 2003 after playing with the Fairey band for nine years. He has been featured as a regular soloist with both bands and a prominent figure as an all-round percussionist.

On retiring from playing, Black Dykes Musical Director Dr Nicholas Childs commented "Naturally Black Dyke are disappointed that Paul has called time as a percussionist with the band.  As a team player, Paul's personality always shone through as a committed and diligent player. With his new direction and the extra time that this will allow him to develop his compositions, I am sure he will be a tremendous asset to the brass band world and further afield with his creative skills"

During his career, Paul has enjoyed winning the Brass in Concert Championships, the European Brass Band Championships, the English Masters twice, the British Open three times, the National Championships four times as well as countless regional victories.

On retiring from Playing Paul said "It has been a very tough decision but one I have been thinking about for some time now. However, I have found that there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done and so unfortunately my playing has had to give way. I have had a fantastic time in my playing career and the last eight years at Dyke have been some of the most memorable ever. I want to take this opportunity to thank Nick and the band for all their help and support and I wish them all the very best for the future."

Even though he is retiring from playing, Paul will remain in post as the bands Composer in Association.

20 new works celebrate the talent and imagination of UK's musical community as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad

PRS for Music Foundation has today (10 December) announced 20 outstanding pieces of new music which will feature centre stage of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad as London hosts the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The twenty works commissioned for New Music 20x12 each last 12 minutes and offer a snapshot of the quality and diversity of new music in the UK. Each piece will be broadcast by BBC Radio 3 and tour the UK - ensuring as many people as possible have the opportunity to enjoy excellent new music as part of the 2012 celebrations.

The works selected for New Music 20x12 cover a wide range of genres, reflecting the diversity and richness of musical life in the UK - from contemporary classical, folk and opera in Scotland and Northern Ireland to bell ringing, beatboxing, jazz and music for brass band in England and Wales. 

Inspired by the dynamism of Olympic and Paralympic sports, the passion of human endeavour so central to the Games, and the once in a lifetime opportunity of creating a musical work which contributes to a global celebration, these commissions are full of the energy, hope and excitement that will emanate from across the Cultural Olympiad and the Games themselves.

"The Black Dyke Brass Band's sound and virtuosity conjures images of power, athleticism and dexterity. Emotionally, the band can also convey feelings of nostalgia, sadness and loss. Additionally, for a composer to write for the myriad of timbres that brass bands offer is a huge opportunity. I am excited about working with them, the PRS for Music Foundation and the Cultural Olympiad  in 2012." (Luke Carver Goss)

"The Black Dyke Band has a history of over 155 years, our ethos of being proud of the past and fostering the future. This is epitomised by New Music 20x12 putting new music centre stage at the Cultural Olympiad. Performing with Ian McMillan is always exciting and with music from Luke Carver Goss the performance will take you on a journey that will create a galaxy of styles, with the audience guaranteed to be smiling at the end!" (Nicholas Childs Director of Music, Black Dyke Band)

"I'm looking forward to making wonderful music with Luke Carver Goss very much, and I'm sure that between us the PRS team will bag quite a few gold medals!" (Ian McMillan)

The New Music 20x12 commissions were chosen by a judging panel consisting of composer Judith Weir, journalist Kevin Le Gendre, composer and performer Errollyn Wallen MBE, producer Joana Seguro and DJ and musician Rita Ray. The panel was chaired by Roger Wright, Controller of BBC Radio 3 and Director of the BBC Proms, who said:

"The panel was impressed by the quality and range of the UK wide applications and reluctantly rejected a number of distinctive project proposals. However, 20x12 means just that and only 20 ideas could be approved for funding. Those selected were considered to be outstanding and represented a range of compositional output by their wide variety of genres and styles. These pieces will form a vibrant and exciting celebration of British composition in 2012 and help to reflect the Olympic and Paralympic values through their creative excellence and inspirational ideas."

Vanessa Reed, Executive Director of the PRS for Music Foundation, said: "We are delighted that so many talented music creators and organisations were inspired to apply to New Music 20x12, a fantastic initiative that will see the UK's music community leaving its legacy as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. The chosen 20 collaborations offer a snapshot of the UK's fantastically rich and varied new music scene and we are proud to support their contribution to this unique, international celebration."

Alan Davey, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, said: "The exciting range of these compositions sums up why the UK is a world leader in culture. Not only does London 2012 offer an unprecedented moment to showcase our talent on the world stage, it will also demonstrate the power of collaboration. New partnerships are forming across the UK to deliver programmes such as this, encouraging innovation and engagement, which will leave a lasting legacy long beyond 2012. Congratulations to each of the chosen 20 - I can't wait to hear what they come up with."

