Calderdale Big Band

The Calderdale Big Band started life in June 2002 under the name of The Calder Valley Youth Dance Orchestra (C.Y.D.O.) the brain child of local musician and teacher Derek Southcott, who was at the time lead trombone with the Sid Lawrence orchestra and Roy Sparrow a local big band enthusiast and our band legend!! The idea behind the orchestra was to provide an alternative outlet for young musicians to play in other than concert bands and brass bands.

We perform the Big Band sounds of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Ted Heath and more, through the 1930s, 40s, 50s through to the present day. Our extensive repertoire includes jazz standards, R’n’B, charleston, rock and roll, latin, dance and contemporary music.