Nigel Birch - Musical Director Lions Youth Brass
Nigel Birch hails from Sandbach in Cheshire, and from the age of twelve started to play the Cornet at Haslington Boys Brigade Band. Within twelve months he went on to play for the Roberts Bakery Band, and to play for them for many years.
In 1984 Nigel left Roberts Bakery to fulfil a lifelong ambition of playing for the famous Fodens Band. While with the band he was fortunate to play under some great conductors, such as James Scott, Richard Evans and most notably, Howard Snell.
After a few successful years with Fodens Nigel rejoined Roberts Bakery, where he finished his playing career.
In 1990 Nigel took up the conductors baton, and joined the Lions Youth Brass. It was soon evident that Nigel and the band were an excellent combination, and in 1994, and then again in 1995, Nigel guided the band to becoming the Champion Youth Band of
Great Britain.
Nigel left the Lions Band in September 1996, and at that time became band manager for the Roberts Bakery Band.
Nigel was persuaded to rejoin the Youth Band in August 2001, and has since
won multiple awards and played concerts all over Europe.
In his time as conductor of the Lions Youth Brass, Nigel has brought many well known
faces from the brass band world to Lions, such as, Alan Lawton, Richard Evans, Russell Gray, Howard Snell, players from the Leyland,
Black Dyke and Fodens band, and the bands president and musical advisor, Colin Cranson, musical director of the Roberts Bakery Band.
Nigel, who has been married to Helen for ten years, and has two beautiful daughters, Charlotte and Franczeska, he very much regards the Lions Youth Brass as his band.
The Following video is about Nigel, and our Chairperson Jane Stubbs...
Ian Raisbeck - Musical Director Lions Junior Brass, Composer in Residence - Lions Youth Brass
Ian began his playing the Cornet at an early age and quickly progressed through the Brass Banding culture of the North West joining the Championship section Roberts Bakery Band at the age of 13
as well as playing principal cornet with the Lions Youth Brass.
Ian then studied Trumpet at the Royal Northern College of Music Junior School and the Birmingham Conservatoire and has performed on Trumpet with variety of professional groups such as: The English Festival Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, English Pro Musica
Brass Ensemble and many freelance orchestras. Ian also worked extensively with
the Birmingham Music Service as a brass teacher, becoming a key member of staff
in developing their 'Wider Opportunities' projects.
In 2008 Ian married his wife Katie and moved back to the North West to begin a Brass teaching post with ‘Music for Life’ in Cheshire and in addition is also now Musical Director of the
'Lions Junior Brass' and Composer-in-Residence for the 'Lions Youth Brass'. He also returned to Brass Bands in 2008 joining the
'Wingates Band' as their ‘bumper-up’ before moving to the 'Fairey Band' in May 2009
and since may 2010 plays with the famous 'Fodens Band'.
In his spare time Ian is a Liverpool Football Club supporter and enjoys Lake District fell walking with Katie. In 2006 they completed Wainright’s 194 mile ‘Coast to Coast’ Walk raising over £1100 for St. Luke's Hospice in Cheshire.
Chris Thompson - Musical Director Lions Beginner Brass
A former Bass Trombone player for the Lions Youth Brass, Chris
held the seat of First Trombone with the Nantwich and District
Wind Band for almost 10 years before recently stepping down.
Previously Chris has played for Roberts Bakery, Rode Hall and
Audley Brass, where he held the position of Principal Trombone
for three years, during which time he was a regular featured
soloist and appeared at the National Finals at Dundee in 2003.
Chris has been taught by the Principal Trombone of the Black
Dyke Band, Brett Baker, and has taught several members of the
Lions Youth organisation. In 2006 Chris was delighted to
deputise with the world famous Besses O' Th' Barn Band.
Chris was delighted to be appointed as one of three Musical
Directors of the Lions Beginner Band in 2005 and has also gained
further conducting experience by filling in when required at the
Nantwich and District Band, and has also been pleased to take
the occasional Lions Youth Band rehearsal. Chris was honoured to
conduct the Beginner Band in their first ever appearance in the
National Youth Brass Band Championships in April 2011.
Chris currently works as a Teaching Assistant in Goostrey
Primary School, which means some of the children at Lions
can’t even get away from him when not at school! At work he
coaches the girl’s football team and in Spring 2010 he
started a school brass ensemble, following that up by
forming a school Orchestra in October 2011. He is also
currently studying to qualify as a teacher. In his ‘spare’
time you will find him in the stands at Gresty Road,
cheering on his beloved Crewe Alexandra, or on the greens
trying to improve his horrendously high golf handicap.
