*
banner

Places open for Black Dyke Festival

If you want to enjoy a full day of tuition, rehearsal and masterclasses all rounded off by the chance to play with Black Dyke — then make sure you sign up now...

bLACK dYKE
 

The reigning European and Yorkshire Regional Champion is to host the 'Black Dyke Brass Festival' at Leeds Town Hall on Sunday 5th June.

Specialised

As part of a full day of educational training and top class music making, the festival will feature a number of specialised workshops (see below) where delegates will work alongside Black Dyke stars to help improve their own playing and rehearsal techniques.

In addition, the day will be rounded off with a Gala Concert featuring the newly crowned Yorkshire champion, boosted by delegates who will have the unique opportunity of playing with the world's most famous band.

Conductors Workshop

An added bonus this year will be will be a special 'Conductors Workshop' led by Black Dyke's Director Music, Professor Nicholas Childs.

This will give delegates the opportunity to work on all aspects of conducting technique on works that will encompass different levels of ability — from Ray Farr's 'Adventures in Brass' and Peter Graham's 'Shine as the Light' to the trickery of Derek Bourgeois' 'Serenade'.

The Gala Concert which takes place at 3.00pm will provide the climax to the day's activities.

World premieres

The first half will feature Black Dyke showcasing two world premieres — with Edward Gregson's imposing 'Cornet Concerto' featuring soloist Richard Marshall, and a new work by Paul Lovatt-Cooper entitled, 'The Final Journey'.

The second half will feature the Yorkshire Youth Band who will be celebrating their 10th anniversary, whilst the musical climax will see the massed ranks of seven bands — Black Dyke, Yorkshire Youth, Armthorpe Elmfield, Blackley, Delph, Kirton and Trentham raise the roof with Wagner's 'Procession to the Minster' as well as 'Pomp & Circumstance' , '76 Trombones' and 'The Dambusters March'.

Tickets

Tickets available from Leeds Town Hall Box Office Tel: 0113 224 3801:
£14, £12, £11, £10

Workshops: Cornet, Tenor Horn and Lower Brass Spotlights

These workshops are open to players of all ages and standards, with parts rehearsed for the massed bands items with Black Dyke.

Cornet Spotlight with Richard Marshall:
All aspects are covered in the workshops include warm-ups, general technique and sight-reading session.

Richard told 4BR: "Last year we had over 50 delegates and I was over the moon with the response from the players."

Tenor Horn Spotlight with Jonathan Bates:
In addition to the wide ranging help with skills sets there will also be the chace to meet and ask questions of horn legend Sandy Smith.

Jonny told 4BR: "Sandy is a wonderful player and musician and I am sure the delegates will receive a real insight About the art of tenor horn playing."

Lower Brass Spotlight
Gary Curtin told 4BR: "Tuba, euphonium and baritone players will cover ensemble playing and solo performing. We will also chat about preparing a piece, breaking it down and rebuilding it, which should help players during contest and solo preparation."

An added bonus this year will be will be a special 'Conductors Workshop' led by Black Dyke's Director Music, Professor Nicholas Childs4BR

Registration:

Registration on the day commences at 9.00am with the proceedings starting at 9.30am.

The cost for the whole day workshops is just £5 and you can register by emailing respectively to

Conductors — David Hirst: secblackdykeband@btinternet.com
Cornets — Richard Marshall: Richard.B.Marshall@btinternet.com
Horns — Jonathan Bates: jonnythehorn@hotmail.com.
Lower Brass — Gary Curtin: gcurtin@gmail.com

When contacting please include:
Name: Band Email Address

Become a supporter and help make our future secure.

4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice. There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world. Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month.

Support us    


appg

Brass bands regain Parliamentary voice

June 27 • The setting up of a new All Party Parliamentary Group for Brass Banding gives brass bands a specific voice of support in Westminster.


Alan Duguid

Interview with Alan Duguid

June 26 • 4BR talks to conductor Alan Duguid about the inspirations behind his band's latest contemporary concert featuring works by Malcolm Arnold, David Bedford, Judith Bingham, Freddie Myers, Richard Rodney Bennett, Edmund Rubbra and Raymond Yiu.


Alan Jenkins

Alan Jenkins funeral details announced

June 25 • The funeral details for the highly respected musician and journalist Alan Jenkins have been announced.


Gray and Waespi

Gray and Waespi to lead joint masterclass approach in Bern

June 25 • A four-day conducting and composing masterclass led by Russell Gray and Oliver Waespi will take place in Bern later this year.


Barnsley Brass - Black Dyke Band

Thursday 25 June • St Mary's Church. Church Street. Barnsley S70 2AH


Regent Hall Concerts - Junior Guildhall Brass Band

Friday 26 June • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - The Royal Sackbut Collective

Friday 26 June • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Dobcross Silver Band - Mossley Band

Sunday 28 June • c/o Dobcross Band Club. Platt Lane. Dobcross Saddleworth OL3 5AD


Regent Hall Concerts - Central Band of the RAF

Thursday 2 July • Regent Hall (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Chinnor Silver

June 27 • We are looking for Bb BASS & PERCUSSION players to join our friendly ambitious 1st Section band.. We rehearse on Wednesdays in our own bandroom . We have a good and varied diary of concerts, contests and a trip aboard planned for 2027


East London Brass

June 26 • Percussionist: ELB is looking for a talented percussionist to join our existing section. We’re an ambitious band with an exciting programme and plenty to look forward to in the second half of the year.


Lostock Hall Brass Band

June 23 • Could you be the kit player to make our percussion team complete? . We would love to hear from you.. with National Finals in September and promotion to the North West 1st Section from January 2027 there is so much to look forward too .


Darron Cleary-McHarg

MISM
Composer, Arranger & Music Educator


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd