BK members perform at London Marathon
April 2008
Paul Richards, Lucy Philips and Dan Easter, members of the Black Knights Senior Corps joined up with the South London Jazz Orchestra (SLJO) to perform to the crowds and participants of the 2008 London Marathon.
Commenting on the experience Paul Richards said “It was a pleasure to be allowed to play some very skilled players from all ages and backgrounds. One of the things I love most about music is that it breaks all barriers between people. The music was excellent and it was great to see all the runners, especially the Masauri tribesmen”.
Well done to Paul, Lucy and Dan who represented the Black Knights very well and many thanks go out to the conductor of SLJO Bob Bridges and to the members of SLJO who made them all feel really welcome
Black Knights Cadets to appear on BBC's Saturday Morning TV
March 2008
The Black Knights Cadets, from Gravesend in Kent are to appear on BBC’s popular Saturday morning show “Basil’s Swap Shop”.
Three members of the Black Knights Cadets will be appearing on this Saturday mornings show (22nd March) which is due to air on BBC TWO between 9am and 10am and will be playing live to the studio audience and to the millions of people watching!
Gary Wooldridge, the co-ordinator for the Black Knights Cadets commented “We are very proud that the training we provide our members enables us to provide opportunities like this. This is a great opportunity for the children to showcase their talents, and great exposure for the Drum Corps activity.”
Good luck to Alex and Chloe Taylor (Brass) and Jack Easter (snare drum) who are the chosen three to perform this Saturday.
Black Knights Launch Video Podcast on iTunes
March 2008
The Black Knights Drum & Bugle Corps from Gravesend in Kent have become the first European Drum Corps to produce their own Video Podcast.
The video podcast, the first instalment of which is available for download now via iTunes, will be regularly updated throughout 2008 to keep people up to date with the corps progress.
Rus Rogers from the Black Knights Development Team commented:
“Our goal is to use the video podcast to help educate more people about Black Knights and the world of Drum Corps and hopefully help them understand why we and all the other Drum Corps out there are so passionate about what we do."
"We strongly believe that the activity of Drum Corps is as relevant if not more relevant for young people today than it has ever been. With all the negative influences out there we feel that Drum Corps is a great way to provide positive influences and experiences to young people."
"Anyone that has grown up through Drum Corps will attest to the life skills that it helps you develop as well as the life long friendships that the activity encourages."
"Our goal is to get that message out to as many young people as possible and we believe that the podcast is a huge step towards achieving that.”
In addition to launching the Podcast, Black Knights have launched their own YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/blackknightsuk which will feature regularly updated footage from past and present.
For information on how to view the Black Knights Video Podcast visit ourPodcast page
Black Knights and The Academy Enter Strategic Partnership
February 2008
The director and management of Black Knights Drum and Bugle Corps and The Thurrock Academy Performance Ensemble are delighted to announce that a new strategic partnership has been put in place from February 2008.
After many years of sharing members between the two organisations it was decided that the knowledge and practices of both organisations could be better used in a partnership. The partnership is not designed to affect the everyday running of either organisation but to build friendships, data bases, vested interests and to encourage movement of members between the organisations.
Black Knights director and management team are looking forward to working with the director and management team of The Academy.
BLACK KNIGHTS MEMBERS SPIN THEIR WAY TO VICTORY
29th January 2008
It has long been a tradition at Black Knights that many of the members of the corps perform in the winter circuit with neighbouring organisation The Academy and this year is no exception with no less than 11 BK members competing in WGUK across The Academy’s “A” Guard and Senior Guard.
This past Sunday was TA’s second competition of the season with the “A” Guard narrowly missing out on the top spot behind Southern Knights “A” Guard and the Seniors taking top honours in the Open Class.
Karen Walsh who is TA’s Senior Guard Captain and who will be taking the role of Guard Caption Head for Black Knights this summer commented :
“I am thoroughly enjoying the WG season so far. The members are the best group of people I have ever had the pleasure to march with. The staff are pushing us to levels we have never experienced before in terms of improving ourselves in technique and skill and our understanding of performance and the show, not to mention the physical challenge."
"My experience of marching BK Colourguard has most definitely made me more equipped to deal with the mental and physical challenges that Winterguard throws at you and I am really looking forward to giving something back to BK and bringing some of the knowledge I have learnt through TA to the corps.”
