BLACK DYKE BAND - Key Persons
Hailing from the North of England and born into a musical family, (his grandad a cornet player in the RAF, mother a tenor horn player, and father a trombone player) music has been a huge part of Adam's life.
He started playing the Trombone aged 10. Following encouragement from his teacher, Crawford Hall, Adam moved to Bass Trombone when he was 14. Soon after he joined his local ensemble, the North Skelton Band. He spent 18 months with them, and during this time he also joined the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.
His musical development continued with the Fishburn Band for 18 Months, before he joined The Reg Vardy Band in 2011, where he remained for seven years. It was during this time Adam also played for the Black Dyke Youth Trombone Quartet, enjoying a fantastic tour to the Great American Brass Festival in Danville, Kentucky.
Adam was a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain from 2010 to 2013, becoming principal Bass Trombone in 2013. Whilst a member he enjoyed many wonderful concerts including a notable performance at the BBC Proms.
Adam officially joined the Black Dyke Band in 2018, having helped the band regularly since 2017. With the band he has enjoyed great concerts, contests, and tours, with personal highlights being tours to Japan, and performing at the National Finals and British Open. In the band, Adam also enjoys sitting next to his dad - Garry Reed - who has always been a huge inspiration to his playing career.
In Adam's personal life he works for the Geneva group, a musical instrument manufacturer, having been with them since he was 16. His roles have ranged from Instrument Technician and Repairer, to his current role as a Graphic Designer.
Job Titles:
- Band Member Alison Childs
Alison started reading music when she was seven years old. Her first instrumental experience was playing recorder and piano, and she only began playing brass at the age of 10, when she borrowed her brother's cornet, and joined the school band. She quickly rose through the cornet ranks and became the first female Principal Cornet of the Blue Coat School Band.
Alison has an excellent band pedigree. She first joined Blackley Band, where her brother also played, starting as 3 rd cornet, but quickly moving to 2 nd solo cornet, before making the move onto solo horn. After 11 years with Blackley, she had a short spell at Newton Heath before joining Championship section band Rochdale Wilsons, winning several Best Soloist Awards.
In 1989 Alison accepted the 1 st horn seat at Foden's (Britannia) under the baton of Howard Snell, where she stayed until having a baby. It was with Fodens that she became a proud winner at the European Championships in 1992. Other highlights with Fodens were being victorious in the UK Entertainment Contest, All England Contest and the BBC Band of the Year competition.
Alison has been a playing member of the Black Dyke Band since June 1999, when James Watson asked her to join. Highlights have been during her time with the band however, winning the British Open, National Championships and European titles are amongst those she ranks highest.
Throughout a long and illustrious career, she has been privileged to play in some of the most amazing concert venues in the world: Sydney Opera House, KKL Lucerne, Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, as well as enjoying many TV and Radio appearances and music festivals - including notably the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury! She has also enjoyed making many recording sessions with bands throughout the UK and Europe and is a past Producer and Director of Doyen recordings.
Since 2007 she has been the Administrator for the International Brass Band Summer School, which is held once a year at Swansea University, which attracts some 120 delegates from countries around the world.
Despite all her success Alison says that she still has the desire to keep playing and performing at the highest level, something she hopes will continue for a long time!
It was clear from a very young age that Amy had a real gift for music. She demonstrated a musical maturity and ability far beyond her years and allied to her determination and commitment to embrace all musical opportunities available to her, this has translated into her achieving considerable success as a musician.
Coming from a remote location, Campbeltown in Scotland, meant Amy often had to travel long distances for playing opportunities. Despite this, as a young musician, she committed herself to several nights a week with a brass band as well as taking on solo and ceilidh gigs with her fiddle. She also taught younger pupils privately, being highly regarded by parents and pupils alike.
Amy took the role of principal horn with the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland for several years and won a number of awards and solo competitions, including Young Musician of the Year in her local area, various music festivals in Campbeltown, Mid Argyll and Oban and was Scottish Solo Champion in February 2019. She was also very pleased to be featured in the Rising Stars section of the British Bandsman magazine.
Amy is currently a second year Tenor Horn player studying for her BMus(Hons) degree at The Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, under the tuition of world-renowned Tenor Horn virtuoso Owen Farr. She is currently being funded by The Cross Trust, Agar Trust and the Dewar Arts Awards who fund the best of Scotland's young artistic talent.
In December 2019, Amy was thrilled to accept the invitation to join the world-famous Black Dyke Band. Since then, she has played in many concerts across the country. In March 2020, she competed in her first competition with the band and they were crowned Yorkshire Regional Champions.
Ben joined the Black Dyke Band in December 2012. During his time with the band Ben has been privileged to win the European, National and British Open titles along with four Yorkshire Area Championships. The 2017 Yorkshire area victory, playing "Pageantry", was a particular highlight for Ben as this was during the six-month period he deputised on Solo Baritone.
