Black Dyke solo horn star Siobhan Bates has become the latest high profile player to become a Geneva Performance & Development Artist.

It is the latest career recognition for the player who started her musical development gaining a scholarship at the Birmingham Junior Conservatoire where she became Principal Horn in the Orchestras and Ensembles.

Best Instrumentalist

Her banding career has encompassed tenures at Gresley Colliery Youth and Senior Band, Youth Brass 2000, where she won the 'Best Instrumentalist' prize at the European Youth Championships in Lille, and Foresters Brass, before joining Fairey Band at the age of 17.

Siobhan joined Black Dyke Band in 2016 and has become a hugely respected soloist and band player. She won the 'Best Soloist' award at the 2017 Yorkshire Area Championship and the prestigious BrassPass.TV Young Brass Award (previously Radio 2 Young Brass Award).

Having recently graduated from the University of Huddersfield with a first-class Honours Degree in Solo Performance, she will begin her studies towards a PGCE in Primary Education in September. She already has several commissioned new works which she is keen to perform once rehearsals return after lockdown.

High profile artists

Geneva Group General Manager Brett Baker told 4BR: "During lockdown we have managed to continue to develop new models of instrument and attract high profile artists to the company.

Siobhan has been helping us in development for a number of months and is now delighted to perform on our flagship Oldroyd Cardinal Tenor Horn."

Siobhan has been helping us in development for a number of months and is now delighted to perform on our flagship Oldroyd Cardinal Tenor HornGeneva Group

Wonderful instrument

Talking of the appointment Siobhan added: "The Oldroyd Cardinal Tenor Horn is a beautiful instrument, both aesthetically and tonally.

The valves are slick and effortless, making every aspect of the instrument first class."