Black Dyke is delighted to announce Tom Hutchinson as their new principal cornet player.
Tom’s outstanding musical talent was evident from an early age. He served as Principal Cornet of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and later studied at the Royal Northern College of Music.
Tom is no stranger to Black Dyke, having played with the band between 2005 and 2009 alongside Richard Marshall, during which time he contributed to winning two British Open and two National Championship titles. He subsequently joined the Cory Band as Principal Cornet under the direction of Dr. Robert Childs.
Black Dyke’s Music Director, Professor Nicholas Childs, commented:
“Tom is an exceptionally gifted musician and I am confident he will grace the seat with the same level of artistry and virtuosity as those who have held this prestigious position before him.”
Reflecting on his appointment, Tom Hutchinson said:
“The principal seat at Black Dyke is a once in a generation opportunity and it is a dream come true!”
I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to Phil Harper and all my fellow band members at Cory. We have shared many wonderful experiences together, and I will always treasure those memories.”
During his time at Cory, Tom secured 29 major titles, including five European Championships, four National Championships, and four British Opens. He also holds the distinction of being the only Principal Cornet to have won three British Open Solo Prizes.
As Black Dyke continues to pursue the highest standards of musical excellence, Tom will undoubtedly play an integral role in the band’s future success.
Born in Saddleworth, a stronghold of British brass banding, Tommy was immersed in music from a young age. After early beginnings on cornet and drums, he discovered his passion for the tuba and joined Marsden Silver Prize Band at 14. Under the mentorship of Glyn Williams and Les Neish, he quickly progressed, earning a place with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and collecting awards such as the Tom Atkinson Award and the Katie Ogden Solo Award.
Tommy’s early career highlights include a year with Grimethorpe Colliery Band, playing a part in their 2015 British Open victory. He then spent several years with Oldham (Lees) Band while also building conducting experience and enjoying success in regional contests. In 2019, he committed fully to music, studying Tuba at the University of Huddersfield. There, he expanded into EEb Tuba performance and joined the Fairey Band.
Upon graduating with First Class Honours and the University Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Brass Department, Tommy uprooted his life and made a move to Wales, joining the then-number one brass band in the world Cory Band as Principal Eb Bass, quickly contributing to wins including the Welsh Regionals and European Brass Band Championships in 2022. His time at Cory was fruitful, with solo performances in concerts and contests being held to critical acclaim and earning Tommy accolades such at 4barsrest Band of the Year and Cory Band Player of the Year. He was also an integral part of Cory’s triumphant return to Brass in Concert in 2024, where he was featured soloist in their acclaimed entertainment programme.
Internationally, Tommy has toured extensively with bands, performing across South Korea, Germany, Lithuania, France, Austria, Switzerland, and Sweden. In 2024, he toured Australia as a guest soloist and educator, joining Brisbane Excelsior Band in reclaiming the national title in Adelaide. That summer, he was also invited to tutor at Norway’s Manger Folkehøgskule summer school.
In 2025, Tommy returned to the spotlight at the RNCM International Festival of Brass, where he performed his own arrangement of Ricardo Molla’s Amaia – Concerto for Tuba. Now a sought-after soloist, arranger, educator, and adjudicator-in-training, Tommy returns home to the north of England and takes up his position with the legendary Black Dyke Band.
Tommy is a Performance Artist for Randefalk Music, and the official Brass Band transcriber for Ricardo Molla.
Phoebe is from Bradford and is a recent graduate from Chetham’s School of Music where she studied trumpet for seven years with Tracey Redfern and Gareth Small. Before joining Black Dyke Phoebe enjoyed being a member of BD1 and City of Bradford Bands.
Phoebe commented “I am looking forward to joining Black Dyke, it is a fantastic opportunity as I continue my musical journey. I would like to take this opportunity of thanking City of Bradford for the wonderful memories and friends I have made.”
In addition to her achievements with brass bands, Phoebe has also had a successful career as a trumpet player, featuring in the televised Brass Category Final of the BBC Young Musician 2022 competition and has been Principal Flugel with the National Youth Band of Great Britain since 2020.
Music Director Professor Nicholas Childs commented “Phoebe is a wonderful talent and I am looking forward to welcoming her to Black Dyke. I would also like to take the opportunity of thanking Stephanie Binns for all her hard work over the last 4 years.”
Adam was born in Sydney, Australia and began playing euphonium at the age of 9 in his primary school concert band.
