*
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    


Elgar Howarth

Elgar Howarth funeral details

January 18 • The funeral of Elgar Howarth will take place in London in February.


Porthouse

2025 RNCM International Brass Band Festival: Interview with Ian Porthouse

January 18 • Ahead of their appearance at the forthcoming RNCM International Brass Band Festival, we catch up with Tredegar's MD to talk about their featured programme of music.


Gull Dances

Superbrass Saturday: Gull Dances (Terry Johns)

January 18 • A great series of dances inspired by Scottish gulls in flight, looking for food and soaring above the Scottish cliffs to add to any concert programme.


Fundraising

BBE boosts member services with project evaluation support

January 18 • A new initiative from Brass Bands England will help bands with their ongoing fund raising projects.


The Hepworth Band - Hepworth Band New Year Celebration Concert

Sunday 26 January • Christ Church, New Mill, Holmfirth HD97ER


Dobcross Silver Band - Hammonds Band

Sunday 26 January • c/o Dobcross Band Club. Platt Lane. Dobcross Saddleworth OL3 5AD


Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships

Friday 7 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015. N-5015


Contest: Norwegian National Brass Band Championships

Saturday 8 February • Grieghallen, Bergen, N-5015 N-5015


Haverhill Silver Band - Concert in Clare Church

Saturday 8 February • St Peter and St Paul Church, Clare, Suffolk CO10 8NY


Rushden Town Band

January 19 • 2nd Trombone position of this fun loving band. . . Great diary of regular concerts throughout the year, plus at least 2 contests per year. Recently recorded its first CD and off on its second tour in May 2025.


East London Brass

January 18 • 2nd TROMBONE - ELB are looking for a 2nd Trombone player to play at the areas in March. If you are interested in helping out with this temporary role, please reach out. We are a friendly, fun and ambitious band!


Kingdom Brass

January 17 • KIT PLAYER. Looking for a new start in 2025?. Kingdom Brass invites applications for a Kit Player specialist.. The band will be competing at the Scottish Championships, the Spring Festival, and the Scottish Open, local competitions and other events..


Dr. Stephen Arthur Allen

D. Phil. (Oxon) [Ph.D Oxford University], GBSM, LTCL, ABSM, ALCM, Cert. Ed.


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd