ELTON John has called the Black Dyke Band “the SAS of musicians”.

“You get the job done and you do it so well,” Sir Elton told the brass band members when he asked them to take part in An Evening With Elton John.

Now The Black Dyke Band are coming to Bournemouth, minus the Rocket Man on May 26 to play an evening concert at the Pavilion Theatre as part of The Very Best of Brass.

But for aspiring brass band players, the most exciting aspect of their visit will be on the following day.

The 2012 Masterclass will be hosted by Black Dyke at Highcliffe School on Sunday May 27, with the opportunity to be tutored by principal players and to play with the band in concert.

The masterclass will concentrate on improving techniques and will address the challenge of performing seamlessly with other players in the band.

After fears that increased costs would mean 2011’s The ‘Very Best of Brass’ concert was to be the last, Hayes Music, based in Southampton, has stepped in to ensure the continuity of this major musical event.

Each year for the past 13 years, The Very Best of Brass has mounted a brass band concert at the Pavilion in Bournemouth featuring one of the world’s top brass bands.

Over the years, Black Dyke, Brighouse and Rastrick, Grimethorpe, Williams Fairey and others have all performed and this year’s concert on May 26 sees a return of the Black Dyke Band, their seventh appearance for The Very Best of Brass.

“‘The Very Best of Brass is in the very best of shape,” declares Richard Boler, managing director of Hayes Music and new sponsor of the musical organisation which has raised over £50,000 for local good causes.

Richard Boler adds: “We are delighted to be able to support The Very Best of Brass in their extremely worthy endeavours and look forward to an outstanding weekend of brass band music.”