The first half displayed the talents of Richard Marshall in Edward Gregson’s Cornet Concerto. Richard’s magnificent performance was sympathetically accompanied, and provided a master class in how to make difficult aspects of brass playing look and sound easy! The second movement was a particular highlight, utilising beautiful lines from the composer’s hugely successful 2013 National Brass Band Championship composition, Of Distant Memories.

Given the close association between Black Dyke’s guest conductor and Sir Karl Jenkins, it seemed entirely fitting that the celebrated Welsh composer had three works featured in the programme. Robert Childs’s skilful arrangement of Suite from Stabat Mater showcased the lyricism of last year’s Radio 2 Young Brass Award winner, Daniel Thomas (euphonium), through the work’s hauntingly beautiful Lament, whilst For the Fallen was given an ethereal performance and A Troika? Tidy! - the finale from the composer’s Euphonium Concerto - revealed incredible technique from both soloist and band.

Away from the confines of contesting, it was great to hear Peter Graham’s On The Shoulders of Giants presented as a showpiece featuring Zoe Hancock (flugel horn) and Brett Baker (trombone). Given time and space, both soloists excelled in the Miles Davis and Tommy Dorsey-inspired Lento. The technical demands of the outer movements were also highly impressive, and I’m confident that Bruckner would have been proud of his Symphony No. 8 motifs being used to such great effect in paying homage to Solti’s Chicago Symphony Orchestra brass section of the 1970s and ‘80s.

Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s Enter the Galaxies and Fire in Blood formed perfect bookends to an entertaining second-half, drawing an enthusiastic response from the capacity audience. Siobhan Bates (tenor horn) and Paula O’Malley (xylophone) were on sparkling form during Black Dyke’s solo showcase and a big band set, featuring iconic charts from Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman, proved to be a highlight for many as the band let its hair down in style. With the audience on its feet wanting more, there was just enough time for a thrilling account of Shostakovich’s Folk Festival before the band made its way back to Queensbury.

This was undoubtedly a concert for all of the family, whether you had seen a brass band before or not. It was an entertaining evening from beginning to end, helped along by the warm and knowledgeable compèring style of David Childs. What a privilege for families in Newbury to be treated to such a delight.