Adjudicator & AoBBA Member

Jonathan Bates is a tenor horn soloist, composer, conductor and clinician hailing from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

He has held the position of Principal Horn with the Foden’s Band, Grimethorpe Colliery and Black Dyke Bands, winning multiple Regional, English National, British National, British Open and European Championships. Jonathan had previously played with the Brighouse & Rastrick and Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Bands having started his career with the Elland Silver Band as a graduate of their youth band system.

As a composer, he has composed a number of substantial works for brass band, and Jonathan’s music has been used at both the UK Regional and National Championships, the New Zealand National Championships, World Championships, North American National Championships, Swedish National Championships, Norwegian National Championships, Dutch National Championships and French Open.

He has also worked extensively as a conductor in the UK and overseas, directing several brass bands to Norwegian National, Yorkshire Regional, Senior Cup, Wychavon and Bolsover entertainment titles.

As an adjudicator, he has worked across all sections from Elite to Youth, including the Swiss, Danish and French National Championships, as well as the L&SC Area in 2026 in the UK.