PRESS RELEASE New Professorship - Dr Nicholas Childs The Royal Northern College of Music is pleased to announce that in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the music profession, including his work with the internationally renowned Black Dyke Band, the title of Professor (Personal Chair) has been granted to Dr Nicholas Childs. College principal, Professor Linda Merrick, revealed that “We are very proud to be able to honour Nicholas Childs’ outstanding contribution to the music profession with a professorial title and I look forward to working with him as we enhance our brass band offer at the Royal Northern College of Music under the aegis of the new Philip Jones Centre of Brass.” In 2007, the Black Dyke Band was offered a share Platform Partnership at the RNCM along with illustrious musical ensembles such as the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Opera North orchestras. This partnership continues to blossom with performance opportunities given to many brass and percussion students. In fact, Dr Childs’ impressive record in encouraging young musicians whilst providing them with first class performance experience is second to none. For example, he has been associated with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain since 1976 and this experience led to him, in 2003, founding and directing the hugely successful National Children’s Band of Great Britain. Three years later, in collaboration with Black Dyke Band, he founded the Yorkshire Youth Brass Band, which has gone from strength to strength, with each year’s programme culminating with a performance at Black Dyke’s highly acclaimed Leeds Festival. His commitment to new music is revealed in his commissioning of 76 new works and his 90 première recordings. On a personal level Dr Childs’ achievements have been widely recognised such as his being awarded the Iles Medal in 2007 for his services to brass bands by the Worshipful Company of Musicians and, one year later, when he was made a Freeman of the City of London. John Miller, RNCM Head of School, Brass, Wind and Percussion, commented I am delighted at the conferment of Nicholas Childs professorship. I look forward to the RNCMs partnership with Nick and the Black Dyke Band growing and developing with the RNCM brass students over the coming years. The Black Dyke Band and Board of Trustees “are delighted to offer their congratulations to Nicholas Childs, their inspirational director for a dozen years, on his award of a coveted Professorship from the RNCM. The citation mentions an outstanding contribution to the music profession. Putting the band movement at the heart of the British musical establishment has always been a central lynchpin of his mission.” Upon receiving news of this prestigious award, Dr Childs referred to his long association with the RNCM and commented that “To be awarded a professorial title is a great honour and I, along with Black Dyke Band, look forward to contributing to exciting new projects at the RNCM and the new Philip Jones Centre of Brass.”
Posted on: Wed, 21 May 2014 13:19:04 +0000
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