Adjudicator & AoBBA Member

I am delighted to join the excellent team at the AOBBA. Since moving back to my musical roots in South Wales in 2018, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed meeting old friends and making new ones from the Brass Band world and through my work at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) and can’t wait to get further involved in the fabulous and important work that AOBBA undertakes.

I feel there is such a strong appetite of banding here in Wales and a generous community spirit, not only at the highest level, but at grass roots level, led by a host of fabulous band trainers and teachers.

During my teenage years, my formative brass banding experiences took place at a county level with the West Glamorgan Youth Brass Band, directed by the legendary Tony Small and the newly formed National Youth Brass Band of Wales, of which I was a founder member in 1982. I also played for Briton Ferry Silver Band, and Glynneath & District Silver Band under the guidance of another legend, Eric James. While studying at the RNCM I regularly performed with Foden’s Brass Band under the hugely influential baton of Howard Snell.

I have adjudicated at the Norwegian National Brass Band Championships at both Championship and 4th section level, and the GB National Brass Band Championships in Cheltenham. I am a Mentor for Music for Youth as well as regularly adjudicating their annual National Festival in Birmingham. I also recently adjudicated the 2024 BBC Young Musician of the Year competition.

I now live with my family in Cardiff and particularly enjoy being finally able to walk to work, as well as other hobbies such as watching the Cardiff Blues play rugby and taking the dogs for long walks in the beautiful Welsh countryside.