The BBC is to revive its interest in brass bands over the coming months, with a series of three 1 hour programmes following the fortunes of the Dinnington Colliery Band.

Ups and downs

Dinnington from South Yorkshire has managed to survive the ups and downs of brass band fortune over the years, and is currently battling in the Fourth Section after it failed to make it to the starting tape for the Yorkshire Regional Championships this year.

A number of hard working family members are involved such as Joan Herdman, her sister Kay and family who have been part of the Dinington Band for well over 30 years.

Sue is a grade 8 pianist, and will head to Dinnington to team up with the band as together they try to restore former gloriesClare Callaghan, Shine Productions

Spooks

The media production company ‘Shine’, which has brought such programmes as ’Spooks’ to the BBC screens has decided to try and revive Dinnington’s fortunes and return the band back to the centre of community life in the village.

Maestro Presenter

Clare Callaghan of ‘Shine’ told 4BR: "The programme will be presented by Sue Perkins, the well known comedian, writer and presenter, who also won the BBC ‘Maestro’ programme where a number of well known celebrities battled to learn the conducting ropes of directing a symphony orchestra.

"Sue is a grade 8 pianist, and will head to Dinnington to team up with the band as together they try to restore former glories."

Help

The band (and the production team) does need some help to make sure that the programme doesn’t fail before a note is blown, so they are looking to recruit new members to the band.

Experience doesn’t really matter, but enthusiasm and ambition does, and the end result should be a great story of community music making, hopefully without the stereotypical labelling banding that evokes images of ‘Brassed Off’ or ‘Shillingbury Blowers’.

Open auditions

Open auditions to join the band are taking place between 2.00pm and 4.30pm this Sunday – 26th July at Middleton Hall, Barleycroft Lane, Dinnington, Sheffield S25 2LE.

These auditions will be filmed by the BBC and will make up part of the programme.

More information

For more information you can contact: 07966830206 or e-mail brass.band@shine.tv

Please note all under 18’s will need a parent or a guardian to accompany them.