*
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    


Kapitol

National finals line-ups and schedules confirmed by Kapitol

April 7 • 93 bands will battle for National titles in York and London later this year.


Brisbane Exclesior

Results: 2026 Yamaha Australian National Championships

April 5 • Brisbane Excelsior regains National title with Grade honours to Willoughby Band No. 2, Whitehorse Brass, Hyde Street Youth, City of Ballarat Municipal Brass, Box Hill Academy Brass and Brisbane State High School Brass.


Principals

National Youth sets out musical principals ahead of twin concerts

April 5 • The 90 young players of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain are being out through their paces ahead of their twin Easter Course performances.


Elgar Festival

Elgar attractions gain ticket take up

April 5 • Brass Band Willebroek, Black Dyke, Foden's, Flowers, David Childs and the RBC Brass Band are attracting the crowds for their Elgar International Festival of Brass appearances.


Regent Hall Concerts - Queentet Brass Quintet

Tuesday 7 April • Charlton House. Charlton Road . London SE7 8RE


Regent Hall Concerts - Central Band of the Royal Air Force

Friday 1 May • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Sunday 3 May • St Alfege Church. Greenwich Church Street SE10 9BJ


Regent Hall Concerts - FiveBy5 Trumpet Quintet

Tuesday 5 May • Charlton House and Gardens. Charlton Road, . London. . SE7 8RE


Regent Hall Concerts - Royal Greenwich Brass Band

Friday 8 May • Regent Hall. (The Salvation Army). 275 Oxford Street. London W1C2DJ


CLEETHORPES BAND CIO

April 3 • We have vacancies for a trombone player and a bass player. Cleethorpes Band rehearse near the seafront on Thursday and Sunday evenings. Placed 3rd in the NOE 4th section. Other players are always welcome as we may be able to switch positions around


Tintwistle Band

April 2 • . Tintwistle Band are looking for a 2nd horn player to help complete the team.. We rehearse Monday and Thursday 8-10pm at our own bandroom on Old Road in Tintwistle, and perform a variety of concerts all year round.


Tintwistle Band

April 2 • Tintwistle Band are looking for an Eb bass player to help complete the team.. We rehearse Monday and Thursday 8-10pm at our own bandroom on Old Road in Tintwistle, and perform a variety of concerts all year round.


Lt Col David Barringer MBE

BMus (Hons)
Conductor and adjudicator


               

 © 2026 4barsrest.com Ltd