Adjudicator & AoBBA Member

Nicholas began playing the cornet as a member of the Bristol Easton Salvation Army Band. Nicholas held the position of Music Scholar at Bristol Cathedral School and whilst a pupil there joined the Sun Life Band under Dr. Roy Newsome. At university, he was a member of Enfield Citadel Band, First City Brass and the BBC Concert Band based at Elstree Studios, receiving lessons from Rod Franks and Stephen Cobb. Since then, he has played with many of the country’s finest bands including Brighouse, Cory, Fairey, Foden's and Grimethorpe. Nicholas’ brass band honours include Swedish National Brass Champion (with Stockholm Brass), Butlins Mineworkers Open Champion (with Redbridge), Midland Area Champion (twice, with GUS) and London and Southern Counties Area Champion (three times, with Redbridge). As a conductor, he has won 'best entertainment' in the Cory Online Entertainment Contest and other local entertainment contests and has also conducted at the National Finals of Great Britain. As an adjudicator, Nicholas has experience in all types of contest and at all levels. He joined AoBBA after successfully completing the trainee adjudicator scheme in 2013, was appointed to the executive in 2016, and has been AoBBA's secretary since 2019. He was awarded his Licentiate in conducting from the London College of Music in 2017. Nicholas is a Senior Examiner at the London College of Music and an adjudicator for the British International Federation of Festivals (BIFF) and travels globally in these roles. Nicholas holds Fellowships of the Royal Society of Arts and the Guild of Musicians and Singers, and is a Member of the Independent Society of Musicians.