Hayley Scott - Tutor Lions Beginner Brass
Hayley is a former member of the Lions Youth Brass having started her playing career in the Beginner Band and finishing in the Youth Band. Hayley’s claim to fame in her days with the Youth Band on tour was to have the most luggage and the last one to get up in a morning!
Since then she has graduated with a first class BA (Hons) degree in Primary Education with QTS in 2008 and now she is a primary school teacher at Rode Heath School. She has been part of a very successful team enthusing many Beginner Band players with her energy and drive since 2005.
Derek Gardener - Tutor Lions Beginner Brass
Derek Gardener has been a long term member of the Lions team. He formed the Lions beginner band in 1990 and ever since then has been working with either the Beginner Band, the Junior Band or both. During this time he has been a key player in the development of Lions Youth Brass and now continues to share his experience with the current musical directors.
Recently Derek has also accompanied the Youth Band on several Tours; often driving the equipment van
across Europe to foreign tour destinations.
For many years Derek has been a Cornet player with the Cheshire Constabulary Brass Band and has used his 'Police Band' experience to drill the Youth Band for marching events.
Tom Hancock - Tutor Lions Junior Brass
Tom
Hancock was born in Stoke-on-Trent and joined the Lions Youth Brass organisation
in 1997. After progressing through the Beginner and Junior bands, Tom was
appointed Principal Cornet of the Lions Youth Brass in 2006. He held the seat
for two years before 'retiring' as a player at the age of 20 following a highly
successful tour of the Costa Blanca in Spain.
Tom was delighted to be appointed as a Tutor
of the Lions Junior Brass in the Summer of 2008. This is his
first venture into teaching and having spent over a decade as a
player at Lions, is keen to pass on a wealth of knowledge and
experience to Junior Band members.
Tom was invited to join the Roberts Bakery
Band in 2003 and now holds the position of Solo Cornet with the
band. He has contributed to two successful recordings and
represented Great Britain at the European Blasmusikfestival in
Germany on several occasions. Tom has also appeared as a guest
player on the world famous Fodens Band's 2008 recording,
Patrons' Choice.
In 2009 Tom graduated from Staffordshire
University with a BA (Hons) in Modern and International History.
As part of his studies, he completed his dissertation on the
history of brass bands from their origins in the
early-Nineteenth Century to the present day.
Ashley Taylor - Tutor Lions Beginner Brass
Awaiting info
Michael Fowles - Musical Associate Lions Youth Brass
Widely
regarded as one of the leading conductors of his generation
Michael was born in Stoke-on-Trent and his early musical
education came from the peripatetic service of North
Staffordshire. During this time he was a member of many of the
County’s ensembles , culminating in him holding the position of
Principal trombone of both the County Youth Brass Band and
Orchestra . Upon leaving the area he was awarded the
Staffordshire Music Dept. Harry Mortimer Award for his
contribution to brass playing and the Staffs. County Council
Young Achievers Award.
In 1990 Michael began his Degree studies at the Royal Northern
College of Music in Manchester . It was at this time that he
began to work as a freelance trombonist playing in “pit” bands
for musical productions in theatres – work that he still
undertakes today . It was also around this time that he joined
the trombone section of the Britannia Building Society (Fodens)
Band with whom he spent 5 “very happy and musically rewarding
years”.
Michael graduated from the RNCM with an Honours Degree and was
presented with the Harry Mortimer Outstanding Brass Student
Award. Following graduation he continued his studies with Howard
Snell and gained a postgraduate Diploma in Band Direction. At
this time the college invited Michael to become a Junior Fellow,
a position he held for 2 years, working as a conductor with the
Brass Band, Brass Ensembles and within the Opera Department. He
also assisted with the administration of the Wind and Percussion
department and was the administrator of the highly successful RNCM Brass Day event on 2 occasions. He was then appointed to
the post of Resident Conductor of the Brass Band, combining this
with his other college roles until 2000.
Michael’s conducting career began in 1995 when he became Musical
Director of the Point of Ayr Band from North Wales. During his
five-year tenure the band enjoyed what is arguably their most
successful period, becoming Welsh Area Champions twice, winning
many entertainment contests and in 1998 representing Wales in
the European Championships, gaining Third Prize.
Further success followed with his appointment as Musical
Director of the BT Band. The complete rebuild from 10 players
led to the band firmly establishing itself in the top five bands
in the North West Area. Contest wins came at the Test Piece
section of the Butlins Mineworkers Championships in 2005 and as
“Brass at the Guild” champions in 2007. They also enjoyed much
success at the Whit Friday Marches and were placed within the
top five bands at the Tameside contests for four consecutive
years from 2005. At this time Michael also worked with the
Leyland Band as Associate Conductor notably assisting with the
preparation for their win at the 2003 All England Masters.
