Discussing Nigel’s appointment Dr Robert Childs (Grimethorpe’s Conductor) said, ‘after a chance phone call with Nigel a few weeks ago I was reminded how original and progressive his work is. Although Grimethorpe Band don’t do many heavyweight concerts or commission many test-pieces. I travel around the Brass Band World a lot, and am frequently asked to recommend composers exactly for those occasions. My idea is that we can partner other Bands in Europe and further afield jointly working with Nigel. I’m sure there will be the opportunity to work with Nigel on some exclusive projects too. Grimethorpe have also announced that Dan Price has been appointed as the band’s Composer in Residence.

In respect to Nigel Clarke’s appointment, Dr Childs added: “After a chance phone call with Nigel a few weeks ago I was reminded how wonderfully original and progressive his work is.  Although Grimethorpe Band does not undertake numerous heavyweight concerts or commission many test pieces, I am always asked about composers to recommend for such high profile occasions. My idea is that we can partner other bands in Europe and further afield to jointly work with Nigel on major commissioned projects that leave a lasting legacy for the whole of the banding movement.”

This will be the third time in Nigel’s career that he has held a compositional position in the Brass Band movement. In the1990’s Nigel was the first Composer in Residence to the Black Dyke Band under the directorship of James Watson. During this time Nigel wrote his Euphonium Concerto `The City in the Sea’ which was premiered and recorded by Robert as Principal Euphonium of the Black Dyke Band. From 2009 to 2015 Nigel was the first Associate Composer to Belgium’s Brass Band Buizingen under the baton of Luc Vertommen, writing them two “own choice” test pieces for the European Brass Band Championships.

Nigel is very much looking forward to renewing his collaboration with Robert Childs and bringing his recent experience of continental European brass band writing to South Yorkshire!

Grimethorpe have a long and proud tradition of collaborating with international composers including Sir Malcolm Arnold, Sir Harrison Birtwistle and Hans Wener Henze. Robert sees Nigel’s appointment as building on this tradition.