Adjudicator & AoBBA Member

I have been involved with the Brass Band movement for the past 60 years. I was born in Queensbury and began playing the horn at the age of 10. By the age of fourteen I progressed to the position of Solo Euphonium with the Black Dyke Mills Junior Band and had notable success under the leadership of Geoffrey Whitham. In 1964, I joined the Brighouse and Raistrick Band playing first baritone, leaving in 1965 to join the Black Dyke Mills Band where I stayed for the next 18 years. During this period the band won every major trophy including the World Championships, notching up 26 wins in all. I was privileged to meet members of the Royal family and many celebrities including Paul McCartney, Andre Previn and Edward Heath. During my career as I player I was fortunate to perform with some of the finest committed Brass players and Conductors with their individual interpretations of music. After leaving the band through work commitments, I have a small architectural practice, I concentrated less on playing an instrument and more on conducting. In recent years I have conducted bands across the spectrum from the fourth to the championship section using the conducting techniques learned from the many talented conductors under whose direction I played. I have also successfully taught a number of youngsters and have seen several of my pupils go on to become successful players in Championship bands of today. I hold a diploma in Music from the Open University. a part time course which involved studies in Music interpretation and analysis , Understanding Music Elements, Techniques and styles .Highly recommended.