Conducting Changes at Allerton Brass

Recently our MD, Gavin Holden, had to make the difficult decision to step away from the Band for personal reasons. Although he only had a relatively short time with us he had a big impact on the Band and we thank him for his hard work and dedication for which we will always be extremely grateful. Our very best wishes go to Gavin and his family for the future.

As is said though “When one door closes, another opens”. And this is particularly true today as we are delighted to announce the appointment of our new Musical Director, Jamie Duncan. Jamie comes to us fresh from his recent successes with his former band, Holywell, who he led to 1st place at the Welsh Regional Championships and 2nd place at the National Championships this year. More information on Jamie’s career is available below.

We are also honoured that Simon Cowen has just accepted our invitation to join the team as our Associate Musical Director. Simon is the current Principal Trombone with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and is heavily involved in the local brass scene especially through the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Brass Band. He has played with all of the major UK orchestras and also many of the top UK brass bands. In addition, Simon has played on many film and TV soundtracks and has appeared as a member of the judging panel for the BBC’s Young Musician competition.

We are very much looking forward to working with Jamie and Simon and writing the next chapter of the Allerton Brass story.

Jamie said “I am delighted to have been appointed Allerton’s Musical Director and look forward to working with a young, talented band who matches my enthusiasm to push forward.”

Before taking up the baton, Jamie has had a successful career as a Bb Bass player. A tuba player lucky enough to have been coached by some of the finest players out there, Jamie has played for North Wales leading brass bands such as the famous Point of Ayr Colliery Band and Northop Silver Band. Jamie is a former member of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and has been influenced by the top class conductors, including having the privilege of sitting under Mike Fowls, Bob Childs, and Thomas Wyss, to name a few.

Jamie started conducting Rhyl Silver Band in 2019 and built up the band from six players to full strength. Jamie attended the Welsh Area in 2022 with 18 players and achieved 2nd place, gaining a qualification to the National Finals. Jamie also achieved 2nd place that same year in the Buxton Festival of Brass.

During Jamie’s latest tenure with Holywell Band, the band achieved 1st place in the National Eisteddfod 2023, 1st Place in the North Wales Rally 2023, and 1st place at the Welsh areas 2024. Jamie went on to achieve the runner-up spot in the National Finals.

Join us for Jamie’s first concert with the band on Friday 6th December in the Tung Auditorium! For more information and to book your tickets, visit the website: https://thetungauditorium.com/events/allerton-brass-jingle-all-the-way#book-tickets

NEW SIGNING – ELIZABETH BROCKLEHURST

Before we perform our final concert of the summer this Sunday, it is our pleasure to introduce Elizabeth, our new 2nd Trombone player!🎵

A little about Elizabeth: “I’ve been playing the trombone since the age of 7, and through my childhood played in various youth bands, school ensembles, the National Brass Band of Great Britain and the Yorkshire Youth Brass Band. Once I went to university at 18, I fully immersed myself in the musical extra-curricular activities. At one point I was a member of the Big Band, orchestra and Chorale Society at the same time! Playing my trombone at university gave me so many opportunities such as organising concerts and playing at the Royal Albert Hall. Once I graduated and moved to Liverpool, I found myself at a bit of a loose end regarding my playing. One day, whilst on social media, I found that Allerton Brass were advertising for a second trombone play so I decided to get in contact. Joining Allerton Brass was one of the best decisions I made this year and I look forward to seeing how the band develops over the coming years.” 

You can hear Elizabeth playing at our final summer concert this Sunday 15th September at 2pm in Vale Park, New Brighton ☀️

NEW SIGNING – JAMES

As we begin our preparations for our summer concerts, we are delighted to introduce another new member of the band! 🎶

It is our pleasure to introduce our youngest player, James, on Eb Bass! James joined the band last summer and is a fantastic addition to our bass section! 🎵

A little about James: “I started playing brass at the age of 6 on tenor horn. Then at the age of 8, I picked up the baritone through school tutoring under Louise Hough. After a few months playing baritone, she then introduced me to the Eb bass which I have stayed on ever since. I joined the Resonate Youth Brass Band and Liverpool Brass Band when I was 11. I loved my time there and learned loads about banding. I won the Southport and District Brass Band Association Young Soloist of the Year Award, and then I got a place in the Junior Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, which I still attend now every Saturday. In Spring 2021, I auditioned for the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain and attended my first course in Summer 2023. I had so much fun on the course and won the Outstanding Student Award. I improved a lot so that same summer I went for a rehearsal with Allerton and have been there ever since.”

We are thrilled to have James in the band and are excited for him to play his first solo with the band in our summer concerts! ☀️ For more information on our upcoming concerts, visit our website: https://allertonbrass.co.uk/events/

NEW SIGNING – MIKE HIDE

With just one week to go until our first concert of the year, we are delighted to introduce another new member of the band! 🎶

We would like to welcome Mike on third cornet! Mike joined Allerton Brass last summer and is a fantastic addition to the back row! 🎺

A little about Mike: “I’ve been playing the trumpet since the age of 8, and spent my youth playing in various wind bands in school and in the Saturday Morning Music School in Liverpool playing with the Senior Brass and Jazz Bands. When I went to uni at the age of 18, I studied Music Technology and concentrated my playing on guitar and the trumpet took a bit of a back seat! I then played in various bands in Liverpool where it would make an occasional appearance, but the music I was making focused more around electronic, rock or pop music. In 2022 when I moved house, I found my trumpet looking cold and lonely and decided we needed to be mates again, and last year got in touch with Mike about coming down for a play, and the rest, as they say, is history!”

We are absolutely thrilled to have Mike in the band and are very excited for him to be playing with us in our next concert ‘The Best of Stage and Screen’ at the Tung Auditorium! 🎭🎬 Get your tickets now: https://thetungauditorium.com/events/allerton-brass-the-best-of-stage-and-screen#book-tickets

ANNOUNCEMENT

We are both delighted and excited to announce the appointment of our new Musical Director, Gavin Holden!

Gavin has vast experience with the baton and has directed some of the finest military bands in the country during his career, including Her Late Majesty’s, The Band of The Coldstream Guards.
Gavin had both a brass band and wind band musical upbringing, and is a talented trombonist. 🎶 🎺

Gavin said, “I am absolutely thrilled to have been appointed as the new Musical Director of Allerton Brass. The band is so welcoming, brimming with vibrancy, and full of talented musicians who have so much exciting musical potential on offer. The band’s foundation is clearly built upon friendship, teamwork, family orientation and, of course, musical drive, passion and enjoyment. The band has achieved so much and has excelled in the 10 years since its formation. I will work hard to add to the band’s overall musical success and I very much look forward to all the exciting musical ventures, and challenges that lie ahead, for us all”.

Join us for Gavin’s first concert with the band on Saturday 27th April at the Tung Auditorium! 🎭🎬 Tickets are available here: https://thetungauditorium.com/events/allerton-brass-the-best-of-stage-and-screen