News Room


Act Justly and Fear Nothing     
Issue 31

BLACK DYKE NATIONAL BRASS BAND CHAMPIONS 

Other Headlines
Ground Force
Will Bequest
Epic Brass Video
Bandroom Improvements
The Messiah
Roundels on Recordings
Russ Abbott
Commemorative Plate
'News Room' Archives

On Saturday the 14th October, BLACK DYKE BAND were awarded 1st prize (197 points) at the National Brass Band Championships, held in the ROYAL ALBERT HALL, LONDON. 20 bands qualified to compete from 8 regional competitions held throughout England, Scotland & Wales. The test piece was entitled “All The Flowers Of The Mountain”, composed by Michael Ball, who was one of the adjudicators along with David Read and Malcolm Brownbill.


“The whole conception is most compelling and persuasive, thank you for some most distinguished and authentative playing”Michael Ball

“A wonderful performance - so well directed - with a quality sound at all dynamic levels”David Read

“A performance of real substance so well directed with everything joining in perfect form”Malcolm Brownbill

Full adjudicators remarks will be published in the next edition of ‘The Black Dyke Bugle’.

The Chairman, Sir James F. Hill Bt. OBE DL and the Trustees are very proud of the Bands performance; A perfect start to go into 2005 when Black Dyke Band will be celebrating their 150th anniversary.


LEGEND MOVES TO QUEENSBURY
Black Dyke Band are pleased to announce the appointment of Peter Roberts as their new Soprano Cornet. Peter will take up his position immediately after the Nationals in October. Nicholas Childs commented, "I am delighted with this appointment. His prowess as a soprano player are unsurpassed and his personality will enhance the character of the band." Geoffrey Whiteley, Administrator, also commented "Peter  is naturally a very professional bandsman. He intends to fulfil his commitments with the Yorkshire Building Society Band and wishes to place on record his thanks to the them and in particular the conductor, Professor David King."This popular series of classical collections continues with volume 4. The recording features favourites such as Fingal's Cave, The Hall of the Mountain King, Romance and Pachelbel's Canon.

Pondashers around the world will be keen to know that Peter's debut concert with Black Dyke is on Saturday, 23rd October, 2004 at the Derngate Theatre, Northampton, followed on the Sunday afternoon with a performance at the Hawth. The tremendous support that the band enjoys will ensure a warm welcome for Peter. He is looking forward to joining the band, “I have had a quite fantastic seven years with YBS, but I feel that now is the right time for me to meet the one outstanding challenge for me as a player in the four or five years I believe I can still perform at the very highest level. This was perhaps the last great playing position I wanted to fill in my career". Peter was at pains to thank YBS and in particular Professor David King for all that they have done during the period he has spent with the band. "I cannot thank David King and the band enough. What I have learnt from him as a player has been immense, and I believe he has made me into an even better performer. I owe Professor King a great deal indeed."

More>>


Summer Prom Recording

Summer Prom, recorded earlier this year at Huddersfield Town Hall with the Halifax Choral Society, is now available. It Features a wide range of pieces and a rousing finale in the spirit of "The Proms".

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Spectacular Classics 4
This popular series of classical collections continues with volume 4. The recording features favourites such as Fingal's Cave, The Hall of the Mountain King, Romance and Pachelbel's Canon.

More>>


Roger Webster's "Passport"
We are delighted to announce the release of this recording featuring the virtuoso talents of Roger Webster.

More>>


CONCERT TICKETS
From time to time we are able to offer tickets for our concerts direct to our supporters. If you buy your tickets to these events from us, a larger portion of the proceeds goes directly to the running and upkeep of The Black Dyke Band. 

Please check this area of the web site for ticket availability.


Normal Service Resumed...
After the slight hiccough with the live webcast of our recent concert in aid of the Salvation Army Watershed Project from Salford University, we are delighted to announce that some clips are now available. Many thanks to Ian Dobie, Project Manager @ FreeFlowUK, for his efforts in making these available to us.

Further details of the concert and webcast clips can be found here>>


Other Recent Recordings


David Thornton: Three Worlds
This unique event, featuring the massed talents of the Black Dyke and International Staff Bands, is rapidly becoming a collectors item and is a must for all fans of brass band music. Don't forget, by ordering your recording from us you will be directly supporting the band and helping to ensure its future.

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Eric Ball Centenary Concert DVD & Video
This unique event, featuring the massed talents of the Black Dyke and International Staff Bands, is rapidly becoming a collectors item and is a must for all fans of brass band music. Don't forget, by ordering your recording from us you will be directly supporting the band and helping to ensure its future.

More>>


Evelyn Glennie Collaboration
We are pleased to announce that this unique CD is available once again. Nominated for a Grammy in the 41st Annual Awards, Reflected in Brass is a classic worth adding to any collection.