Ben has had many incredible experiences performing in some of the greatest concert halls across the world including those in Japan, USA, Switzerland and Norway. This global travel has been complemented with regular performances at many of UK's best venues such as the Royal Albert Hall and Symphony Hall Birmingham.
In addition to playing in the band Ben has been responsible for the band's social media channels for the last three years. His efforts have helped promote Black Dyke around the world and engage with supporters, significantly growing our online following.
Outside of his band duties, Ben is teacher of Maths at Wardle Academy in his hometown of Rochdale. He is also a partner in an event promotion company which organises music festivals such as Little Glastonboro.
Job Titles:
- Band Member Charlie Cresswell
Job Titles:
- Band Member Connor Lennon
Connor began his love affair with the Cornet in his hometown of Bolton, when at the age of 10 he began lessons with enthusiastic Bolton Music Service brass tutor Helen Minshall. He played with a number of ensembles through the Bolton music service, and then joined the Bolton Youth Brass Band (BYBB) where he took the opportunity to move onto the soprano cornet chair.
At this juncture Connor began instrumental lessons with current Fodens Richardson Band soprano Richard Poole. Under the tuition of Richard, Connor rapidly improved his playing, and as a result of this won numerous awards with BYBB. It was during this period that he also decided to attend Black Dyke's youth programme - ‘The Yorkshire Youth Brass Band'.
Whilst studying his A-levels Connor joined the Poulton Le Fylde Brass Band on the soprano chair gaining valuable experience playing in the north-west championship section contests. He then had spells playing for the Wingates Brass Band and the Wardle & Anderson Brass Band under Sean Conway.
In 2011 Connor studied at the University of Huddersfield gaining a BMus (Hons) degree under the guidance of Professor Phillip McCann and Mike Woodhead. Whilst studying at university, he joined championship section bands such as: Wakefield and Skelmenthorpe and the Carlton Main Brass Band with whom he enjoyed four years playing in the country's biggest competitions. A particular highlight during this period was winning the Brian Evans Memorial trophy for ‘Best Soprano' at the British Open Championships in 2017.
In 2018 Connor went on to join the Brighouse & Raistrick Brass Band on soprano enjoying a very successful one year spell; claiming the Yorkshire Regionals Championships and 3 rd places at other ‘majors' - a particular highlight was playing at his first European Championships. One year later Connor accepted the invitation to join the Black Dyke Brass Band on the soprano chair and has thoroughly enjoyed his first year performing with the band, claiming the Yorkshire Regional Championship and 2 nd places at other majors. Other notable highlights were overseas concerts in Japan and Switzerland.
Connor is keen on contributing to the development of the next generation of young players and currently works as an instrumental tutor for Barnsley Music Service, and more recently as a cornet tutor for the National Children's Brass Band.
Dave has a deep-rooted passion for the brass band community and prides himself on competing and performing at the highest level. He especially enjoys working alongside others to enable them to realise their full potential as musicians.
At the age of 19 he held the position of Principal Cornet with the Harrogate Band . Two years later he had progressed into top level banding, joining the Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band on front row. From there, he was able to develop his musical career and accepted a seat within the cornet section of the Black Dyke Band in November 2009.
Following his joining the band he has been a Triple Yorkshire Area Champion, Triple English National Champion, British Open Champion, National Champion of Great Britain and European Champion, twice. He has enjoyed many concerts and tours in the UK and abroad including touring Japan three times, playing the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury, performing at Wembley stadium, as well as travelling the world to New York, Switzerland, Norway, Austria, Luxembourg and France, amongst many other destinations.
He has been particularly honoured and privileged to have been awarded ‘Bandsman of the Year' twice, and most recently been awarded ‘Pondasher of the Year', recognising his support of the band.
For three years from 2012, he was musical director at the Tewit Youth Brass Band, Harrogate. He led this group of youngsters (aged 11 - 18) to the most successful period in their history - claiming the title of Whit Friday Saddleworth March Overall Youth Champions as well as Gold Award (3rd place) at the 2014 National Youth Championships of Great Britain. He ranks these as some of his proudest conducting moments.
Away from band life he currently works as a Business Support Advisor for Yorkshire Building Society, offering operational support and risk management oversight to branches and agencies in the UK - a job he really enjoys. He has two children, William and Holly, aged 1 and 3, who he says ‘certainly keep myself and my wife Sarah on our toes!'
Gareth first learnt to play percussion at the Whitwell Brass Band in 2006 where his dad, Andy, was playing the Baritone. He went on to join the Thoresby Colliery Band in 2010 and with them he gave his first performance at the National Brass Band Championships in 2011. In 2012 he joined the Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band participating in several memorable performances under the direction of Philip McCann, including their winning performance of ‘Harmony Music' at the Yorkshire Regional Championships in 2013.
2014 saw Gareth join The Desford Colliery Band providing him with the opportunity to travel, perform and teach in many parts of the Far and Middle East including: Thailand, Vietnam, Dubai and Singapore. In 2015 he also travelled to Austria with the Leyland Band where they performed in the courtyard of the Imperial Palace, Innsbruck as part of the Innsbruck Promenade Concert series.
