Black Dyke Director of Music, Dr Nicholas Childs will be taking up the baton for an unusual engagement in York this summer, after agreeing to conduct a massed band of hundreds of tubas and euphoniums in an attempt to break a Guinness World Record.

World Record

Dr Childs is to conduct Tubarama in their ‘Tuba World Record Challenge’ at York Racecourse on Sunday 30th June.

The event, presented by Brassed On York Ltd, is the inspiration of Peter Scott, Bb tuba player with Shepherd Group Brass Band and is an attempt to bring together more than 500 players of tubas, euphoniums, sousaphones and marching tubas, who will all play several pieces of music as an ensemble.

Current record

The current world record, recorded in Disneyland, Florida, stands at 502 players.

“It’s an ambitious target to attract that many players, but with Nick Childs on board we stand a fighting chance of doing it,’ said spokesperson Kate Lock.

“He is so well respected and well-liked by players, and it’s a fantastic opportunity for brass players from all over the country to get together for this collective enterprise.”

Tumultuous sound

Dr Childs added: "I’m really excited to lead Tubarama to try and get in the Guinness Book of Records — and on the day if you can't see us, like Harry Potter's wand, my baton will create a tumultuous sound of tubas!"

it’s a fantastic opportunity for brass players from all over the country to get together for this collective enterpriseKate Lock

More information

To find out more about taking part go to: http://doublebtyke.wix.com/tubarama and follow the link for tickets.

The event is part of the Brassed On York 2013 Festival, which runs from 27th-30th June.

More information from www.brassedon.org

Photo courtesy of Keith Meadley photography