Cranbrook Town Band are delighted to report that the concert on the 4th October with guest soloist David Childs raised £2000 for Demelza. In a superb concert, David was undoubtedly on top form and delighted a full hall of expectant audience members with a number of sublime solo performances.

The first half of the concert opened in usual style with a March, followed by the 1st movement of our last winning performance test piece. A couple of up beat swing pieces later and we were ready for David's first appearance. His first trio of solos showed fantastic ability, range and musicality and delighted both audience and band.

Children from Hawkhurst CEP School opened the second half with some great singing before the band sporting their Demelza T-Shirts continued the concert. David again joined midway through for another trio of solos before performing a duet with the bands own principal euphonium player David Newsom. The two Davids rendition of "Softly, as I Leave you" ended a great second half performance from our soloist and left the audience applauding not one, but two Davids.

It wasn't long before the last two pieces from the band were over and David joined the band for an encore of "One Voice" topping a fantastic and memorable concert.

David Childs is regarded as one of the finest brass musicians of his generation. He has appeared as soloist with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Royal Philharmonic, BBC Concert Orchestra, Sinfonia Cymru, DCINY Symphony and BBC Philharmonic; made solo appearances at the Singapore International Festival, Welsh Proms, Harrogate International Festival, Cheltenham Festival, Melbourne International Festival, BBC Proms and New York Festival; performed solo recitals at the Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room and Bridgewater Hall; given Concerto performances at the Concertgebouw, Carnegie Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Symphony Hall, New York’s Lincoln Center and London’s Royal Albert Hall; and regularly records as a solo artist for radio, television and commercial disc.

David tours extensively performing in Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, Japan, Hong Kong, Europe and the U.S.A. He is a keen advocate of new music and has premièred ten concerti for euphonium including a Royal Albert Hall BBC Proms broadcast of Alun Hoddinott's, 'Sunne Rising - The King Will Ride’, a Carnegie Hall US première of Karl Jenkins’ Concerto for Euphonium & Orchestra, a televised première of Philip Wilby’s Concerto for Euphonium & Orchestra, and a UK première of Christian Lindberg’s Concerto for Euphonium & Orchestra directed by the composer.

David is an Associate of the Royal College of Music London; a Professor at both the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, and the Birmingham Conservatoire; an Artist for the Buffet Group Besson, Alliance and Reunion Blues; and is Director of Prima Vista Musikk publishing house. He is also a founder member of the highly successful brass quartet Eminence Brass and Artistic Director of Wales’ premiere wind orchestra Cardiff Symphonic Winds.
David is undoubtedly leading the way for euphonium players worldwide. Through his own performances he continues to showcase the euphonium as a serious solo vehicle within the world of classical music. For further information visit: www.davechilds.com

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

"a great ambassador for the euphonium, possessing an astonishing technique and an engaging stage presence."
The Observer

"a charismatic advocate of the euphonium, a demonstration of versatility and extrovert musicality."