2006 Brass in Concert Championship - Adjudicators
14-Nov-2006There is an experienced line up of judges this year waiting to be impressed.
Nigel Boddice:
Nigel Boddice, Hon A.R.A.M, enjoys a busy, impressive and enterprising international conducting career. Among the highlights so far, are concerts, recordings and a live CD project for Naxos with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and some highly enjoyable children's concerts with the Ulster Orchestra in Northern Ireland.
For the last seven years he has been regularly commuting to Norway, having accepted the role as Chief Conductor to the Royal Norwegian Navy Band [K.N.M.M], and led the ensemble to a new and much admired international standing. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music, London and later with both the distinguished Scot Sir Alexander Gibson and the Polish Maestro Jerzy Maksymuick.
Currently he is on the staff at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Nigel has been honoured in the past by the Worshipful Company of Musicians, London, being the inaugural recipient of the Mortimer Medal for his beloved work in musical education principally for West Lothian, and also by the Society of Scottish Composers for his prolific presentation of contemporary works. Over the last five years he has worked with countless orchestras and bands of every combination, which has formed the basis of a strong repertoire in several mediums.
He has recorded much for Radio and TV and has also completed several CD`s for Naxos, Doyen and Polyphonic. Recently, through his Scandinavian connections, he has been especially lucky to have collaborated with Ole Edvard Antonsen, Christian Linberg, Michaela Petri and Solveig Kringlebotn.
Back home in the UK, Nigel has continued with his distinctly versatile approach to work by directing and presenting the Salon Orchestra throughout Scotland and making New Year's Day appearances with the Philharmonica of Scotland.
Throughout the years, choral music has been an additional interest and featured in many a concert with for example, the Edinburgh Royal Choral Union, the National Norwegian Girls Choir from Oslo and Norway's legendary Silverboys. Future travel and concerts are planned and anticipated in Argentina, Germany and Denmark. Future Summer Schools include return visits to the National Youth Wind Ensemble of Scotland, Glasgow Schools Orchestra , Moray and the R.S.A.M.D. Junior Orchestra.
Finally a brand new venture has just newly developed in Molde, where Nigel will direct their three orchestras amid the panoramic mountain landscapes of Middle Norway. He has conducted once at the European Contest, in 1979 when he led CWS Glasgow into 7th place overall. He has adjudicated at the contest on two occasions – in 1997 and 2000 on the Own Choice Section
Geoffrey Whitham:
Geoffrey Whitham was born in Queensbury, in the heartland of brass banding, and started playing with the Black Dyke Junior Band at the age of 11 on the euphonium. After a year with the band he moved to the Canal Ironworks Band and returned to Black Dyke Mills Band on baritone at the age of 15. He later took over the solo euphonium position at the age of 18 and held this position for 13 years.
As a player he was regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation, whilst his performance as solo euphonium during Black Dyke's win on "Le Roi D'Ys" at the Royal Albert Hall in 1959 has become the stuff of legend. Besides his work in the brass band world he also gained considerable experience playing tenor and bass tuba with some of the country's leading orchestras including the Liverpool Philharmonic, the City of Birmingham and the Halle, where he played under the famous Sir John Barbirolli.
Following this period he took over as bandmaster at Black Dyke and in 1966 he was appointed as Musical Director of the Hammonds Sauce Works Band (the now Yorkshire Building Society) and this was the start of another period of high profile success in the banding world. He was the Musical Director there for 18 years during which the band won prizes at the British Open and many other leading contests in the UK.
After leaving the band he conducted the James Shepherd Versatile Brass for a short period before returning to Hammonds Sauce to direct them for another 5-year period in 1988. During this time the band won the Grand Shield contest, came second at the British Open and became the first band to complete a tour to Lithuania.
Although now semi retired he is still busy passing on his expertise and advice to numerous bands and players. He was for some time the co – conductor of the "Kings of Brass". In 1979 he was awarded the Iles Medal by the Worshipful Company of Musicians for his outstanding contribution to the brass band movement, and in 1999 he received the All England Masters Dedicated Service Award.
