Adjudicator & AoBBA Member

Steve Hartley was born in Wrexham North Wales, and played with many local bands in the area including Gresford Colliery, City of Chester and Point of Ayr. He attended Salford College in the early 1980`s studying conducting under Roy Newsome, and composition and arranging under Goff Richards, culminating in a Graduate Diploma in Band Musicianship. Whilst studying at Salford Steve played with the Rochdale Wilsons Band appearing 3 times at the British Open Championships. The urge to conduct soon took over, and he embarked on a Conducting career with the Windsor Band in Salford, later conducting Todmorden Old, Haworth and Golborne bands. In 1987 he was appointed Musical Director to Blackpool Brass and moved to live on the Fylde coast. Steve has had two spells conducting the Poulton le Fylde Band and has also conducted Thornton Cleveleys and North Fylde Brass. He is employed as a Civil Servant for the Department for Work and Pensions in Blackpool, and also instructs a number of pupils in Brass playing and Music Theory, preparing them for examination at the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. Steve describes Banding as a way of life he is privileged to be part of, and counts the instruction from Roy Newsome at Salford as the greatest influence on his Musical Career. In April 2007 Steve was appointed Musical Director of the newly formed Darwen Brass as its first conductor, and he is still conducting the band at the present time. Under Steve’s direction Darwen have progressed from 4th section to the 2nd section and have qualified twice to represent the North West at the National Finals. They have won numerous contests and achieved many podium prizes, including becoming North West Regional Third section Champions in 2014.