The world-famous Black Dyke Band will provide a boost to fundraising  for Macmillan Cancer Support at Ripon Cathedral next week.

The band, which won the 2023 National Brass Band Championships at the Royal Albert Hall, has waived its fee for the concert on the evening of Thursday, May 2 and the money it would have received is being donated to the charity.

Wendy Richardson, co-organiser of the fundraiser with Canon Wendy Wilby, a member of the cathedral clergy whose composer husband Philip regularly writes pieces for the band, told the Stray Ferret:

“Tickets are going fast, but some are still available and we hope that it is a sell-out event as we bid to raise as much money as possible for Macmillan’s important work in the community supporting people with cancer and their families.”

The concert will include a performance of Procession to the Cathedral written by Philip Wilby.

Stalwart charity fundraiser Ms Richardson, whose brass band-loving husband David died of cancer in 2019, added:

“The incredibly warm-heated gesture of the Black Dyke Band, which has won the national championship for a record 24 times and is the most successful brass band in history, has given us a massive boost and we are also extremely grateful for the support that we have received from the cathedral and the local committee of Yorkshire Cancer Research.

“One of the highlights of the evening will be the band’s playing of Procession to the Cathedral, which has been specially composed by Philip Wilby.”

Professor Nick Childs, an award-winning band conductor, has chosen a wide and varied programme that will showcase the band’s brass soloists.

Tickets for the concert priced at £20 for adults or £5.00 for children are available from the cathedral shop or on line.

Main image: The multi-award winning Black Dyke Band has waived its fee for the charity concert. Picture: Black Dyke Band

Read more:

• Entries open for Ripon Poetry Festival competition
• Ripon Theatre Festival announce cracking programme

Eight Ripon-based charities are set to benefit from what promises to be a tremendous Transatlantic evening of entertainment in the city on Thursday (June 23).

The famous world championship-winning Black Dyke Brass Band, will be joined by the multi award-winning Lake Wobegon Brass Band from St. Olaf, Minnesota, USA in a concert being held at Ripon Cathedral.

As the bands and the cathedral are waiving their customary fees, all proceeds from the sale of tickets will be divided equally by the charities.

They range from Dementia Forward, which provides support, advice and wellbeing services for people living with dementia, to Ripon YMCA, which offers supported housing for young people aged 16-35 and space for community groups and projects to meet.

The other beneficiaries are: Jennyruth Workshop, Ripon City of Sanctuary, Ripon Branch of Christian Aid, Ripon Community Link & The Walled Garden, Ripon H.E.L.P, and Ripon Salvation Army Food Bank.

The award-winning band is travelling from Minnesota and playing free of charge to help raise money for eight Ripon-based charities. Picture: Lake Wobegon Brass Band

“We are looking forward to a Transatlantic treat, with a fabulous evening of musical entertainment provided by these two magnificent bands.

“Through their tremendous generosity in agreeing to perform without charging a fee, the eight charities, which support so many different aspects of life in Ripon, will gain maximum benefit from the event.”

Events sponsors are Ripon Cathedral, and Phil and Wendy Wilby.

Tickets, at £20 for adults and £5 for children under 16, are still available in the Ripon Cathedral Shop, or online at the Ripon Cathedral website.

Tewit Youth Band‘s first public performance for 18 months yesterday coincided with a huge thunderstorm in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens.

Because band members had to be spaced two metres apart die to covid, over half were outside the bandstand on the grass and fully exposed to the downpour.

Despite this, the band played on and completed the entire programme.

The local was joined by the world famous brass band Black Dyke Band, which filled in for some Tewit members who were isolating due to covid.

They were halfway through the programme when the heavens opened.

Colin Gibbs president of Tewit Youth Band, said:

“The band played on through it all and fully completed their program, which was exceedingly appreciated by the audience who bravely stayed on under cover of umbrellas and waterproofs.

“Their musical director, Martin Hall, and those band members out in the open were completely saturated but were delighted to have been able to play in a live concert for the first time in 18 months due to lockdown. A credit to the youth of today.”

Musical director Martin Hall

Read more:

• Two contemporary art titans are showing a collection of works in Harrogate’s Walker Galleries
• A celebratory flower bed planted in Valley Gardens for Harrogate Rotary’s 100th centenary 

After the youth band’s performance, Black Dyke Band took to the bandstand alone and due to its smaller size all of the musicians could fit under the shelter.

The concert was funded by Arts Council England‘s Culture Recovery Fund, which awarded Black Dyke Band a grant to play with a budding group of its choice.

The Tewit Band practises at the old Methodist Chapel in Huby. It has about 100 members and four groups ranging in ages.

Young Harrogate musicians will play alongside one of the most famous brass bands in the world at a free concert in Valley Gardens next month.

Tewit Youth Band will join Black Dyke Band at the event at 3pm on July 4.

The event aims to kickstart live performances again after almost 18 months of lockdown.

The concert has been funded by Arts Council England‘s Culture Recovery Fund, which awarded Black Dyke Band a grant to play with a budding group of its choice.

Tewit Youth Band, which is a charity that encourages young people to learn brass and percussion instruments, meets on Wednesday evenings in an old Methodist Chapel in Huby. It has about 100 members.

Many former members have gone on to play for the country’s top brass bands.

It has four groups ranging from ages six to 18 and its senior band will perform at this event.

Colin Gibbs, president of the Tewit Youth Band for 30 years, said:

“We’ve always had a friendly link with the Black Dyke Band, with a couple of our former members going on to join their ranks.

“So when they were given a grant from the Arts Council, they chose to come and do a concert with us, which is very exciting for everyone.”

Black Dyke Band, which is based in Bradford, dates back to 1855 and has included some of the world’s most talented conductors and musicians.