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All Posts By

Steven Symonds

21st March 2017
Steven Symonds
In News

Marshall visits Martlesham

Black Dyke’s principal cornet player visited Suffolk to present two workshops and appear as guest soloist with Martlesham Brass in April.

Richard came to Martlesham Brass and spent the day in sunny Suffolk hosting workshops with our 100 members. The morning session was held with our Main Band where he took us through his way of approaching new music, and demonstrated various playing and breathing techniques.

In the afternoon he worked with our training bands where he answered a whole host of questions, inspiring our next generation of players and showing what an amazing talent he has.

He was our guest soloist in our evening concert, where he wowed our packed audience with gorgeous slow melodies, a beautiful duet with our Band President, Bruce, and finished off with the wonderful Zelda.

“Richard was truly inspirational, an amazing cornet player but with a way of putting things simply for all ages to consume. He put everyone at ease from the moment he arrived. Everyone really enjoyed having a session with him, and lots of asked when he will be back. Can’t wait to have another session with him.”

Mark Chalklen

21st March 2017
Steven Symonds
In News

Black Dyke stars visit Douai Academy

Following Black Dyke’s annual concert for the Sheffield Salvation Army, it was straight down to Birmingham Airport for Richard and Gary Curtin, as they flew out the following morning to deliver their expertise as soloists and advise youngsters through to adults, at the Douai Academy.

The whole day was supported by Besson and was the result of two brass bands from the North of France, Brass Band Nord-pas-de-Calais and Brass Band Douai. The choice of repertoire tested the three brass bands (a baby brass band, junior band and an advanced band) plus for the delegates to be able to listen to the outstanding talents of Richard and Gary both deliver a virtuosic solo and a slow melody, they really began to understand the concept of improving brass band sound and technique.

A quote from Jean-Lic Petitprez, the academy organiser, summed up the whole day. “To have two eminent brass band names as Richard Marshall and Gary Curtin in touching distance of many French brass band enthusiasts was a great experience - see you again next year!”

Following the long and successful day, it was up bright and breezy in time for Richard and Gary to fly back to the UK for Black Dyke’s concert at The Derngare Theatre, Northampton.

21st March 2017
Steven Symonds
In News

Swiss National Brass Band Championships 2015

To be invited to adjudicate a National Brass Band Championship is an honour, and at the end of November, Richard flew to Montreux to adjudicate Switzerland’s finest.

Accompanying Richard in the box for the weekend was Ray Farr and Erik Jansen and it was their job to adjudicate the fourth, third and Championship Set Test.

The pieces chosen for the competition challenged each section (Parnassus by Jan Van der Roost - fourth section, Turris Fortissima by Steven Ponsford - third section and The Triumph of Time by Peter Graham - Championship Set Test).

The standard of performance on show throughout all the sections adjudicated showed maturity and frightening virtuosity - especially in Peter Graham’s Triumph of Time, that was written for Black Dyke in 2014.

A good weekend was had and for Richard it was enjoyable to see and witness brass banding from the other side of a box!

21st March 2017
Steven Symonds
In News

Guest Soloist with Brass Band Berner Oberland

Only two weeks after Richards visit to Switzerland as an adjudicator for the Swiss National Brass Band Championships, he was there again this time visiting Brass Band Berner Oberland as their guest soloist. Below is a review of Richards visit by their conductor, Corsin Tuor.

Richard Marshall, very famous contemporary cornet virtuoso, was engaged as guest soloist by Brass Band Berner Oberland (BBO) for their traditional advent concert on Sunday, December 13, 2015 at St. Paul’s Church in the Swiss Capital Bern. According to his outstanding reputation, he excelled in five different cornet solo. The highlight of this concert was the “Cornet Concerto“ by Dr. Denis Wright with Richard as the soloist displaying great virtuosity, style and brilliance. In the other solo pieces of this concert, “Pastorale“ (Peter Graham),  “Ave Maria“ (Bach/Gound) and “Candlelight Carol“ (John Rutter), Richard showed his high-level of lyricism. As an encore, especially arranged for for this concert, was my version of  “Silent Night”. Richard could finally enjoy the applause of the enthusiastic audience.

Besides the rehearsals and the concert, Richard took the time for a workshop for members of the BBO and their Junior Band. He responded to questions of the participants in a very friendly and competent way and demonstrated again his excellent expertise and skills on the cornet. Furthermore, three BBO cornet players could benefit from individual lessons with Richard.

The visit of Richard was a great expierence for all of us and also for all concert visitors and will be remembered for a long time. I would like to thank you very much, Richard!

Corsin Tuor - Conductor, Brass Band Berner Oberland