Gareth joined the Black Dyke Band at the start of 2019. Highlights so far include performing at the KKL Concert Hall in Lucerne and at venues across Japan as part of the band's 2019 tour. Memorable contest performances include, most notably, the bands winning performance of ‘A tale as yet untold' at the 2020 Yorkshire Regional Championships and ‘Titan's progress' at the 2019 National Brass Band Championships which saw the band qualify to represent England at the European Championships in 2021.
Gareth has also enjoyed performing on the bands' recent recordings - a highlight being one of the band's latest releases which features the music of John Rutter arranged for brass band by Luc Vertommen.
Away from the world of brass bands, Gareth performs with orchestras in Sheffield and Nottingham, and works as a secondary school Music Teacher at both Shirebrook Academy in Derbyshire and Aston Academy on the outskirts of Sheffield. Complementing all his musical activity he is currently completing a MA in music with the Open University.
Hailing from the North of England, Garry's lifelong association with brass bands began when he joined Grangetown Salvation Army, was handed a trombone, and he has never looked back. He went on to play with many local youth bands until joining the North Skelton Band in 1974. Here he enjoyed many fantastic years as principal trombone. He played for them while they ascended from Fourth to Championship section. Highlights during his time with the band include being a soloist on Best of Brass and competing in the Isle of Man Festival.
In 1996, Garry's playing life took a devastating turn. He was involved in a pushbike accident with his son, which led to Garry having 18 stiches on the inside of his top lip and 20 on the outside, with a further four stiches in his bottom lip, a broken nose, and to add insult to injury, he lost six of his front teeth. Following the accident many of his family and friends never expected him to play again. However, Garry didn't quit!
Being a committed bandsman, he didn't want to leave North Skelton, so he continued playing with the band on percussion. This gave him the time to start learning to play the Trombone all over again - it took him three months to be able to play the C Scale. After two years filled with incredibly difficult and exhausting practice, he was finally able to perform on Trombone again!
In 1999 Garry was asked to join the Reg Vardy Band. He was delighted and stayed with the band for five years before joining Black Dyke in 2004.
Being a member of the Black Dyke Band has been immensely rewarding and has given Garry the opportunity to play in countless concert halls across the world and compete at the highest level in banding. He still thoroughly enjoys playing with the band - and especially sitting beside his son Adam who plays bass trombone.
In his personal life Garry lives with his partner Lesley and daughter Catherine. He runs his own Plumbing and Heating Engineering business. This keeps him immensely busy, but it also allows him the time to commit to a band as demanding as Black Dyke. It's also handy to have him in the band when the heating goes off!
Job Titles:
- Arts Administrator
- Band Member Gavin Saynor
Gavin started playing a brass instrument at the age of seven in the Deiniolen Youth Band. He moved to Tuba at the age of 10 and started taking brass playing seriously following a lesson with Black Dyke legend Colin Aspinall. He quickly progressed to county groups and the North Wales Youth Orchestra. He became a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales, leading the Tuba section for several courses.
His school days saw Gavin win several prestigious awards for his playing and he developed into an accomplished soloist as well as an ensemble player. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Salford where he specialised in Musical Performance and Arts Administration.
Gavin has been a member of some of the finest brass bands including Leyland, Fairey, Yorkshire Building Society, and Cory. Personal career highlights include being awarded the City of Bergen Soloist Prize at the 2003 European Brass Band Championships and being a guest soloist at the International Tuba and Euphonium Association Conference. In 2003 Gavin was nominated as Player of the Year on the respected website 4barsrest and has been regularly chosen for their annual Band of the Year selection. As a soloist, performer and clinician Gavin has performed and held workshops across the world including in Norway, Switzerland, USA, Australia, Brazil, Sweden, Italy, Germany and throughout the UK. As part of Black Dyke he was featured as a soloist on the band's tour of Japan in 2019. As well as being a player Gavin is no stranger to the conducting baton having led several local bands to Regional and National successes.
An Arts Administrator, Gavin was a long-time executive member of Tŷ Cerdd, which supported all the national youth activities as well as supporting community music throughout Wales. He is currently on the music panel for the National Eisteddfod of Wales, and adjudicated instrumental competitions at this prestigious event in 2019.
Gavin is also involved in the academic world and as well as being a tutor at Bangor University, he has also held the same post at the University of Salford. He is currently Tuba tutor for the NYBBW.
Born in Manchester, John lived for most of his childhood in Preston, and it was here that he first started playing brass instruments. Starting on Trombone, John quickly switched allegiance to the cornet and never looked back.
He began to play with the Lancashire Evening Post Junior Band, with whom he appeared on an edition of the BBC children's programme Playaway. He moved into the senior band ultimately becoming principal cornet and concurrently was also a member of the Lancashire Youth Brass Band on the Solo Cornet bench.