In 2014, he relocated to Manchester to study at the Royal Northern College of Music under the tutelage of David Thornton and Steven Mead. In 2018, he completed his studies at the RNCM with a First Class degree with Honours. He then went on to complete an MA in Music with Distinction from The University of Salford.
Previous to Black Dyke, Adam has enjoyed time with the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, Fairey Band, and Leyland Band. He has performed in some of the world’s most iconic venues – most notably the Sydney Opera House stage in 2013, as a soloist. In that same year he became the Australian National Euphonium Champion.
Adam is the tutor of euphonium and baritone at The University of Salford and The University of Manchester. He also teaches within the Stockport Schools’ Brass Bands, and as a private tutor.
Adam has experienced significant success with his quartet, ‘The Brass Compass Euphonium Quartet’. The group won the ‘International Tuba and Euphonium Quartet Competition’ in 2016, which was held in Tennessee, USA. And in the same month also won the prestigious ‘Philip Jones Brass Ensemble Chamber Music Competition’. Later that year, the quartet were invited to perform as artists for the ‘Singapore Low Brass Festival’.
Rebecca started playing at the age of 7 initially on cornet, however it wasn’t long before she found her love and moved on to the Baritone.
Growing up she was surrounded with by banding and loved it from a very young age. She has been a member and Mentor of the National Children’s Brass Band, and the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, as well as being a Founder Member of the Yorkshire Youth Brass Band. She is a member of Staff within the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain’s organisation and is the Social Media Coordinator for the Yorkshire Youth and the International Brass Band Summer School.
Rebecca has played in several championship bands including Wingates as Solo Baritone and latterly with the City of Bradford Band, winning the Best Baritone prize in one of her last contests.
Rebecca Childs graduated from University of Salford in 2015 with a First Class Honours Degree in Music, where she specialised in performance and conducting. As an undergraduate Rebecca was awarded the coveted Harry Mortimer Performance Prize and was also the first recipient of the Iwan Williams Performance Award. Rebecca graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University gaining her Post Graduate Certificate in Education specialising in Primary Education as her dream is to pass on her love for music to the next generation.
In her Professional life as an educator, Rebecca enjoys teaching at Alice Ingham RC Primary School in Rochdale.
She is very proud to be a member of Black Dyke and looks forward to many years of music making with a great bunch of people!
Profile coming soon!
Born in Manchester, John lived for most of his childhood in Preston, and it was here that he first started playing brass instruments. Starting on Trombone, John quickly switched allegiance to the cornet and never looked back.
He began to play with the Lancashire Evening Post Junior Band, with whom he appeared on an edition of the BBC children’s programme Playaway. He moved into the senior band ultimately becoming principal cornet and concurrently was also a member of the Lancashire Youth Brass Band on the Solo Cornet bench.
John’s musical pedigree is extensive. 1988 saw him studying for a Graduate Diploma in Band Musicianship at Salford College of Technology. Here he studied conducting and arranging and composition and was lucky enough to take composition lessons with the renowned Elgar Howarth. Membership of the College Band also led John to go on a number of prestigious tours including tours of Holland, Hungary and the Soviet Union – the first brass band ever to do so. He also joined The Trafford Band on Solo Cornet and Repiano Cornet and became conductor of the Trafford Junior Band.
Graduating from Salford, John took up a position as Principal Cornet of the Ensemble de Cuivres d’Ajoie in Porrentruy, Jura, Switzerland – a British style brass band competing in the Championship section. He worked as a peripatetic brass instrumental tutor and was conductor of the local town band the Fanfare Municipale de Porrentruy, living in Switzerland from August 1988 – June 1990.
Returning to the UK he re-joined The Trafford Band on Principal Cornet until 1991 when he joined Wingates Band on the solo cornet bench, where he played until June 1999. Following a chance meeting with Alison Childs at a CD recording in Smithills School, he was invited down to Black Dyke Band where James Watson offered him a position on Second Cornet.
Returning to full time education in 2001 John became Teacher of Music at a Secondary School in Bolton before becoming Head of Music in 2005. In December 2014 he sought fresh challenges and moved into Primary teaching, where he is working at the present time.
John says that he was very lucky in 1993 to get married to a very understanding young lady, Joanne, also a Cornet player who he had met whilst both were students at Salford, and together they have a teenage son.
In the summer of 2018 he was invited to become Secretary of the Black Dyke band, a role he continues to fulfil.