New Music 20x12 was initiated by Jillian Barker and David Cohen and will be delivered by the PRS for Music Foundation in partnership with the BBC, LOCOG (the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games) and Sound and Music.   

New Music 20x12 is generously supported by committed patrons and funders from across the UK including the Arts Councils of England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Creative Scotland. For more information about New Music 20x12 see www.prsformusicfoundation.com

Black Dyke is delighted to welcome Jonathan Bates as their new 1st horn player following the departure of Julie Meechan.  Nicholas Childs commented "we would like to place on record our thanks to Julie and wish her well in the future.

Dr Childs continued "Jonathan is an exciting prospect, a finalist in last year's BBC Radio 2's Young Brass Soloist and the current Principal horn of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain."  

15 year old Jonathan thanked his previous band, Brighouse and Rastrick, for all their help, and said "winning the Nationals was truly awesome.  However I am really looking forward to joining Black Dyke".  

Jonathan's first concert will be Selby Abbey on Saturday, 27th November.

Dr Nicholas Childs and Black Dyke are delighted to welcome three new faces to the band.

Director of Music Dr Childs commented "The new signings send a strong message out about our ethos being proud of our history, and looking forward to the future with real drive and ambition."

Ian Yates the experienced and talented euphonium player will leave Grimethorpe after Brass in Concert to take his position as assistant to Gary Curtin. Ian commented "having the opportunity to work with Dr Childs and Dyke is an exciting prospect and when you consider the position hasn't been available for the last 17 years I wanted to make a quick decision before someone else snapped it up!"

Rebecca Marshall says good bye to have her and Richards first baby. With this opportunity two young and exciting cornet players join the band. Both are young students studying at the RNCM and are proud of their background in Salvation Army Banding.

Craig Kilgour leaves his current position as principal cornet at Delph. Craig commented "I've had a great time at Delph and made some great friends we've had a fantastic year winning at Butlins, the North West Area and Nationals at Harrogate, all of which has set me up so well for my new challenges at Dyke"

Alex Gibson leaves the principal cornet chair at Hebden Bridge Band, 2010 Yorkshire Area champions 1st section. Alex said "Hebden are a great band family band. I have gained so much experience I want to say a big thank you. I'm lucky to have Richard Marshall as my teacher and I have made some guest appearances with Dyke over the past year, so I have a good idea what to expect which I know will only enhance my playing for the future".

Black Dyke is delighted to announce that Gary Curtin is their new Principal Euphonium. He will join the band after the Brass In Concert contest later this month.

Following the departure of David Thornton things have moved very quickly.

Dr Nicholas Childs said "Gary Curtin is a great sounding player with a terrific technique and range to match. I look forward to Gary's continuing development with Black Dyke and I look to the future with excitement and ambition."

Gary Curtin commented "I wish to acknowledge my great time at Fairey. I leave some wonderful friends and wining the English Nationals was a real high."

On moving to Dyke Garry said "It is a seat that most euphonium players would visualise themselves sitting in whilst dreaming. But to be invited by Dr Childs for real is nothing other than an absolute honour and a privilege and I look forward to making new friends and working hard to give the seat the dedication and commitment it both deserves and requires."

Black Dyke is pleased to announce young flugel soloist, Zoe Hancock as their new flugel horn soloist. Zoe, who originates from Cornwall, has been making a great name for herself, being a past principal in the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, winner of the Harry Mortimer solo award, and a finalist in the Radio 2 Young Brass Musician.  

Nicholas Childs commented "It is wonderful to welcome a player of Zoe's quality.  She is a delightful young lady and a terrific talent, and I am sure will develop even more in the future."

Zoe is studying at the Royal Welsh College of Music being guided by Director of Band Studies Dr. Robert Childs. Zoe has enjoyed her banding with Tredegar and commented "I have had a wonderful time at Tredegar and winning the British Open was amazing. Ian Porthouse has always been helpful and although I will be leaving some great friends, it is with excitement and a burning ambition that I grasp the opportunity of joining Black Dyke."

Zoe will take up her new position immediately after Brass in Concert later this month.

Following the departure of Sandy Smith, Alex Kerwin has moved to Solo Horn at Black Dyke.  

Nicholas Childs commented "Alex has a fantastic pedigree, she is an outstanding bands person, a bold and brave player and one that I am sure will grow into her new position and make it her own." Alex commented "I know it will take some time to settle into my new position, but everyone at Black Dyke is supporting me and I am looking forward to my new challenge."