Another Musical Directorship held by Michael has enabled him to
focus on another aspect of music which is very important to him,
that of the encouragement of the next generation of young
musicians. The Ratby Co-Operative band from Leicestershire is an
organisation which boasts around 140 players spread across 5
bands from beginners to a championship section senior band. As
MD of the organisation Michael oversees all aspects of its
artistic development paying particular attention to the movement
of players between the bands. As conductor of the senior band
Michael was very proud when, in 2008, he conducted the bands
first ever championship section contest victory at the
Leicestershire Brass Band Association contest.
Indeed, educational work forms an important part of Michael’s
musical life. He has been Trombone Tutor to the Wessex Band
Summer School since 1990 and a member of the conducting team
since 1994. He has been a regular visitor to the ensembles of
the Barnsley Performing Arts Department and has also delivered
staff training on conducting for that Service. Since 2002 he has
been the visiting guest conductor for the residential courses of
Endon High School in Staffordshire and 2009 has seen him forge a
relationship with the music department of Groby College and its
feeder schools in Leicestershire as part of an ongoing programme
of training days.
As well as Musical Directorships Michael has undertaken much
Professional Conductor work with many bands including Tredegar
and Scottish Co-Op who he conducted to victory at the 2008
Scottish Open. Indeed he has enjoyed contest success with every
band he has worked with on a regular basis! In addition to his
contest reputation he is highly regarded for his concert
presentation and has freelanced with many of the country’s
leading bands including the Fairey Band and Carlton Main
Frickley Colliery Band. He also undertakes much training work
with bands in every section from championship to youth level.
Once described as “One of the leading young interpreters of
modern brass styles” (Brass Band World Magazine) Michael has
packed much experience into his career so far, having conducted
at International Festivals, recorded for both BBC Radio 2 + 3,
recorded many commercial CD’s, directed Premieres and conducted
Concerto appearances of eminent soloists including Joseph Alessi
(New York Philharmonic), Ronald Barron (Boston Symphony), Andrew
Berryman (Halle) and Shoichiro Hokazano. His skills of
accompaniment are held in high regard and in 2007 he conducted
the Concerto final of the Soloist competition of the European
Brass Band Championships to critical acclaim. Michael has also
worked as a writer and reviewer for both British Bandsman and
Brass Band World magazine.
In addition to his work with Ratby Co-Operative Band 2009 has
seen Michael delighted to accept 2 major appointments. Firstly
to become Professional Musical Director of the Co-operative
Funeralcare Band (formerly Scottish Co-Op) and secondly, in
somewhat of a musical full circle, to become Associate Conductor
of Fodens Band.
In 2011 Michael accepted an offer to become a Musical Associate
of Lions Youth Brass following several successful visits.
David Thornton - Musical Associate Lions Youth Brass
David Thornton was appointed as
principal euphonium of the Black Dyke Band during July 2000.
4barsrest.com, the Internet magazine commented "...it was the position he was
destined for……he has made it his own with a series of concert and contest
performances that have been invariably breathtaking."
Born in Nottingham in 1978, David began his euphonium lessons at just eight
years old and only five years later became the first ever euphonium player to
gain a place at Chetham’s School of Music, one of the UK’s most prestigious
institutions for specialist musical education.
Since then his success has earned him many awards, such as scholarships from the
Countess of Munster Trust and the Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe, a hatrick
of solo awards at the National Euphonium Conference 1995, 1997 and 1999, first
prize at the Verso Il Millenio International Euphonium Competition, but most
notably as the International Euphonium Player of the Year 2001.
As a recording artist David has released two solo albums. His debut CD, ‘Three
Worlds’, was awarded Solo CD of the Year for 2004 by the British Bandsman
magazine. In May 2007 David released his second solo album, ‘Devil’s Duel’.
Furthermore, David features as a soloist on fourteen different albums with the
Black Dyke Band, including ‘Epic Brass’ and ‘Jubilee Brass’ - live recordings of
two concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.
Considering David’s relatively young age, his achievements in education are also
quite remarkable. He tutors at the RNCM, the University of Huddersfield and
Chetham's School of Music, as well as holding visiting tutor roles at the
Birmingham Conservatoire and the RSAMD. His current and former students already
hold principal positions in many leading bands around the UK.
David is regarded as one of the foremost euphonium players and teachers of his
generation and is in constant demand as a performer and clinician throughout the
world.
David is a Schrieber-Keilwerth York Consultant and Performing Artist, and plays
exclusively on York euphoniums.
David became Musical Associate
with the Lions Youth Brass in November 2007 following several successful visits
as part of Black Dyke workshops and as guest conductor / teacher with the Youth
Band.
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