In 2004, the Youth Music organisation launched a 'a31m initiative to put specific musical instruments into the hands of over 5,000 children. The 'Endangered & Protected Species' programme tackled the problem of falling numbers of young people taking up, and continuing to play, six instruments - the Bassoon, Double Bass, French Horn, Oboe, Trombone and Euphonium. Two years on and the Euphonium, in the hands of David Childs will be making a solo appearance at perhaps Wales'92 most prestigious classical music event of the season, The Last Night of the Welsh Proms.

David of Bassaleg, Newport will be the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra'92s guest solo artist when he performs with them under the direction of Owain Arwel-Hughes at St. David'92s Hall on July 29th. The euphonium is not widely regarded as a classical solo instrument and back in 2004 was recognised by Youth Music as an endangered species. However, in recent years through high profile solo performances David has began to make a name not only for himself, but also for the neglected euphonium.

2004 - Royal Albert Hall

In 2004, '91International Euphonium Player of the Year'92 David Childs appeared as a soloist with the National Orchestra of Wales at the Royal Albert Hall'92s BBC Proms where they gave the premiere performance of a new Concerto for Euphonium composed for David by the internationally renowned welsh composer, Alun Hoddinott. The performance was broadcast live on Radio receiving great acclaim and helped in aiding David'92s quest to put the euphonium on the map as a serious solo vehicle within the world of classical music.

Continuing Success

Last year David was invited to perform with Manchester'92s BBC Philharmonic Orchestra at their televised '91Prom in the Park'92 where he played as a soloist to a live audience of 18,000 and was also broadcast to a live television audience of almost 7 million. Earlier this year David became the first euphonium soloist to perform with the BBC Concert Orchestra live on the prestigious Radio programme, '91Friday Night is Music Night'92 and during the broadcast, Welsh presenter Aled Jones introduced the young euphonium soloist to the stage as '91one of the finest musicians in the world.'92 Following this David again appeared with the National Orchestra of Wales, but this time in St David'92s Hall. He is now looking forward to returning to St. David'92s to perform with the Royal Philharmonic and commented,

'93I am delighted to be taking part in this prestigious Gala Concert in Wales. As a young boy I had always dreamt of becoming a soloist, but being a realist I had assumed the prospect was an impossibility due the unpopular instrument I chose to play. My father taught me well and after years of hard practice, being invited to perform with some of Britain'92s finest professional orchestras really is a dream come true. I will continue my endeavours to bring the euphonium to a greater audience and am genuinely grateful that my emergence as a soloist has come at a time when the euphonium needs as much exposure as possible.'94


Limited Repertoire '96 Help from Karl Jenkins


Karl Jenkins & David Childs

As a relatively young instrument the euphonium has very little solo repertoire with orchestra which is why David is committed to the commissioning of new music. However, commissions can be very expensive so David has turned his hand to arranging his own solo works and it is three of his own arrangements which he will play with the Royal Philharmonic: the Welsh song '91Myfanwy'92, Vittorio Monti'92s '91Czardas'92 and the fiendishly difficult '91Flight of the Bumble Bee'92. In addition to these pieces David will also be performing a Fantasy on Rule Britannia entitled '91Brillante'92 by Scottish composer Peter Graham and a work especially arranged for him by the UK'92s most popular living composer, Welshman Karl Jenkins.

Karl Jenkins is in demand throughout the world and has previously been commissioned by the likes of Evelyn Glennie and Bryn Terfel. Having met David and been impressed by his playing Karl has very kindly adapted the '91Benedictus'92 from his award winning '91The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace'92 as a euphonium solo for David to perform with the RPO at the Last Night of the Welsh Proms. A very grateful David commented, '93Composers just don'92t come any bigger than Karl Jenkins. He is world renowned and has a unique talent of composing music people love to listen to. I have been a fan of his for many years and will consider it a great privilege to play his music in concert.'94

Brass Band Background '96 keeping it in the family!


John Childs 1932-1984

David is from a brass band background. His late grandfather John was a brass band euphonium player in Wales, as was David'92s father Robert. The brass band movement has an outdated stereotype of being associated with industry and amateur performance which can make it especially difficult for one of the movement'92s products to flourish in the established '91professional'92 world of classical music. However, undeterred by this David has remained true to his roots and here in Wales, when he is not touring as a soloist he continues to enjoy playing euphonium with the Principality'92s premiere brass band formerly known as '91Cory'92 and now sponsored by the Buy As You View company. The band'92s Musical Director and Principal Conductor is David'92s father Robert. David'92s sister Lisa plays cornet with the band and his fianc'e9e Joanne plays Flugel Horn!

60th Anniversary of the RPO



When Owain Arwel-Hughes, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and David Childs take to the stage next Saturday they will not only be celebrating the Last Night of the Welsh Proms, but also the 60th anniversary of one of the finest orchestras in the world. Since its formation in 1946, the RPO has been directed by some of the world'92s finest conductors, most notably Rudolf Kempe, Antal Dorati, Andr'e9 Previn and Vladimir Ashkenazy. The Orchestra continues to thrive, undertaking a busy concert, touring and recording schedule, under the inspired leadership of Maestro Daniele Gatti and also continues to maintain its legacy by offering audiences in the UK and abroad the highest possible standards of music-making, accompanied by some of the most acclaimed artists of the day. This year those artists include Pinchas Zukerman, Leonard Slatkin, Evelyn Glennie, Janina Fialkowska and of course, David Childs.