John's musical pedigree is extensive. 1988 saw him studying for a Graduate Diploma in Band Musicianship at Salford College of Technology. Here he studied conducting and arranging and composition and was lucky enough to take composition lessons with the renowned Elgar Howarth. Membership of the College Band also led John to go on a number of prestigious tours including tours of Holland, Hungary and the Soviet Union - the first brass band ever to do so. He also joined The Trafford Band on Solo Cornet and Repiano Cornet and became conductor of the Trafford Junior Band.
Graduating from Salford, John took up a position as Principal Cornet of the Ensemble de Cuivres d'Ajoie in Porrentruy, Jura, Switzerland - a British style brass band competing in the Championship section. He worked as a peripatetic brass instrumental tutor and was conductor of the local town band the Fanfare Municipale de Porrentruy, living in Switzerland from August 1988 - June 1990.
Returning to the UK he re-joined The Trafford Band on Principal Cornet until 1991 when he joined Wingates Band on the solo cornet bench, where he played until June 1999. Following a chance meeting with Alison Childs at a CD recording in Smithills School, he was invited down to Black Dyke Band where James Watson offered him a position on Second Cornet.
Returning to full time education in 2001 John became Teacher of Music at a Secondary School in Bolton before becoming Head of Music in 2005. In December 2014 he sought fresh challenges and moved into Primary teaching, where he is working at the present time.
John says that he was very lucky in 1993 to get married to a very understanding young lady, Joanne, also a Cornet player who he had met whilst both were students at Salford, and together they have a teenage son.
In the summer of 2018 he was invited to become Secretary of the Black Dyke band, a role he continues to fulfil.
John Wilson is in demand at the highest level across the globe, regularly guest conducting the world's finest orchestras; in recent seasons, these have included the London Symphony, London Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw, Budapest Festival, Oslo Philharmonic, Bavarian Radio Symphony, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic and Sydney Symphony orchestras, and productions at English National Opera and Glyndebourne Summer Festival.
"I am greatly honoured and delighted to become President of the Black Dyke Band. I grew up playing in brass bands, and my respect, admiration and affection for them has never dimmed"
For many years Wilson appeared widely across the UK and abroad with the John Wilson Orchestra, and in 2018 he relaunched the Sinfonia of London, with whom he has recorded several award-winning CDs covering a vast range of repertoire from Respighi through to Britten and Dutilleux. In 2021 Wilson and the Sinfonia of London made their much-anticipated debut performance at the BBC Proms, described by The Guardian as "truly outstanding". This year, the orchestra appeared to rave reviews on the second night of the BBC Proms in a concert of English music.
Wilson has an extensive and varied discography. The most recent recordings with the Sinfonia of London have received exceptional acclaim, winning the BBC Music Magazine Orchestral Award three years running.
Born in Gateshead, Wilson studied composition and conducting at the Royal College of Music, where in 2011, he was made a Fellow. In March 2019, John Wilson was awarded the prestigious ISM Distinguished Musician Award for his services to music, and in 2021 was appointed Henry Wood Chair of Conducting at the Royal Academy of Music.
Commenting on his appointment, John said, "I am greatly honoured and delighted to become President of the Black Dyke Band. I grew up playing in brass bands, and my respect, admiration and affection for them has never dimmed". Chairman of the Board of Black Dyke Band Trustees, Trevor Caffull, commented, "We are delighted that John Wilson has agreed to be our Honorary President. We are very excited about some of the initial thoughts shared regarding potential collaborations. In his early life, John was steeped in brass band culture. He has lost no enthusiasm for the genre - we are very optimistic that this will evolve into a mutually rewarding association".
Born in Plymouth Jon started playing the cornet at the age of 10 with the Royal British Legion (Plymouth) Band. In these formative years he was tutored by three inspirational musicians, Julie Chivers, Evan Howells and Terry Nielsen and became Principal Cornet.
1992 saw Jon audition for the Band of The Grenadier Guards and upon his success he joined the Army as a Musician. He studied music at The Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall. While there, he was a featured performer with the European Youth Orchestra to a packed Hyde Park audience. After completing his musical training, Jon was posted to join his brother Tim, in what came to be known as The Minden Band of The Queens Division.
Jon also joined The Ipswich Co-Op Band on Soprano and in 1999 joined the Rothwell Temperance Band in Leeds. Featured regularly as a soloist, Jon gained a fine reputation and in 2002 took over from his brother as Principal Cornet of the Minden Band. Tours to Italy, Canada, Hong Kong, USA and even the Falkland Islands followed
2006 saw Jon posted to London and The Band of The Welsh Guards where he held the prestigious position of Principal Cornet. He featured regularly as a soloist and performed with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The London Philharmonic and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. The Welsh Guards gave him some unforgettable musical opportunities. Most memorable performances being the 60th Anniversary of Her Majesty's Coronation, the State visit of President Barrack Obama, The Royal Wedding of HRH the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Jon was assigned to lead The Band of the Kings Division in 2014 with which he saw great success, continuing to perform all over the world and picking up many accolades and awards for his solo performances along the way. Jon had held down both the Principal Cornet seat with the Kings Division and Soprano Cornet with Rothwell simultaneously for several years but in 2017, after 25 years' service, Jon retired from the British Army and relocated to live in Yorkshire and continue playing in Rothwell. He turned his complete focus to Bb Cornet and moved off Soprano to the Principal seat and after a short tenure, was honoured to be offered the position of Assistant Principal Cornet with the Black Dyke Band.
