Personnel

The Conductors 2008

Course musical director - Derek Broadbent

Still very active as a freelance conductor. Extremely busy as an arranger and composer, and currently the chairman of the Assoc. of Brass Band Adjudicators.'

Brass Band conductor - Stan Lippeat

Stan’s conducting career started in 1983 with the Grimethorpe Colliery Junior Band. He became Musical Director at the Thoresby Colliery Band (French Open Champions 2003), a position he held for 17 years. In December of 2005 Stan was appointed Musical Director of the Ransome Band. For many years he was the Flugel Horn player with the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, and toured all over the world.

Brass Band conductor - Alan Pope

Following a career as an army musician, took over as the Musical Director of Camborne Youth Band in 1999 and has built the band up from 7 members to its current membership of 85. Full time Brass Teacher. Tutor at Cornwall Youth Brass Band.

Wind Band conductor - Mike Fowles

Was a student of Wessex for many years on the Trombone. He has since been described as "One of the leading young interpreters of modern brass styles" (Brass Band World Magazine) Michael is much in demand, having already worked with many of the Country's leading bands including Fairey and Leyland. Currently he is Musical Director of the BT Band from Stockport and The Ratby Co-operative Band in Leicester.

Wind Band conductor - David Marshall

Since his retirement as Director of Music, Coldstream Guards in 1999, David has continued to work as a music publisher and freelance musician. His freelance conducting included a spell with Verwood Concert Brass culminating in their successful win at the National Regional Qualifying Contest at Torquay in March 2006.

Training Band conductor - Matt Stimpson

Head of Music at Beckfoot School in Yorkshire. Matt plays horn for the Knottingley Silver Band and in the past for Concert Bands in the Doncaster area. Matt is a past student and award winner of the course and currently course chairman.

Training Band conductor - Becky Moss

She currently conducts Ratby Youth Band, having gained a teaching degree. She is a past principle trombone player of the Wessex Band.

Training Band conductor - Chris Gent

Christine has played solo horn with Shirland MW band, Thoresby Colliery and now Ransomes. Whilst still playing with Thoresby and having an interest in conducting Christine took up the challenge in July 2000 to start a youth band. The Thoresby Colliery Youth Band is now 30 strong and a registered 4th section band, and after one year competing at this level they were crowned 4th section Butlin's Mineworkers' Champions 2006.

The Tutorial Staff of 2007 were:

Kirsty Abbotts - Solo and Soprano cornets

Currently plays Principal Cornet for Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band having previously held the same position for Sellers International Band. She was the Mineworkers Solo Champion 2005 and Best Instrumentalist at the Grand Shield 2006. Her first solo CD is due for release in July this year.

Alan Pope - 2nd cornets

See conductors section above

Wes Garner - 3rd cornets

Founder and present Musical Director of the Solent Concert Youth band established in Portsmouth 1969. Wes conducted the Woodfalls Band winning many prizes with them including the Spring Grand Shield in 1985.

Over the years he has concentrated on bringing the younger players through.

Stan Lippeat - Flugel

see conductors section above

Trish Chislett - Tenor Horn

A well respected local brass teacher and Principal Horn of the Woodfalls Band. She has won many soloist awards.

Matt Stimpson - Tenor Horn

See conductors above

Mike Warriner - Baritone

In January 2003 Mike was offered and accepted the 2nd baritone position at Fodens band having previously played with Freckleton Band for four years.

The highlights of Mike's banding career have been winning the British Open in 2004, and the MCM Festival of Brass in 2005.

David Thornton - Euphonium

David is the principal euphonium player of the world-renowned Black Dyke Band. He is regarded as one of the foremost euphonium players in the world and is in great demand as a guest soloist with ensembles throughout the UK, as well as further a field.

Joe Cook - Bass

New to the Course this year, he currently plays with Black Dyke which he joined in 1999 he has toured round the world and is featured on both Cd’s and Dvd’s. He was a member of the N.Y.B.B and a semi-finalist in the BBC’c Young Musician of the Year on two occasions.

Mike Fowles - Trombone

see conductors section above

Becky Moss - Trombone

see conductors section above

Steve Plant - Percussion

Steve is a percussionist with the Ratby Co-Operative band and in addition to being a playing member is also Treasurer and a Trustee. Steve is also the Chairman of the Leicestershire Brass Band Association , a member of the Midlands Area Regional Committee , Treasurer ,Councillor and Company Director of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain Ltd . He has been a tutor at Wessex for many years.

James Gilbert - Percussion

A former Wessex band student, he studied percussion at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Sally-Ann Bartram - Flute

A former principle flautist of the WBSS, Sallyann has played the flute for over 20 years. She has a combined music and business degree and a wealth of experience in flute ensemble direction and performance. Co founded the Enderby Wind Band in the summer of 2005. This is a community band ensemble based in Leicestershire.

Mick Roberts - Sax

Mick studied sax, clarinet and flute at the City Of Leeds College of Music specialising in improvisation, where he was subsequently employed as a sax tutor. Perepatetic teaching in Barnsley followed. He is also a lecturer in music at Barnsley College. He is a professional theatre musician and is active in the folk and jazz scenes.

David Marshall - Trumpet

see conductors section above

Tracey Munford - Clarinet

Ex-principle clarinettist of wbss, She is now Head Of Music at King Richard School in Portsmouth. She is also Assistant Director of the Portsmouth Schools Wind Band. As well as teaching Clarinet and Saxophone she also enjoys playing in pit bands in the Portsmouth area.

Elinor Tolfree - Clarinet

Elinor is a much sought after music educator, music psychologist and performing musician with western wind instruments and Indonesian percussion (gamelan. She has previously been a tutor with the Wessex Band Courses for over fifteen years and returns this year after a five year gap

Jo Walsh - Wind tutor

Joanna has been teaching flute, clarinet and singing across Dorset since 1988, working in a variety of schools, specializing in new starters at primary age. She has successfully run her own flute and windband for 10 years.

This will be her third season with WBSS.