After a busy weekend performing and recording with Black Dyke, Paul Lovatt-Cooper has stepped down from his duties as percussionist with the band prior to their preparation for the English Nationals in June.

Sabbatical

Black Dyke performed at Rochdale's Gracie Fields Theatre and Dukinfield's Town Hall last weekend where they featured some of Paul's music, and Monday marked Paul's last playing commitment with the band before stepping down for a two-month sabbatical.

Missed

Dr Nicholas Childs told 4BR: "Paul is a fantastic player and his presence will be missed. However, he is also a very successful composer and we knew that at some point soon his music would eventually be chosen for a contest that the band would be competing in."

He added: "On this occasion Paul has relinquished his playing commitments but we look forward to welcoming him back to the fold after the English Nationals as the band embarks upon our tour of Australia in August."

It's quite a bittersweet experience as I am obviously sad not being able to play, but at the same time thrilled at the prospect of hearing the cream of English bands performing one of my major worksPLC

14 year run

PLC's absence from the Nationals signals an end to a 14 year consecutive top flight contest run, as the English Nationals will be the first major contest that he will miss since making his debut at the European Championships in Luxembourg 1995 with Faireys.

Bittersweet

Paul told 4BR: "It's quite a bittersweet experience as I am obviously sad not being able to play, but at the same time thrilled at the prospect of hearing the cream of English bands performing one of my major works."

He added: "However, not only am I going to miss playing at the English Nationals but I am going to miss some major concert events too, including performances in Norway, performing with Hayley Westenra in Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall and Whit Friday."

Even though Paul's playing commitments will cease with Black Dyke for the time being, he still remains busy.

Butlins test piece

He has a number of compositions due for completion this summer, including the test piece 'Sleepless Cities' composed for the Championship Section of the 2010 Butlins Mineworkers Contest.

PLC will also join forces with Philip Wilby, Peter Graham and Philip Harper as they give a pre-concert talk at the Brass Arts Festival on May 30th at Leeds Metropolitan University.

Japan visit

Prior to the English Nationals Paul will fly to Japan where he has been invited to perform as the guest soloist with Tokyo City Concert Brass. The concert will feature Paul as a soloist as he performs his Percussion Concerto. Tokyo City Concert Brass will also perform Paul's 'Antarctica' and 'Skylines'.

On line Masterclass

PLC's on-line master class of the English Nationals test piece 'Within Blue Empires' will be broadcast exclusively on 4BR in early May.