I was brought up in a musical family and started playing the cornet at an early age, playing in the Hereford Salvation Army band where my father was the Bandmaster. I joined The NYBBGB in 1963 and my first course was in Birmingham with Dr Denis Wright.
Being a member of The NYBBGB between 1989-1992 had a huge impact on my life. I was advised to take my trombone and audition by a teacher of mine (and NYBBGB alum) Robert Morgan of Lydbrook band. He actually drove me to Oxford to take part in the audition. I thought I was a pretty good player until I joined the youth band!
I played in the NYBBGB from 1961 to 1966, with five courses as Principal Euphonium. I have fantastic memories of my time in the band and remember on my final course having a very pleasant conversation with Eric Ball, our Guest Conductor who had just returned from the Salvation Army’s Star Lake Music Camp in the USA.
Joined NYBBGB in 1992 aged 16. I joined the band to further develop my skills and play along side talented young musicians. The band helped me develop my playing and enhanced the experience I gained at music college, building confidence in performance. This developed my ability to perform under pressure, helping me secure a job […]
I grew up in Yorkshire, brought up on a diet of brass bands and church choirs. My experience of playing in the National Youth Brass Band was completely transformative, not just in projecting my technique to the next level, but also in how it exposed me to such bold artistic collaborations.