More>> 


Support Black Dyke in Your Will
As supporters of Black Dyke Band, why not include a bequest in your Will to assist the Band's future? The most convenient way is to make the bequest to Black Dyke Band as a registered charity. Your gift may be of money, property or memorabilia. The last could these could be added to existing collections, but if they were duplicates they could, with your prior consent, be sold for the highest price through an appropriate agency and the funds thus raised be used to support the charity. More>>

Epic Brass Video
A lasting memento of the fantastic concert by Black Dyke and the International Staff Band in the Royal Albert Hall, October 2001. Also featuring Top Soloists - Roger Webster, David Dawes & David Thornton. This collectors item is now available to buy directly from our recordings section. More>>

Ground Force Still Going Strong
The world-wide demand for this recording continues, thanks to BBC Worldwide as the popular series is now shown in America, Australia, South Africa and of course United Kingdom. If you would like to hear the title track or purchase this CD direct from us then please visit the recordings section of our site.

PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL WE ARE UNABLE TO GUARANTEE SUPPLIES OF GROUND FORCE AT THE PRESENT TIME. WE HAVE PROVISIONALLY SECURED NEW SUPPLIES OF THIS RECORDING DUE FOR ARRIVAL IN EARLY 2005. IN THE MEANTIME, WE HAVE DECIDED TO SUSPEND ORDERING UNTIL WE CAN GUARANTEE TO FULFIL ORDERS. MANY THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND WE APOLOGISE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE CAUSED.

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Bandroom Improvements
It is the intention of the Trustees to continue to seek additional assisted funding from various sources, in the meantime the development programme at the Bandroom is to continue. It is acknowledged, that without the much needed additional funding, this will take longer than first envisaged. Thanks to donations from supporters through phase one of our Appeal and funds earned by the Band, coupled with hard work by volunteers, the achievements so far include; Purchase of the Bandroom, the complete library of music has been up-dated, catalogued and entered on to the computer, vital roof repairs have been completed, a new office and meeting room area has been created, the assembly area, merchandise room and library, have all been redecorated. Also, following the Trustees awareness that percussionists frequently experience difficulty in finding suitable teaching and rehearsal facilities, the 'percussion teaching, training and rehearsal area has now been completed and is of particular benefit to young people, both locally and from other regions. Meetings have been held with the appointed Architects, Totty Partnership of Sheffield with the intention of commencing work on the next phase, that of extending the present band rehearsal area, including the purchase of new chairs.

Commemorative Plate - Only a Few Remaining!
A unique limited edition collectors item, 10 ¾. Inches (27cm) in diameter , featuring historical information about the band. Only a few remaining of the 280 that were manufactured Please refer to the Merchandise pages for ordering details. More>>

The Messiah
This popular recording "The Messiah", featuring the Halifax Choral Society, is available from our on-line shop. As usual a track has been selected for addition to our Juke Box. All CD's purchased directly from the Band will now bear a Black Dyke Roundel featuring the Band logo and Latin quotation in gold (see below).
More>>

Roundels on Recordings
The sale of CD's and merchandise all help the Band to survive, as a thank you, all CD's purchased directly from the Band will now bear a Black Dyke Roundel featuring the Band logo and Latin quotation in gold. On receiving their recordings enterprising fans peel them off and use them as instrument case stickers.

The latest addition to our leisurewear range is the Black Dyke Band 'T' Shirt with usual logo in gold thread, these are available from the on-line shop, our merchandise stand at concerts or by mail order.

Our new ties with the woven shadow logo, are now available in a presentation sleeve which also features the new ' Black Dyke' roundel.

More on Merchandise>>


Russ Abbott Receives Honorary Life Membership
Mike Heywood, Russ Abbott, Sir James Hill & Geoff WhiteleyRuss Abbott, ‘Gentleman of the Theatre’ and long-time supporter of the Black Dyke Band, has been awarded Honorary Life Membership as a mark of respect for his contribution to the world of entertainment.
Mr Abbott, whose father was a cornet player, said on receiving the award “If my father were alive today he would be so proud of the honour which Black Dyke have bestowed on me. Dad always admired Black Dyke and kept a record collection of which I am now the proud owner. One thing I did learn from him was you can always tell a good band when you hear one and this is so true when you listen to Black Dyke.”Russ Abbott is member No. 1 of the Friend of Black Dyke – why not join him and our other members in supporting the band in this unique way.

'News Room' Archives
From the commencement of the web-site there have been changes to the ‘News Room’ pages. Some visitors may have not had chance to read previous issues, so we have set up an archives list below which will enable visitors to catch up on any news they may have missed. Although the contents of these pages will be intact, some of the links may be out of date and we apologise for this. Also, earlier issues may not conform to the recent redesign of the site.
 
PLEASE NOTE

Any Special Offers or Promotions mentioned in the News Room Archives are no longer current. As such, we are unable to honour any request that relate to these promotions.

 
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