Jon now lives in Wakefield with his wife Nicola, and son Henry.
Job Titles:
- Band Member Keith Britcliffe
Keith began learning to play a brass instrument at the age of 10. His late father took him to their local village band rehearsal, ( Barnetby Silver Band ), and asked if they had a learners class. They did, and Keith was given the only instrument left in the cupboard, a flugel horn, and the rest, as they say, is history.
At 13, he successfully auditioned for the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. Other members of the band at the time were, Alan Morrison, Robert Childs, Nicholas Thompson and Alan Wycherley, to name a few. A couple of years later he was offered a position on the solo cornet bench with the Desford Colliery Band - James Watson was the band's principal cornet at the time. Keith spent 14 happy and successful years with Desford, especially enjoying the eight years that Howard Snell was the Musical Director.
After an eight-year break from "banding" and a brief spell playing with the GUS Band, James Watson asked him if he would be interested in joining Black Dyke, an invitation he readily accepted.
He has been a proud member of the Black Dyke Band since 1995, and the band's librarian since 1998. Major contest wins, tours of Bermuda, Canada, Japan, USA, performing in some of the world's best concert halls, CD recordings, are all among a long list of highs during his time with the band.
Away from the band, Keith is a brass and woodwind teacher, giving private tuition, and, teaching in schools, in Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire. When the band's busy schedule allows, he enjoys spending time with his family. He is also a keen angler, enjoying both coarse fishing and flying fishing whenever he can. He occasionally plays golf, but not as much as he would like, and he is an avid Leicester City fan.
Laura is from Littleborough, Greater Manchester and began playing the cornet at the age of six.
Growing up, Laura was principal cornet of the award-winning Wardle Academy Youth Band for five years under the direction of Lee Rigg. At the age of 18, Laura moved to Norway to undertake a one-year brass band course at Manger Folkehøgskule where she was tutored by Jane Westervik and Henning Anundsen. During her studies, Laura also travelled to Bergen to play for Manger Musikklag and held both repiano and solo cornet positions. She performed in Norway's most prestigious contests - the Norwegian Nationals and Siddis Brass. Upon her return to the UK in 2017, Laura became the repiano cornet player of the Fairey Band - a position she held for one year. In 2018, Laura accepted an invitation to join the Black Dyke Band where she currently holds the repiano cornet position after being promoted from second cornet in 2021.
Laura's dedication to brass banding has taken her to some of the UK's leading concert venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Symphony Hall, Bridgewater Hall, The Sage, Perth Concert Hall and Snape Maltings, in addition to performing overseas in France, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Norway, Japan, South Korea and Jeju Island.
In July 2021, Laura graduated with First Class Honours from the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) where she studied cornet, trumpet and flugel under the tutorship of Richard Marshall, Professor Roger Webster and Tracey Redfern. During her time at the college, she discovered her enthusiasm for chamber music and subsequently co-founded Northern Quarters with Tom Smith, Emma Conway and Amy Ewen.
Since graduating from the RNCM, Laura has completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Education with Qualified Teacher Status accredited by Sheffield Hallam University and is now enjoying a career in primary education alongside performing with the Black Dyke Band and Northern Quarters.
Job Titles:
- Band Member Logan Thompson
Logan started playing percussion at the age of five, receiving lessons through Kirklees Music School from Matthew Delaney. In 2001 she joined her village brass band (Golcar Band) and played Timpani with them at her first Yorkshire Area Championships in 2002 aged just nine.
After a short spell of playing with the Holme Silver Band, Logan joined her first Championship band in 2006 - ‘The Yorkshire Coop Brass band'. During her time with the band she featured as a soloist on their 10 th anniversary CD playing ‘William Tell overture', accompanied artists including Russell Watson and Catherine Jenkins and also participated in various contests including the French Open and the Butlins Mineworkers Championships. In 2010 she moved to The Skelmanthorpe Band shortly before going to study Music at the University of Huddersfield in 2011, majoring in Performance under Chris Bradley, Principal Percussion at Opera North.
As a member of the University of Huddersfield Music department, she participated in various ensembles, one being The University Brass Band under the direction of Phillip McCann. In this ensemble she led the percussion section and also featured as a soloist performing in venues such as Leeds, Dewsbury and Huddersfield Town Halls. While at University Logan worked as a freelance percussionist working with various brass bands, orchestras and function bands, and during this time she took part in her first National Finals with NASUWT Riverside Band.
Logan Graduated from Huddersfield University in July 2014 and joined the Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band, with whom she took part in her first British Open Contest.
Logan joined the Black Dyke Band in 2018 and has had the opportunity to perform in some amazing places and venues, a highlight being a featured soloist at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre Concert Hall in Japan.
