Dr. Nicholas J. Childs

D M A, M A, F L C M, A R C M (Hons)

Dr. Nicholas Childs has achieved the highest international reputation as a performer, teacher/clinician, conductor, interpreter and advocate of new music, and producer of pacesetting recordings. Initial success came as a euphonium soloist and partner with his talented brother, Dr. Robert Childs, who together have literally toured the world as The Childs Brothers, performing in many of the world’s most famous concert halls with the most prestigious bands and orchestras. Taking up the baton as a conductor, Nicholas has had phenomenal success with many bands, including highly acclaimed national championships. His current tenure as Principal Conductor and Director of Music of the famous Black Dyke Band has been marked not only with continued contest success, but with a series of innovative concerts and world premieres of major works for brass band with a variety of soloists and musical combinations. He serves as Senior Tutor in Brass Band Studies at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he has taught for over twelve years. Further honors have come with his appointment as Associate Conductor of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, and as Trustee of the Brass Band Heritage Trust.

With his roots in the British brass band tradition, having first been trained in the Tredegar (Wales) Youth Band, Childs continues to give important emphasis to the development of the brass band movement. This comes via his commitment of the training of outstanding young musicians both at the collegiate level and within the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. He has reached the pinnacle of success with three recent National Championships of Great Britain, with Black Dyke in 2001, 2004 and 2008. In April 2005 as Music Director of Black Dyke he guided them to first place at the European Championship in Holland, in September 2005 he was victorious with Black Dyke, winning the British Open Championship and again in 2006.

With the guidance of Dr. Childs, 2006 saw the founding of the Yorkshire Youth Brass Band. The purpose behind the creation of the YYBB is to inspire young people aged 11 – 18 who have already achieved Grade 4 using the umbrella of members of Black Dyke Band and facilities of the bands partners Leeds Metropolitan University.