Black Dyke Band is thrilled to announce that through a three year initiative funded by Arts Council England, Edward Gregson has accepted the role of ‘Composer in Residence’.

Edward Gregson is well known to the Black Dyke Band, having begun his association with the band in 1971 with the premier of his Horn Concerto. Other brass band works have followed, but his latest work for the band, the Cornet Concerto written for Richard Marshall (principal Cornet), follows a distinguished line of compositions for soloist and brass band.

The composer comments:

“I am delighted to acknowledge my long-standing relationship with Nicholas Childs and the Black Dyke Band by taking on the position of Composer in Residence. In 2012 the band co-commissioned my most recent brass band work, ‘Of Distant Memories’, and the new commission to write a Cornet Concerto for Richard Marshall, undoubtedly one of the finest cornet soloists in the world, is a challenge I look forward to undertaking.”

Music Director, Professor Nicholas Childs also comments:

“Richard Marshall will be the featured soloist which is fitting to acknowledge his terrific contribution as principal cornet for the past decade at Black Dyke”

The world première will be at the European Gala Concert in Lille 2016, with the UK première being on 10th July 2016, as part of the Harrogate International Music Festival.

The added bonus of this new position is that Edward Gregson will also mentor a young and developing composer.

This new initiative is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.