Logan currently works as a Percussion Teacher with her local music service ‘Musica Kirklees'. Through this organisation she is the Musical Director of the ‘Holme Valley Percussion Ensemble' and co -director of the ‘Musica Youth Brass Band'. She also teaches one to one percussion lessons to children identified as having a barrier to learning including; autism and challenging behaviour, English as a second language and low self-esteem.
Logan has recently been appointed Percussion teacher at the local Grammar school.
Job Titles:
- Band Member Matthew Routley
Born in Tredegar in South Wales, Matthew spent his childhood in Abergavenny. His first taste of music came when he was seven and he started taking piano lessons. When he was ten his teacher recommended that Matthew should try another instrument, so he went along to Abergavenny Borough Band and was given a baritone to play on.
Schooled at King Henry VIII Comprehensive School in Abergavenny, he received excellent tuition there from Alun F. Williams (former Head of Gwent Music Support Service). He also received guidance and benefited from the experience of Eric Powell at Abergavenny Borough Band (whom Eric conducted for over 40 years). He moved from baritone onto Eb Bass when he was 13 and then onto Bb Bass when he was 15.
Mathew has been a member of many bands including the Gwent Youth Brass Band, the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. He studied music at Huddersfield University, where the late Stuart Roebuck, former tuba player with the Hallé, taught him. Whilst at Huddersfield, Matthew joined Sellers Engineering Band and had three happy years there, before joining Yorkshire Building Society Band in November 1994.
In June 1995 Matthew was invited to join the Black Dyke Mills Band. In his 25 years of playing with Black Dyke there have been many highlights. On the contest front winning two doubles (1995 & 2014) and winning two triples (2004/5 & 2014/15) stand out. On the concert front the highlight would be the privilege of being able to perform in some of the most fantastic concert halls in the world, like Sydney Opera House, Toyko Metropolitan Hall and the KKL in Lucerne.
Matthew relishes the opportunity to put something back into youth music. He is involved in several projects with aspiring youngsters from all over the country. He is currently the Tuba Tutor with the National Children's Brass Band of Great Britain, as well as the youth bands of Yorkshire and Gwent.
In his professional life Matthew teaches Music and Performing Arts at The Sixth Form, Bolton. When not at work or band, Matthew enjoys socialising and spending time with his family.
Job Titles:
- Band Member Mike Cavanagh
Hailing from Stockport, Mike began playing the baritone horn aged just eight. Growing up in Stockport Schools' Brass Band, he subsequently joined the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain (NYBBGB) where he held the Principal Baritone seat for five years under the direction of renowned conductor Bramwell Tovey. Whilst at the NYBBGB, Mike performed as part of the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall live on BBC Radio 3 and was a recipient of the coveted Maude Wright Award; the Harold and Bernard Tovey Award for excellence; the Harry Mortimer Concerto Soloist Award and the Katie Ogden Soloist Prize.
In January 2014 he accepted the position of Solo Baritone with the world famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band and after a short period with Brighouse and Rastrick Band, Mike joined Black Dyke in January 2020.
In June 2016 Mike graduated with First Class Honours from the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) under the tutorship of Professor Steven Mead and Dr. David Thornton. Whilst at the RNCM he was a co-founder of the multi award-winning A4 Brass Quartet and developed into a distinguished chamber musician. With A4 Brass Mike has won the internationally recognised Royal Over-Seas League Chamber Music Competition (2018); the Royal Philharmonic Society Henderson Chamber Music Prize (2018); a Tunnell Trust Award (2017); the Tillett Trust Young Artists' Platform (2017) and selection as 2018 City Music Foundation Artists. He regularly works with Live Music Now! and Music in Hospitals & Care, helping to transform lives through the power of live music.
Mike prides himself on taking the Baritone to new audiences and venues for the instrument and performance highlights with A4 Brass include appearances at Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room in addition to concerts in Lithuania, Finland, Switzerland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. In June 2018 A4 Brass completed the prestigious RNCM International Artist Diploma in Chamber Music as John Fewkes Scholars and were subsequently invited to become Honorary Associate Artists of the RNCM in recognition of the quartet's success in the music profession.
As a band member, Mike's performance career has taken him to many of the U.K's leading concert venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Symphony Hall, The Sage, Snape Maltings and Perth Concert Hall, in addition to performing overseas in Australia, Uganda and France. In March 2020 he was delighted to accept the invitation from Besson/Buffet Crampon to become a Besson Artist and Consultant.
Neil began playing Trumpet at Primary School at the age of 9 in his home town of Newport, South Wales. When aged 11, he joined Newport Borough Brass Band on Cornet. After six months on Cornet, Neil was asked to move on to Euphonium and found that the instrument was a much better fit for him.
At the age of 13, Neil auditioned and gained a place in the Gwent County Youth Band under the leadership of Alun Williams, where he remained a member until the age of 21. During this time, he was also a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales.
Studying at the University of Salford under the leadership of David King, he forged his first link to Black Dyke as his first Euphonium tutor was Professor Nicholas Childs. In his second year at Salford Neil made the decision to switch to Percussion playing because he simply enjoyed it. It was clear that this move was a natural fit for him as after six months of playing Percussion, David King asked him to join Yorkshire Building Society Band.
Neil's time at YBS was short lived as he was invited to audition for Black Dyke Band under the leadership of James Watson. It had always been a dream of his to play with Black Dyke, so Neil jumped at the chance. Neil joined the band in November 1997 and has always been a highly regarded band member. Over the last 20 plus years with the band, he has been a part of many winning performances at the Yorkshire Area, English Nationals, British Open, National Championships and European Championships.
Job Titles:
- Band Member Niall Thompson
Philip has performed with many leading orchestras such as the Halle, BBC Philharmonic, Liverpool Philharmonic, Welsh National Opera and Manchester Camerata. He has played on over 200 CDs, with artists as diverse as Elton John, Peter Gabriel, Tori Amos, Fairport Convention and The Beautiful South, as well as making many radio and T.V appearances.
Despite this wide-ranging musical journey, brass bands have always been a major part of his music-making, playing with the CWS (Manchester) Band under the legendary Alex Mortimer and then in 1985 moving to Black Dyke, for whom he is currently the longest serving player. With Black Dyke he has won the English National, British Open, National and European Championships multiple times, including two ‘Grand Slams'!
Music education is a real passion in Philip's life, and he has organised and taken part in many workshops and education projects. After several years as a specialist instrumental teacher, he became Director of Music at William Hulme's Grammar School in Manchester, a position he held for over twenty years. He is also a former member, tutor and now Trustee of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.
He has conducted several bands and ensembles both in England and Europe and is in much demand as a guest conductor. As well as Black Dyke, he has also had a long association as Musical Director of the Delph Band - 2020 saw his 40th Anniversary with them - winning many titles including the National Championships of Great Britain on two occasions.
Philip's wife and daughter are both brass players, and it is their support and understanding that allows him to to continue his career at the very highest level.
Job Titles:
- Band Member Rebecca Childs
Rebecca started playing at the age of 7 initially on cornet, however it wasn't long before she found her love and moved on to the Baritone.
Growing up she was surrounded with by banding and loved it from a very young age. She has been a member and Mentor of the National Children's Brass Band, and the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, as well as being a Founder Member of the Yorkshire Youth Brass Band. She is a member of Staff within the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain's organisation and is the Social Media Coordinator for the Yorkshire Youth and the International Brass Band Summer School.
Rebecca has played in several championship bands including Wingates as Solo Baritone and latterly with the City of Bradford Band, winning the Best Baritone prize in one of her last contests.
Rebecca Childs graduated from University of Salford in 2015 with a First Class Honours Degree in Music, where she specialised in performance and conducting. As an undergraduate Rebecca was awarded the coveted Harry Mortimer Performance Prize and was also the first recipient of the Iwan Williams Performance Award. Rebecca graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University gaining her Post Graduate Certificate in Education specialising in Primary Education as her dream is to pass on her love for music to the next generation.
In her Professional life as an educator, Rebecca enjoys teaching at Alice Ingham RC Primary School in Rochdale.
She is very proud to be a member of Black Dyke and looks forward to many years of music making with a great bunch of people!
Having been brought up in a brass banding family, Richard began playing the cornet at the age of nine and was taught by Mr. Ken Johnson. He saw Richard's potential and asked him to play third cornet with the Hatfield Band, where Richard progressed through the cornet ranks and became Principal Cornet at the age of just 11!.
Richard is currently Principal Cornet of the Black Dyke Band, a position that is heralded as the "hottest seat in banding." Previously Principal Cornet for ten years with the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, Richard fulfilled his childhood ambition and followed in the footsteps of some of his cornet heroes and moved to Black Dyke in January 2006.
To do justice to Richard's playing accomplishments is difficult but quoted at the Black Dyke Brass Arts Festival, the internationally acclaimed maestro Elgar Howarth described Richard as "the most outstanding cornet player this country has ever produced."
Not only a player, Richard is also a respected and devoted teacher. He is a cornet tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. He is a regular tutor on the International Brass Band Summer School, the National Children's Brass Band of Great Britain and the Yorkshire Youth Brass Band.
Richard has released six solo recordings. The Debutante (1999), Blaze (2005), Eminence (2007), The Cornet Heritage Collection Volume 1 (2010), Volume 2 (2013) and Sonatina (2020) all of which have been received with world-wide acclaim, with Blaze, Eminence and Sonatina being awarded the title Solo CD of the Year.
Richard enjoys working alongside renowned composers to create new and exciting repertoire. Elgar Howarth's Sonatina (2008) and Edward Gregson's Cornet Concerto (2016) are two major works that were written for and dedicated to Richard. Essentials, written by Philip Wilby and in collaboration with Richard are Brass Studies for the Twenty First Century. This study book contains a number of advanced studies designed to be technically challenging for advanced players.
