Conducting is Childs play for Professor Nick

Nick Childs, musical director of Black Dyke Band

MARTYN TORR in conversation with PROFESSOR NICK CHILDS

IF ever a man was destined for the career he has, that man is surely Professor Nicholas Childs, conductor and musical director of the planet’s best-known brass band, Black Dyke.

The band is the creme de la creme of brass bands. Four days after we chatted, he took Black Dyke to the British championships, an invitation-only event for the top 20 bands in Britain.

His 30 elite musicians had rehearsed the 15-minute compulsory test piece for two hours at every practice and rehearsal for four solid weeks in the lead up the contest in Coventry.

They travelled knowing the competition was some of the finest exponents of this musical world - including his elder brother, Robert.

Black Dyke members travel many miles to sit in the band’s exalted ranks, receiving no remuneration except travelling expenses.

Their reward is to play with the best - and to stay in the best hotels and perform in the finest auditoriums when they travel.

Yet for all the glamour, the band rehearses in the same Queensbury room, in a village between Halifax and Leeds, where founder John Foster set up his musical ensemble 158 years ago.

In the preceding 24 hours before Nick and I met — the interview was months in the planning, such is his global schedule — he had left Saddleworth for London at 5.30am to get a visa for a trip to Japan, before arriving back at the rehearsal room at 4pm for band practice three and a half hours later.

“I leave nothing to chance. I am always there at 4pm on practice nights, preparing for the evening and being available to any member of the band.

“Lots of things go on in my life, including my family, supporting Manchester United and playing tennis, but conducting will always be top of my list and always take priority over everything else. I know how lucky I am to be able to make a living out of conducting.”

He enjoys support in his role from David Allen, managing director of Royton business Pulse Home Products Ltd in Middleton Road. David is chairman of the board of trustees, which has overall responsibiity for the band. The two men enjoy a wonderful working relationship.

Nick reports to the trustees - but their trust in him is unquestioned. Nick compiles the band’s demanding playing schedule, manages the logistics of getting 30 artists and their equipment around the globe, and maintains stratosphere-high playing standards.

“There are certain elements of the job I enjoy immensely; the conducting, obviously. There are other sides I enjoy less but they are all part of the job of looking after the world’s best known brass band.”

Music is his lifeblood. His father John conducted the local colliery band in Tredegar, where Nick was raised with Robert and sisters Sandra and Melanie.

“Dad was an overman in the pit - an important job - and he rehearsed the senior Tredegar Band band on Mondays, juniors on Tuesdays, learners on Wednesdays, seniors on Thursdays, juniors on Fridays; was at a concert every Saturday and was back with the town band on Sundays.

“He did get paid, though: £52 a year!”

The Childs household revolved around music and sport. Nick liked rugby and tennis while Robert was a good footballer - good enough to attract scouts from Newport County, then a force in the football league.

Robert, like Nick, was a euphonium player; the pair went on play duets in America that changed their lives - but more of that later.

The family left South Wales for Yorkshire so John could follow his musical career.

“Dad was impulsive. he told mum on a Monday we were moving because the best bands were in the North of England. And on the Wednesday we moved to Brodsworth in Doncaster.”

Mother was Morfydd Myfanwy Childs and she was obviously hugely supportive of her husband and the boys as they pursued their careers. The girls played too.

Father was strict with young Nick. He made him take a job in the colliery as an apprentice fitter-turner, at times working underground: “Dad said I had to have a proper job before I could think of a career in music.”

Nick’s inspirational father died at 56 of a heart-attack, but not before he had imbued a love of music into his family.

“He actually had nine heart attacks — one while he was conducting. But he carried on and then drove himself to the hospital,” said Nick

“He asked me to conduct the band in an Eistedfodd the following weekend. He coached me over the phone and we won. The band visited dad in hospital with the trophy and I remember telling him I won. I got a clip round the ear and was told in no uncertain terms he had done all the hard work.”

In 1994 he and Robert were asked to play a euphonium duet at a gala concert and the brothers agreed on one condition — that their beloved father could conduct the finale band, on this occasion Yorkshire Imperial, as they closed the event.

“The piece he conducted was ‘Softly as I leave you’ and it was not long afterwards that he died.”

Nick’s life is studded with poignant moments such as this.

Like the time he met legendary Beatles producer George Martin and worked with The Spice Girls... and the man waiting outside Carnegie Hall in New York after he and Robert performed a euphonium duet.

You will need to read next week to find out more...