Musical magic in the wave of a wand

IN full flow: conducting Black Dyke is an intense expeience for Nick

Part two of MARTYN TORR’s conversation with Black Dyke Band’s PROF NICK CHILDS

DIRECTOR of Music for the world’s best-known brass band is a job worth having — and there are lots of perks too for Professor Nick Childs.


The Denshaw musician has rubbed shoulders with the great and good during a lifetime in music that has seen him travel the world.

He treasures the time he got Sir Alex Ferguson’s signature when he visited Manchester United’s Carrington training base as much as an accolade from George Martin, legendary producer of The Beatles.

Martin received an honorary doctorate from Leeds University and Nick read his citation at the award ceremony.

Martin’s opening line in response was that he was pleased to receive the doctorate from the conductor of Black Dyke Band, which evoked memories of the time he produced “Yellow Submarine”, Black Dyke’s contribution to which helped to get it to the top of the pop charts for more than 16 weeks.

The band has worked with other stars too, Sir Elton John among them - if only for the six minutes it took for the band to record its track.

There have been advantageous chance meetings too: like the man Nick met outside New York’s Carnegie Hall, who was so enchanted by the euphonium duets of the young Nick and his elder brother Robert that he went to their concerts in Chicago and Pittsburgh too.

“He wanted to buy a CD of our performances,” recalled Nick. “We told him we didn’t have any because we were coalminers from South Wales!”

Undeterred, the American asked how much it would cost to produce a recording: “It turned out he was a self-made millionaire, but we didn’t know that at the time. We told him we would need £10,000, which he offered if we could pay him back in six months.”

The brothers returned to the UK, established Doyen Recordings Ltd in Vulcan Street, Derker, made their first recording, “Childs Play”... and repaid their benefactor in six weeks.

Doyen throves to this day, by the way, though is no longer owned by the Childs but by World of Brass - effectively the Salvation Army’s musical arm. Nick remains a consultant, though.

Nick became ever-more committed to playing and conducting, so his wife Alison spent more and more time managing the company when her own career allowed (she’s is a tenor horn player of some repute).

Nick and Alison’s daughter Rebecca is also a noted player of the baritone horn, now in her final year of a music degree. She has played in the National Youth Orchestra and has deputised with Black Dyke when needed.

Nick jets around the globe conducting and leading Black Dyke, and on other occasions conducts as a guest. He was due in Japan a week after our chat, where he is working at the University of Tokyo.

Nick is well-qualified to do what he does best, conduct and inspire. He worked for five years for his music doctorate and has also received an honorary doctorate from Leeds University, where he was a Professor in Music and Recording. He is technically Professor Nick Childs, awarded a prestigious professorship by the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

In 2009 he received the Iles Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians, in recognition for his services to brass bands. In the same year he gained the Freedom of the City of London.

This then is the man who has risen from turner-fitter in the mines to leading the world’s foremost and most recognisable band.

Black Dyke’s prowess was recognised five days after we chatted, when Nick’s superb musicians won the British Open Championships in Birmingham. His brother Robert’s band, Grimethorpe, finished eighth.

In addition to his duties with Black Dyke he has responsibilities with the National Youth Orchestra, for musicians between the ages of eight and 12 and he is also heavily involved in another of his creations, the Yorkshire Youth Orchestra for 14-20 year olds. He runs a summer school for musicians, working with 120 people from all parts of the globe.

Life is good for the Childs family, immersed as they are in music. Nick is mindful of the fact he has a privileged status in his chosen field and has no intention of becoming complacent.

As we parted he told me: “I have the best job in brass banding. Fact. And I am still relatively young so I am hoping to keep this job for a while yet. I want to do this job for the rest of my working life. And why shouldn’t I?”