46 ans plus tard .... j'écris à la Black Dyke Band...

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Clarens, le 12 juillet 2019

Hi there,

I used to be one of the founders of a Swiss brass band in Valais, in 1970, called « L’Ensemble de cuivres Dents du Midi ». The band stopped its activity ten years later in 1980. You can read about it (in French) on my website :  https://phberrut.wixsite.com/ecdm

 

Although the quality of our music wasn’t particularly amazing, we were pioneers in the brass band genre in Switzerland. We were brass band lovers and huge Black Dyke fans. As for the rest of the story about the brass bands in Valais, you probably know it.

On the website page related to the year 1973, you will notice that we met that year with the Black Dyke Mills Band in Ollon (Switzerland) and with Mr. Roy Newsome, who had offered us his encouragement. (more 40 years ago !)  Mr. Newsome was also a member of the jury in the 5th Swiss brass band competition that took place in Zurich in 1978 and to which we participated.

Therefore, would you be so kind as to ask your actual conductor Prof. Nicholas J. Childs if he could send me a small comment that I would share on my website ? I would be very greatful.

Thank you very much for your help.

 

Best wishes.  Philippe Berrut

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Et voici la réponse du Prof. Nicholas J. Childs le 13 juillet 2019 :

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Hello Philippe

 

I have recently returned from the visit to the Valais where I had the pleasure of meeting many

great brass players from Switzerland, including the current Swiss solo Champion Mathilde Roh.

 

Black Dyke will return to Switzerland in September 2019 to play in the magnificent KKL, in Lucerne

as part of the World Band Festival.  I hope one day to have the opportunity of bringing my great Black

Dyke Band back to the Valais, where I am told, 40 years ago, Roy Newsome, one of the past Maestros of Black Dyke

also visited.

 

Au Revoir!

 

 

Professor Nicholas Childs

Principal Conductor

Black Dyke Band

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