The newly crowned British Open champion Black Dyke, provided fans in Oldham with a fine musical appetiser ahead of what proved to be a sumptuous ‘Double’ victory at the National Championship at the Albert Hall.

With the concert close to home, Prof. Nicholas Childs was in a relaxed mood in the presence of family and friends as he took to the stage to conduct the signature march, 'Queensbury'.

Sneak preview

Those hoping to get a sneak preview of the National test piece didn't go home disappointed. 

Having given an informative description of some of the aspects to listen out for in Dr Peter Meechan's 'The Legend of King Arthur', the band gave an evocative foretaste of what would follow in Kensington eight days later.

On a musical Richter scale the performance was tailored to send just the occasional tingle of a tremor through the audience and onto rivals - but it still had the ability to thrill in all the right places.  

Joy

As in the ultimate winning performance, Gary Curtin's euphonium voice in the high register cadenzas was an absolute joy, whilst Zoe Hancock and Stephen Sykes once again delivered their solo interventions with contrasting elegance and thumping aplomb.

It was no surprise that the performance received fine appreciation from the knowledgeable audience - although perhaps with not the same fervent vigour as greeted their last band rendition a week or so later. 

Tasteful

Elsewhere, Richard Marshall produced a tastefully delicate ‘Miss Blue Bonnet’ before two movements from Karl Jenkins' 'Stabat Mater Suite' brought warmth and tonality to the fore. 

Katrina Marzella seduced with 'Be My Love' before the first half closed with PLC's 'Fire in the Blood'.

Exciting

More Lovatt-Cooper followed to open the second half with the exciting 'Enter the Galaxies', before a trio of high class soloists took centre stage.

First up was Jonathan Bates with a refined version of ‘La Califfa', followed by the latest member of the percussion team, Yasuaki Fukuhara, who delivered a stunning unaccompanied performance of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'. 

Test the acoustic

Finally, Gary Curtin enjoyed himself on Vizzutti's 'Carnival of Venus’, which paved the way for the Queensbury outfit’s popular ‘Big Band Set’.

There was still time to test the acoustic of the recently refurbished theatre with the classic finisher, 'Pines of Rome', before the well entertained audience was sent home happy with the added bonus of Howard Lorriman's take on 'Highland Cathedral'.

They may not have known it - but you suspected most left pretty confident they had heard a band that was going to win the National Championship title.

They weren’t wrong.

Malcolm Wood