Brett Baker relinquishes Principal Position at Black Dyke Band
Due to increasing commitments Brett Baker has decided to step down from his regular duties at Principal Trombone at Black Dyke Band effective after the European Championships in May 2014. Brett will continue to be associated with the band, and will continue to develop projects such as the junior and youth quartets within the Black Dyke family, where he has been a member for the past 14 years.
Brett commented “I have found it difficult to balance commitments at the University of Salford as Programme leader as well as several outreach projects I oversee, plus global Trombone related activities, private teaching and Black Dyke. I have very much enjoyed conducting the University of Salford Brass Band and other opportunities to conduct such as with Leyland Band last year. So this year I want to focus more on conducting whilst continuing to play when the opportunity arises. I have been conducting bands since 1999 when I visited Australia and worked with the Kew Band, since 2010 I have studied conducting as Salford University with guidance from Howard Evans, Howard Snell and Nicholas Childs, I knew then it was something I wanted to focus on when the timing was right”.
Brett will be featuring at Regent Hall with Croydon Band on the 8th of March, the Eastern Trombone Workshop in Washington DC in Mid-March, as well as featuring at the Future All Star Event for the New York Staff Band in Monclair, New Jersey in late March, before returning to take part in preparations for the Europeans at Black Dyke.
Brett continued “I plan to take on as much conducting experience as possible over the next few months with the aim of finding a permanent post later in the year, this means being available on rehearsal nights with bands and hence my decision sadly to step down from regular playing with Black Dyke after 14 enjoyable years, I’m looking forward to a new chapter, but I certainly will not turn my back on the trombone playing and my busy schedule as a teacher”
Dr. Nicholas Childs wished to make a comment on the announcement
“Brett is an outstanding soloist and has given a wonderful service to myself and Black Dyke. We all wish him well and hope we can still be part of his future.”
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