*
banner

Black Dyke

Conductor: Prof Nicholas Childs
Stoller Hall
Manchester
Sunday 19th May

Soon to return as a contender at the inaugural BrassPasstv Band of the Year contest, Black Dyke flexed their musical muscles for their debut Stoller Hall appearance - the first on what will become a familiar stage over the coming months.

A relaxed Prof Nicholas Childs, who 24 hours earlier had led NASUWT Riverside to victory in the Grand Shield in Blackpool, ensured the Queensbury band made an immediate impression with the audience (the hall appeared to be over half full) with a swaggering ‘Blaze Away’ march.

Robust energy

A Sunday afternoon concert favourite of Verdi’s overture ‘Nabucodonosor’ led to the first of the six featured soloists. 

Richard Marshall’s touching rendition of Terry Camsay’s ‘Melody of the Heart’ was a nice pathway to Sir Karl Jenkins’ ‘The Armed Man’ which included the emotive ‘Benedictus’ duet of Zoe Hancock (flugel) and Dan Thomas (euphonium), before Katrina Marzella gave a delightful rendition of ‘Alone with my Thoughts’. Peter Graham’s ‘To Boldly Go’ rounded off the first half with a touch of robust energy.

Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s vibrant ‘Walking with Heroes’ opened the second in upbeat mood, followed by the sinuous drama of Keith Wilkinson’s excerpt arrangement of Saint-Saens ‘Dance Bacchanale’ from Samson & Delilah.

Gavin Saynor will have had more taxing solo outings than Roy Newsome’s ‘Bass in the Ballroom’ over the years, but he didn’t half enjoy himself, whilst Siobhan Bates reminded everyone why she was recently crowned the 2019 Young Brass Award winner courtesy of the delightful ‘A Celtic Promise’. Daniel Thomas was not to be outdone however with a remarkable display of virtuosity on Peter Graham’s ‘Bravura’. 

Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s vibrant ‘Walking with Heroes’ opened the second in upbeat mood, followed by the sinuous drama of Keith Wilkinson’s excerpt arrangement of Saint-Saens ‘Dance Bacchanale’ from Samson & Delilah.

Rousing sounds

The popular big band trio of ‘Song of the Volga Boatmen’, ‘Wonderful World’ and ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’ were polished off with efficiency, before the rousing sounds of the ‘March of the Appian Way’ brought the formal proceedings to a close.

It had been excellent Sunday afternoon fayre - with the encore of ‘Highland Cathedral’ a rousing way to entice Pondasher fans back again.

David Hughes 

Support us for less than a cup of coffee...

4BR wants to ensure that the brass band movement remains vibrant and relevant. We also want to be able to question, challenge and critically examine those who run and play in it, producing high quality journalism that informs as well as entertains our readers.

So if like us you value a strong, independent perspective on the brass band world - then why not consider becoming a supporter and help make our future and that of a burgeoning brass band movement more secure.

So one less cappuccino then?

Support us    



Brass Bands England - Brass Band Week

Saturday 5 July • Nation wide


Besses Boys' Band - Besses Boys' Band Summer Concert

Saturday 5 July • The Derby High School, Radcliffe Rd, Bury BL9 9NH


Putney and Wimbledon Brass Band - Summer Concert

Sunday 6 July • Community Church Putney, Werter Road. SW15 2LL


Longridge Band - Anniversary Concert

Saturday 12 July • Longridge Civic Hall, 1 Calder Avenue, Longridge, Preston PR3 3HT


Haverhill Silver Band - Proms Concert - St Ives

Saturday 12 July • Hill Rise Park, St Ives PE27 6SP


Concert Brass Poynton

July 4 • Concert Brass Poynton: No Contesting - Not a learners Band. Rehearse on Wednesday Evenings between 8.00 to 10.00pm (short comfort break). We seek a front row cornet and a Tenor Horn and A Tenor Trombone and Bass Trom too..


Ocean Brass

July 4 • Ocean Brass are inviting applications for a kit player, as we prepare for an exciting schedule of concerts and contests in the second section through 2025 and beyond! We rehearse Thursdays 8pm-10pm, Banister Park Bowls Club, Southampton, SO50 9HT


Haverhill Silver Band

July 3 • Haverhill Silver Band (championship section) seeks a PRINCIPAL CORNET. This is a superb opportunity to lead East Anglia's premier brass band on the concert and contest stage (including the Senior Cup and Whit Friday).


Dave Collins

BA (Hons) (Dunelm) I, FSCO
Composer and Arranger


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd