During two guest concerts and several workshops and master classes during the first „Holland Brass Festival“ the Black Dyke Band filled the Dutch audience with enthusiasm.

During the last weekend of August, the world famous English Black Dyke Brass Band and their conductor Dr. Nicholas J. Childs, were guests in the Netherlands. On the first day the programme started with a church concert in Almkerk (North Brabant) together with the internationally well known English composer Prof. Philip Wilby during the first “Holland Brass Festival”.

With a selection of sacred and classic works, partially accompanied by Prof. Wilby on the organ, the Black Dyke Band caused a storm of applause from the proficient audience which was absolutely thrilled by their performance in the completely sold out church.

On Saturday many brass band musicians participated at the York workshops and master classes conducted by the soloists of the Black Dyke Band at the Frisian Drachten. The master classes of the York endorsers, Richard Marshall (cornet), David Thornton (euphonium) and Joseph Cook (Eb tuba), were a highlight for the participants of the “Holland Brass Festival”.

The York musicians allowed a look at their musical work, showed some tricks and tips, talked about their music career and gave suggestions for preparing for a concert as well as working on concert literature. 

At the big final on Saturday, the Black Dyke band played in the completely sold out concert hall at the culture centre „De Lawei“ in Drachten. In view of the “Brass Gala of the Year 2008” the works of the Black Dyke percussionist, Paul Lovatt-Cooper, as well as solo pieces for cornet (Richard Marshall), Eb tuba (Joseph Cook) and euphonium (David Thornton) were on the programme.

The approximately 1000 listeners were completely thrilled by this concert and let the musicians leave the stage only after several encores.

During the entire weekend York accompanied the „Holland Brass Festival“ with an extensive exhibition of instruments. Numerous visitors took advantage of the opportunity in Almkerk and Drachten to gather information about the York instruments, which are now exclusively played by the Black Dyke Band. For the great pleasure of the visitors some Black Dyke musicians and York endorsers were personally present at the exhibition stand.

Last week, managing director Paul Austin from Rosehill Instruments and John Rogers, York Sales Manager UK were delighted to welcome John Starkes, principal euphonium of Boscombe Salvation Army Band at the showroom of Rosehill Instruments in Beaconsfield.

The visit took place in order for John Starkes to accept his new silver-plated York Eminence euphonium, having become the latest endorsee of York Brass instruments.

Paul Austin said: “Rosehill is delighted to support this excellent new product which is already proving enormously successful amongst players for its wonderful sound. With a well-equipped on-site workshop and generous stock holdings, Rosehill is able to offer a choice of instruments across the entire York range, all of which are inspected and carefully set up by our experienced technicians.”

When John Starkes started playing at the tender age of 4 years, it was pretty clear that playing the euphonium was all he ever wanted to do. At the age of 18, John joined the renowned Govan Citadel Band of the Salvation Army were under the guidance of John Bailie John further improved his craft and was given the opportunity to solo more afield around Britain and into Europe. On leaving Govan, John became a member of the Boscombe Citadel Band were he really started to learn his craft under the late Geoff Otter and former principle Graham Lawrence. John still resides as principle euphonium under the esteemed leadership and guidance of musical director Howard Evans. This period has seen John performing all over Britain on a regular basis. He has performed abroad in Sweden, North and South America and Canada and has been involved in no fewer than 20 CD,s and, as well as his role with the Boscombe SA Band, John was principle euphonium in the Egon Virtuosi Band, the Clarence Adoo Band and the Fuco Brass Band.

John is looking forward to using the York Eminence euphonium, the finest euphonium on the market today, to further enhance his playing and under the guidance of Howard Evans and the Boscombe SA Band he will have many opportunities to do so in the future starting with an already packed calendar.

John Rogers, York Sales Manager UK comments: 'We are very pleased that John has made the York Eminence euphonium his instrument of choice. Johns holds one of the highest profile positions in the Salvation Army in the Boscombe Salvation Army Band. York is very keen to increase the activity within this important market and therefore welcome the opportunity to strengthen links with both John and the Boscombe Salvation Army Band.

York´s "Tips from the Top"

York is proud to be the main sponsor of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain 2008. The York Artists David Childs, Owen Farr, Richard Marshall and David Thornton will provide “Tips from the Top” for all those preparing for the Finals in Harrogate.

On the York website www.york-brass.com musicians share some thoughts on how to prepare for a contest. Two times the week York performing artists will publish their tips which will lead to better contesting.

David Childs about the new Tips from the Top: “These little tips combined may just help you achieve a slightly higher level of performance, but at the end of the day the most important thing to remember is why we do this. We make music, play in a band and spend hours and hours practising because it’s our hobby; it’s what we love to do. If you are as prepared as you can be there is no reason why going out onto the contest platform to make music with fellow musicians should not be an enjoyable and rewarding experience for all concerned. If it all goes as well as possible it’s fantastic, but if your band has a particularly bad day it’s not the end of the world. It’s a band contest; you’ll still wake up in the morning! Good luck to everyone. Enjoy the experience.”