As a performer Richard has travelled to Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Canada, America and several European countries. He has performed in many iconic concert venues such as Sydney Opera House and New York's Carnegie Hall.
In association with Alliance Products, the Richard Marshall (RM) Signature Range of Mouthpieces was shortlisted for the Trusted Music Stores Product Awards (Brass and Woodwind Category) in 2016. Richard is a Geneva Performance and Development Artist and performs exclusively on the Oldroyd Cardinal Cornet and RM1 Signature Mouthpiece.
Whilst music, performing and teaching are such an important part of Richard's life, he has also been blessed with a fantastic loving family and really enjoys spending time with his wife Becca and their two daughters Bella & Esme.
Job Titles:
- Band Member Siobhan Bates
Originally from Swadlincote in Derbyshire, Siobhan's music making started at the age of three, when she produced her first sounds on a brass instrument. Her natural ability soon found her playing the French and Tenor Horns in local music centre bands at the tender age of five.
Her musical proficiency developed quickly and at age 10 she was granted a scholarship to the Birmingham Junior Conservatoire to study French Horn and Voice. Whilst there she became the Principal Horn in the Symphony and Wind Orchestras, as well as the Brass Ensemble.
Complementing her French Horn playing, Siobhan began playing Tenor Horn with the Gresley Colliery Band and at age 13 she became the LBBA Junior Solo Champion. She gained the Solo Horn position with Gresley at the age of 15, and also joined Youth Brass 2000 under the direction of Chris Jeans. At this point she made the decision to focus primarily on the Tenor Horn.
Her musical development continued with her joining Foresters Brass on Solo Horn and in 2015, after competing at the European Brass Band Championships in Freiburg with Youth Brass 2000, she became the Solo Horn with the Fairey Band.
Siobhan joined Black Dyke in June 2016 at the age of 16, having been invited by Principal Conductor Professor Nicholas Childs to take up the Solo Horn position.
Accolades and awards have been a constant part of Siobhan's musical progression. In May 2016 she was awarded the Best Soloist prize at the European Brass Band Championships in Lille having performed Sandy Smith's arrangement of "Capriccio Brilliante". At the age of 18 she was presented with the Best Soloist Award at the Yorkshire Area contest, during her first year with Black Dyke. In March 2019, Siobhan entered the BrassPass.TV Young Brass Award (previously Radio 2 Young Brass Award) and at 20 years old, was the inaugural award winner under its new ownership.
Siobhan's achievements also extend beyond the music world. in 2020 she graduated from the University of Huddersfield with a first class Honours Degree in Solo Performance and has now begun her studies towards a PGCE in Primary Education.
Job Titles:
- Band Member Stephanie Binns
Hailing from Plymouth, Tim's introduction to banding started at an early age. He would accompany his dad to band to watch him play with the Plymouth Silver Band. At the age of 11, Tim joined the junior band and learnt to play the cornet eventually working his way into the senior band. The band changed its name to The Royal British Legion Crownhill Plymouth Band and Tim worked his way up from 3 rd cornet to Principal.
When he was 17, Tim left the band to join the British Army as a bandsman, turning his hobby into a profession. After completing two years training at the Army Junior School of Music he was posted to The Royal Hampshire Regimental Band in Londonderry, Northern Ireland. In 1994 Army bands were restructured and he became the Principal cornet of the newly named Minden Band of the Queens Division. The band remained in Colchester until relocating to Bassingbourn in Hertfordshire.
During this time Tim pursued his love of Brass Bands and joined the Ipswich Co-op Band as Principal cornet where he remained until 1999 when he joined the Rothwell Temperance Band, which is where he met his future wife Joanna who also played the cornet. This was Tim's first taste of high level playing in Yorkshire. Tim was awarded LRSM in cornet performance in 2000 gaining distinction.
2002 saw Tim leaving Rothwell to become Assistant Principal of The Grimethorpe Colliery band sitting next to Richard Marshall. In the same year Tim was posted to the Normandy Band of the Queen's Division stationed in Catterick, North Yorkshire. Tim was deployed on operations to Iraq during 2003 where he was attached to 34 Field Hospital in Basra on the front line. 2006 saw another restructure of Army bands and Tim was posted back to his old band, The Minden Band in Hertfordshire. In 2009 he was deployed on operations to Afghanistan staying at Camp Bastion and Kabul. It was in 2010 that Tim was first asked to join Black Dyke Band on Solo Cornet. This was a childhood dream and something his late father would have been immensely proud of.
In 2011, after completing 24 years' service, Tim retired from the Army and settled down with his family in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. Banding still took up a major portion of his time and in 2012 he returned to Rothwell on Principal Cornet where he remained until 2016 before returning to Black Dyke.
Tim now runs his own professional dog walking business in the surrounding areas of where he lives which allows plenty of time for family and band pursuits. Tim married his wife, Joanna, in 2004, and they now have two daughters Isabelle and Maisie.