IT will be a sad day for brass band fans when one of Huddersfield’s top bands gives its farewell concert.
But Sellers International Band will go out with a flourish.
The band is winding up after an illustrious career spanning more than 20 years.
Black Dyke Band will share the stage with Sellers at the last performance, on Saturday, January 26.
Proceeds will go towards the Puppy Centre Appeal run by the Guide Dogs for the Blind charity.
Band sponsor David Armitage admitted it would be a poignant occasion for many in the audience.
The decision to fold the band rocked the musical world when it was announced last October.
“But I’ve said before that everything has a shelf life and this is the right time to wind it up, said Mr Armitage, chairman of textile machinery firm Sellers International.
The concert is at Huddersfield Town Hall at 7.15pm and will include the Dambusters theme, the Barber of Seville overture and the grand march from Aida, among others.
Guide Dogs for the Blind is aiming to raise £15m to build a new puppy centre at Tollgate in Warwickshire.
Mr Armitage said: “It’s a good cause and we’re hoping to raise a substantial amount of money to help it.”
Black Dyke’s Dr Nicholas Childs is conductor for the first half of the concert, which opens with both bands on stage before Black Dyke play.
He will hand over to Sellers musical director Phillip McCann after the interval, when his own band will take over the stage before both sets of musicians join up again at the end.
The compere will be Simon Lindley, who will accompany both bands on the Father Willis organ for the finale.
Sellers International Youth Band is continuing after its big brother reaches the end of the road and Mr Armitage said it had every prospect of continuing success.
Tickets cost from £6 to £15 and are selling fast.
But a new batch of tickets has been released and they are available from Kirklees booking offices.