The following people are competing with TA and will be marching with Black Knights this summer :
Cloe Hastings
Lucy Sharman
Lara Corcoran
Kim Hogg
Reece Bolton
Jay Sharman
Nicola Aspinall
Becky Whiteman
Laura Rose
Laura Sharman
Charmaine Mansfield
We at Black Knights will be following the progress of the BK members competing in WGUK with great interest and wish them and the rest of the team at TA all the best of luck for the remainder of the season.
First Rehearsal Black Knights 2008 - 13.01.08
Today the Black Knights preparations for the 2008 season began with a Brass and Pit rehearsal. The rehearsal was well attended in both sections and the show music was played to the members for the first time. The Pit made good progress with the Ballad (Nothing Else Matters), it is a big step for some of the members as they have recently moved from the cadets and are playing a challenging book co-written by Vicky Richards and Rus Rogers. It was excellent to see them take to the music in their stride.
 The brass line learned a Chord Progression and “Amazing Jazzed Grace”, both written by Simon Hastings, along with show pieces; Call of Ktulu, Sweet Child of Mine and the Ballad. The 2 old faces returning to the low brass section really helped to give the Brass line the depth of sound needed to put the Rock show across. The music has gone down really well with the members and there is a good buzz around the site in the run up to the January Music Camp – (25th /26th /27th ).
If you are interested in becoming part of 2008 Black Knights Senior Corps, please contact Emma Weir on 07713623941
 Black Knights guard staff for 2008
Guard Caption Head:- Karen Walsh
Guard Writers and Staff:- Gavin Woodhead and Tracy Trafford
All three are well known throughout the BK organisation and winterguard guard circles alike.
This team will bring a total package to BK and understand fully what makes BK tick!.
Black Knights Christmas Entertainment
 Black Knights completed their second week of Christmas Carols this weekend, spending Sunday at ASDA Gravesend. The turn out was excellent with many extra hands available to hand out flyers for BK’s 2008 season and collect for the corps.
Having made £800 last week, the bar had been set high, so we knew we had another tough day of playing ahead, but the extra people allowed people to take breaks to collect and talk to the public. It seemed a quiet day, but we managed to earn an additional £344, bringing this years total to £1144 with 3 days collecting still to go! The public certainly seem to enjoy the different flavour of Christmas music we are putting out, along wit the crazy dancing and outrageous horn visuals.
It was great to have some guest performers this weekend and we went from having no drummers to having 5 kit players throughout the day (Thanks to Donna, Pat, Rus, Dave and Steve). Rus also turned his hand to a bit of Baritone during the day and Pat also relived the magic on trumpet. We also finished the day with a ‘jam session’ of Tequila, which seemed to catch everyone’s attention.
Next week we have a performance at the retirement home in Meopham thanks to returning Mellophone player, Sarah Gamble. We will be taking a much more traditional set to this performance, but will then return to our normal set for another day of performing outside ASDA Gravesend again.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to help out! You are helping to put BK in a very strong position for the coming season!
New Director for BK
After three years of running without a corps director Black Knights are pleased to announce that the Directorship of the corps was offered to, and accepted by, Ken Mansfield.
Ken has been part of the marching band and drum corps scene since he joined Thurrock drum and trumpet corps in October 1973. Ken, well known for his role within the Academy colourguard, has been registered with a marching organisation every year since that first one in ‘73.
Ken’s years of experience in marching, teaching, judging and running drum corps and colourguards will stand him in good stead for the task ahead. Ken’s role will be one that will see him take control of all elements of the Black Knights organisation.
The Black Knight organisation is excited at this appointment and is looking forward to the future with anticipation.
Open Age Policy
Whilst Black Knights would not have refused an over age member in 2007 the corps was not actively seeking overage members, however at a recent staff meeting the Black Knights Drum and Bugle Corps decided to embrace the trend in Drum Corps by moving overage for the foreseeable future. With a number of great old Drum Corps being based in the immediate surrounding area to the location of the Corps this decision enables those who have previously been a part of a Drum Corps to rekindle their love for the activity. Anyone who has that last drum corps show in their bellies or indeed think they can offer help should contact Ken Mansfield on kenny.mansfield@tcsonline.co.uk
BYBA Championships 2007
 Well done to the Black Knight Cadets for coming 2nd (Cadet Class) at the BYBA Championships on the 7th October 2007 at Butts Park Arena (Coventry RFU)
DCUK British Drum Corps Championships 2007 - Bronze
 Well done to the Black Nights on your 3rd place Bronze position in the International Open Class at the 2007 British Drum Corps Championships.
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