Black Dyke has announced that their inaugural Brass Arts Festival will take place at the Gandhi Hall, Leeds Metropolitan University, Headingley campus over the weekend of April 4th to April 6th.

The Festival Administrator, Alison Childs, told 4BR: "The concept comes from the creative team of Professor Philip Wilby and Dr. Nicholas Childs to showcase the band and its music and we are thrilled that Elgar Howarth has accepted to be our Inaugural Artistic Director."

Stature

Dr Nicholas Childs commented to 4BR: "We are delighted to have a musician of Elgar Howarth’s stature to be Artistic Director and it seemed fitting that we should commission him to write a major new work for our star cornet soloist, Richard Marshall with the world premiere in the Gandhi Hall."

The whole concept of a Black Dyke Festival is rich with possibilities. As the band's horizons widen, we need new opportunities to develop our individual visions, building on the work that we have started in recent yearsPhilip Wilby

Rich with possibilities

Meanwhile Philip Wilby added: "The whole concept of a Black Dyke Festival is rich with possibilities. As the band's horizons widen, we need new opportunities to develop our individual visions, building on the work that we have started in recent years."

Major initiatives

Philip added: "This first Festival, with Elgar Howarth at the helm, will showcase major initiatives from David Thornton, and Joe Cook, as well as premiering Howarth's new work for cornet and band, and using the combined talents of our own in-house writers as well. It will be a pleasure to take part."

Compositions

The event starts on Friday with an ensemble of the Black Dyke Band playing compositions from some of the Young Composers of the Yorkshire Youth Brass Band, where Elgar Howarth and Philip Wilby will be offering their experience to the composers.

Lower Brass

On Saturday afternoon, there is an opportunity for any players of “lower brass”, including euphoniums, baritones and basses, to join in a “Spotlight” workshop to enjoy a few hours of tuition and music making with David Thornton and Joseph Cook, concluding with a recital at the end of the afternoon.

Gala Concert

Saturday evening will be the Festivals first Gala Concert at 7.30pm preceded by a talk by Elgar Howarth, Professor Philip Wilby and Dr Nicholas Childs who will explain more about the programme.

New Howarth work

The Gala Concert, by Black Dyke Band, includes 'Walking With Heroes' by Paul Lovatt-Cooper, and a performance to a projected film of the exciting chariot race from Ben Hur as well as the world premiere of the new cornet work commissioned by Elgar Howarth.

Youth involvement

The conclusion to the Festival will be on Sunday afternoon at 2.30pm, when the Black Dyke Band and the Yorkshire Youth Brass Band will perform a concert conducted by Elgar Howarth and Nicholas Childs which will include Howarth’s 'Fireworks', Wilby’s 'Paganini Variations' and Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s 'Dream Catchers'. Again there will be a pre-concert talk by Elgar Howarth, Professor Philip Wilby and Dr Nicholas Childs starting at 1.45pm.

Details

Free admission to the Saturday afternoon Lower Brass Spotlight event can be arranged by emailing David Thornton thorntoneuph@hotmail.com or by calling Joseph Cook on 07773 374064.

Admission to the Friday evening Composers Collective in the Jubilee Room at 8pm is also free. Tickets for the Saturday evening concert, or the Sunday afternoon concert, priced £10 each, are available from Leeds Town Hall Box Office, telephone number 0113 224 3801.

All enquiries about the Festival should be directed to the Festival Administrator Alison Childs on 01457 820138.