Black Dyke Director of Music, Professor Nicholas Childs has been enjoying putting top military musicians through their paces in Portsmouth.

Royal Marines

Fresh from leading the Queensbury band to their ‘Double’ triumph at the Royal Albert Hall, he made the trip down to the famous naval city to work with five trainee conductors during an intensive four hour rehearsal schedule alongside the famous Royal Marines Band.

Lieutenant Daryl Powell, the band’s Director of Music told 4BR: "We were delighted to welcome such a prominent figure to our bandroom.

Dr Childs is known and respected throughout the music world and our musicians thoroughly enjoyed his enthusiasm, techniques and style."

Impressed

Meanwhile, the Black Dyke conductor was equally impressed by the response from the Royal Marines.

"They work so hard and are so responsive and keen to learn," he said.

“Conducting in front of a good band is always a benefit to any conductor, and to work with such a fine ensemble as the Royal Marines was such an enjoyable experience.”

Ferrari

He added: “It was certainly different. Like Black Dyke, they are such a brilliant band: It’s like being given the keys to a Ferrari.

Bands they don’t come better than this, so to be invited come work with them is a great honour — and also an amazing opportunity for the trainee conductors too."