After many hours of travel, Thursday did not start for most of the band until late in the morning, many of us with a full English fry-up breakfast.  Following some exploring of Manchester we started preparing for one of our most anticipated nights of the tour, sharing the stage with this year’s three time champion, premiere group, the Black Dyke Band.

We arrived at the Royal Northern College of Music at 4pm to set up for our program and rehearsal, graciously greeted by Black Dyke’s music director Dr. Nicholas Childs.  After a brief rehearsal we were encouraged by Dr. Childs explaining to us “contesting is our sport, and concerts are our life-blood,” explaining how excited they were to share a stage with the NYSB.

We shared some time of fellowship over dinner with members of Black Dyke, members of the ISB, some of the band member’s family here for the congress, and privileged to be supported by our own Commissioners Swanson.  After dinner our first time sharing the stage with Black Dyke was in massed rehearsal.  We were all excited to meet members of the various sections, shake hands, and prepare for this historic event.

Energy in the hall was palpable as guests started to arrive.  We were excited to see Peter Graham, Captain Martin Cordner, Derek Smith, Philip Wilby, Paul Lovatt-Cooper, and many others.  The house was filling up quickly, by the time the program started there was not a seat available.

Before long the program began and we were welcomed with thunderous applause onto the stage.  We started with Graham’s exciting Phoenix.  Presented with a beautiful sound was a new piece by Dorothy Gates written for NYSB brothers Chris and Tim Ward, a duet Gabriel’s Oboe. It was pleasure for the band to be the first present Americana live to the composer, Martin Cordner.  Reflections on “When Morning Gilds the Skies” displayed Derek Lance’s strong sound and the capability of colors in the band.  Our final major work was the new piece from Lovatt-Cooper written for the NYSB, Power and the Glory, and was very well received by the audience.  We closed our portion of the program with our updated swing version of the Stars and Stripes Forever.

The world class Black Dyke Band took the stage next and opened with a thrilling presentation of the Lovatt-Cooper work Fire in the Blood.  Next was a very exciting euphonium solo, Herbmaiden’s Dance, presented by Gary Curtin.  They brought the energy down for a beautifully played arrangement of Elgar’s Nimrod which Dr. Childs dedicated the performance to Peter Graham’s Father.  They closed their program with a piece that members of the NYSB were very excited to hear live, one of Graham’s newer works, Metropolis 1927.  The performance exceeded expectations and a very excited work to hear and see as the band moved around the stage to highlight different segments of the work.  The audience roared at the conclusion of the work, along with members of the NYSB.

We ended the program joining together in massed bands, a true treat for members of NYSB to play with members of Black Dyke.  We opened with B/M Waiksnoris taking us through a truly New York work, Breezin’ Down Broadway.  Next, a new work written by Dorothy Gates especially for this event, featuring the cornets, a beautiful arrangement of the American tune Shenandoah.  Peter Graham took the podium for the major work of the massed band, his own, Shine as the Light.  Lastly, it was an honor to be led by former Staff Bandmaster, Derek Smith, in the classic Star Lake March.

It was truly a night that we will cherish for many years to come, and one that we hope we can do again in the future.  What a treat to perform and listen to such a high standard of music making, and what a blessing to be able to still present our mission, sharing the Gospel of Jesus in music.