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European Championship 2016 – 2nd place!
Youth Brass 2000 (Chris Jeans)
Olympus (Philip Harper) Capriccio Brilliante (H. Belstedt arr Sandy Smith), Tenor Horn Soloist: Siobhan Bates, Scherzo for Motor Cycle and Orchestra John Williams arr Klaas van der Woude), March Brioso (Philip Sparke)
It's the Olympic themed set work to open for the four time English winner of youth contests in the UK in 2016.
It's so well polished and delivered right from the bright opening. There's that winning Olympic spirit running through the nostrils of the players too. They are so composed on stage here and there is so much warmth in the playing although the percussion playing wasn't as neat and polished as it could have been.
Siobhan Bates goes all Sheona White with the solo the Scot was synonymous with, 'Capriccio Brilliante'. It's classy playing right from the off, so secure and measured with nothing out of place and it's a breeze as the tempos are upped at the end. Very impressive indeed and very easy to see why this lady is so highly respected and sought after.
Possibly the best horn playing of the entire weekend - and look who has played on this stage so far?
The remainder of the programme comes from their recent Premier Section National Youth winning victory.
The Scherzo for Motor Cycle and Orchestra is so well balanced whilst the reprise of the Philip Sparke 'March Brioso' bristles along within the blink of an eye and makes you think of 'You're riding along on the crest of a wave....'.
Seriously high class playing from the English representative, but whether it is enough today to topple the Young guns of Willebroek (or anyone else still to come) remains to be seen.
This Easter, I had the privilege of being a guest soloist at two gigs. In France, I performed alongside Daniel Thomas and Brass Band Loire Forez, while closer to home, I joined the Rolls Royce Derby Band. It was an enriching experience connecting with fellow musicians.
Black Dyke Band was delighted to be crowned Yorkshire champions once again in 2024. Having already qualified for the Nationals with our win in 2023, this year's performance was slightly easier and pressure-free. It was a pleasure to perform in such a relaxed atmosphere and still achieve victory.
One of the most significant performances of my career was being a soloist at the International Festival of Brass 2024. I had the honor of performing Philip Wilby's "Fantasie Concertante" in the presence of the composer himself. It was an unforgettable experience and a true highlight of my musical journey.
I am thrilled to share that I celebrated my first-ever National Championships win with Black Dyke Band! Performing "Of Men and Mountains" by Edward Gregson, we delivered a powerful and moving performance that secured our victory. It was an incredible honor to achieve this milestone with such an esteemed group.
Shortly after the European Championships, Neil and I treated ourselves to a well-deserved holiday in the Maldives. It was our first big trip together, and it became even more special on May 23, 2023, when Neil asked me to marry him. I happily said yes! This beautiful trip will always hold a special place in our hearts.
In May, Black Dyke Band faced significant travel challenges when our flights to the European Brass Band Championships were unexpectedly cancelled. Despite these setbacks, our determination and swift logistical adjustments allowed us to reach the competition in time. Our hard work and resilience paid off as we delivered outstanding performances, ultimately tying for first place. However, due to Brass Band Tres 13 Toiles scoring higher on the set test piece, they were crowned the overall winners, placing us in a close second. For my first experience at the adult Europeans, I am immensely proud of our achievement and the way we overcame obstacles to shine on such a prestigious stage. Second place is a fantastic result, and I look forward to future competitions with Black Dyke.
On March 5th, Black Dyke Band drew the dreaded number one spot at the Yorkshire Area Brass Band Championships. Despite the challenge of performing first, we delivered an exceptional performance that won us first place. I was also privileged to win the best soloist award, making the victory even sweeter. It was a proud day for Black Dyke!
Finally, after two long years of waiting, I finally graduated from the University of Huddersfield with a First Class Honours in Music Performance.
Black Dyke retained its' Yorkshire title on Sunday 6th March at Huddersfield Town Hall in a performance of precision, clarity, and supreme musicality. Judging by the ovation at the end of Wilfred Heaton’s demanding “Contest Music,” it was the performance the audience had been waiting for. Performing last of twelve bands, the consensus was that it would see the band retain its’ Yorkshire title. Prof. Nicholas Childs commented that the soloists and band had delivered a virtuosic performance of which they could be proud, with Richard Marshall winning the prestigious ‘Best Principal Cornet’ award.
After 20 months of patiently waiting for the right place to perform the World Premiere of Upon Green Vales, it was great to perform it on 19th December 2021 with Black Dyke Band at Huddersfield Town Hall. Can't wait to play it more concerts in 2022. Have a listen below!