Euphonium star David Childs will be making a late night cross country journey from North Wales to Skegness this weekend to help the Flowers Band defend their Butlins Mineworkers Championship title.

Hectic schedule

It will be the latest road trip he has made in a hectic schedule in recent weeks, which has seen him start January with a solo performance near his home in Newport with the Greater Gwent Youth Band, as well as be interviewed in London on BBC Radio 3’s ‘Afternoon on 3’ about his award winning CD, ‘The Symphonic Euphonium’ and head down to Cornwall to adjudicate and perform with the Camborne Youth Band.

Camerata Orchestra

This evening (Friday 16th) he will perform the ‘Romanza’ from the Karl Jenkins Concerto in a high profile concert with the Camerata Wales Orchestra conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes CBE, in Bangor — a concert that will also features works by Gareth Wood and Paul Mealor, before driving over to Lincolnshire to link up with the defending Butlins champion.

Enjoyable

“It has been a bit hectic,” David confessed, “But it’s so enjoyable to be able to perform with so many different people and in so many great ensembles. The concert at Bangor Cathedral promises to be a wonderful event — and it’s always a thrill to be able to perform under the baton of such a distinguished conductor.”

He added: “I also have to thank Flowers and Paul Holland for enabling me to do this before such an important contest. The band has been working hard to prepare for the defence of their title, so I’m determined to do as much as I possibly can to help then start the year with another victory.”

Thanks

David also took the opportunity to thank everyone who voted for him in the recent 4BR Awards — which saw him claim both the coveted ‘Player of the Year’ and ‘Solo CD of the Year’ accolades.

“It’s virtually impossible not to sound clichéd when it comes to this kind of thing, but I really am grateful to all those who voted, and especially the musicians I've shared the stage with in 2014.

It’s been a particularly busy year for me from The Symphonic Euphonium recording sessions this time last January, through to duets with my father in Luxembourg on Boxing Day!

Although awards and competitions are not what I tend to measure success by, I am particularly humbled to receive the awards especially when nominated in such esteemed company, and voted for by the general public.”

The band has been working hard to prepare for the defence of their title, so I’m determined to do as much as I possibly can to help then start the year with another victoryDavid Childs

Shared award

He added: "I was particularly delighted to share the Solo CD of the Year award with the composers, the wonderful musicians of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Maestro Bramwell Tovey, Chandos Records, my entire family for their unstinting support, and especially my father and lifelong teacher, Robert Childs, to whom the disc is dedicated."