University partners Black Dyke Band returned to Leeds Met, as a weekend feast of musical events got underway.

The world-famous brass band held concerts over the weekend of June 12 to 13.

On Saturday, Alumni and guests returned to the Gandhi Hall for a Lower Brass Spotlight led by David Thornton and Joseph Cook, held between 11.30am and 3.45pm. The spotlight was an opportunity for participants to get involved in activities such as a massed ensemble, chamber music session, celebrity recital and ultimately a massed finale.

The day's events culminated in a gala concert, preceded by a talk delivered by Ian McMillan and Philip Wilby. The concert saw the world premiere of Ian McMillan's newly commissioned concert poem 'Brass' with live illustrations by award-winning cartoonist Tony Husband. The concert also included world premieres from Peter Graham, Philip Wilby and Paul Lovatt-Cooper. The performance will shortly be available to view on our YouTube channel.

The weekend of music concluded with a symposium on Sunday, held at Leeds Town Hall. The symposium saw the inclusion of the inaugural Cornet Spotlight, led by Black Dyke's principal cornet player, Richard Marshall. Richard presented a masterclass and was also available for question and answer sessions. The day also included an opportunity to meet the Black Dyke Legends and attend workshops and recordings, culminating in a Grand Finale with over 250 musicians performing Tchaikovsky's March Slav.