Entertainment
Kevin Wadsworth:
Kevin started his playing career on cornet at the age of six. He is probably best known for his time as the solo horn player with the Black Dyke Mills Band, joining them at the age of 14 - the youngest player ever to play for them.
Kevin was accepted into the National Youth Brass Band and was the first recipient of the Pye Records Award as outstanding soloist. He attended King Alfred's College, Winchester during which time he was a founder member of the City of London Band. His concert work has included Royal Command Performances, the first appearance at the Proms of a brass band and appearing as guest soloist at the Bergen International Music Festival. He has conducted Nigel Kennedy and Julian Lloyd Webber and has worked with many people from the world of light entertainment including Antony Newly and Petula Clark.
Kevin's brass band conducting experience includes directing Meltham and Meltham Mills, Lockwood, Carlton Main Frickley, Dobcross, Holme Silver and Innovate Skelmanthorpe.
Kevin is also a busy brass band adjudicator and is an Executive Member of ABBA, the U.K. panel of adjudicator.
Lieutenant Colonel Chris Davis BA(Hons) MMus DMA LRAM RM
Born in 1959 in Eastleigh, Hampshire, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Davis took an early interest in music, playing in various combinations in and around the Winchester area. These included, from 1969, the Hampshire Youth Concert Band under the direction of John Knight, until he joined the Royal Marines Band Service in the September of 1975.
On completion of three years training at the Royal Marines School of Music he joined the Band of the Commander in Chief Naval Home Command as a clarinet and violin player. The next eight years, six as leader of the orchestra, saw continuous service on board Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia, including two circumnavigations of the world, two Royal Honeymoon Cruises and trips to the Americas, Australasia and the Far East.
Having completed the Bandmasters class of 1988 and receiving the Silver Medal of the Worship Company of Musicians he was promoted to Band Sergeant. There then followed a year as a member of the Band of the Commander in Chief Fleet, gaining his Licentiate from the Royal Academy of Music.
With a return to the Band of Commander in Chief Naval Home Command in 1989 came promotion to Band Colour Sergeant and further trips as leader of the orchestra on board Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia. 1992 saw a return to the Royal Marines School of Music as the leader of the Staff Orchestra. It was also during this year that he was successful on the Admiralty Interview Board and was commissioned on the 1 January 1993.
There followed two years study at University College Salford, where he gained a First Class Honours Degree in Band Musicianship, studying conducting with David King and composition under Ray Steadman-Allen and Peter Graham. On graduating from University College Salford he was appointed Assistant to the Principal Director of Music in July 1994.
He was appointed Director of Music, Royal Marines Band Scotland based at HMS Caledonia in Rosyth, in July 1995 and spent 3 years in charge of the band performing at venues throughout the United Kingdom.
With promotion to Captain and his departure from the Scotland Band, he undertook a period of training at the Joint Services Command and Staff College at Bracknell. On completion of this Initial Staff Course he was appointment as Director of Music Training at the Royal Marines School of Music in October 1998. He was promoted to Major 1 July 1999.
During the summer of 2000 he found himself returning to the Band of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth, the band in which he began his playing career, as its Director of Music. A Successful 2 year period followed, with tours to Thailand and Washington DC being the highlights of his tenure.
In July 2002 Lieutenant Colonel Davis assumed the position of Commandant of the Royal Marines School of Music and Principal Director of Music Royal Marines, the seventh in a line of celebrated musicians who have held the appointment.
Lieutenant Colonel Davis resides with his wife Helen and their two children Jamie and Sarah at Warsash near Southampton.
Soloist
Martin Winter:
Now recognized as one of the world's finest trumpet players, Martin Winter's orchestral work has taken him from freelance work to the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra to the Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester (the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Norway) where he is now Co-Principal Trumpet.
His brass band background however is extensive and well documented and he first came to prominence as the principal cornet of the Loughborough Youth Band when they won the Butlins National Youth Championships in 1978. He was a member of the successful Desford Colliery Band in the early 1990's and became principal cornet of the Fodens Band soon after. He studied trumpet at the Royal Northern College of Music and was appointed associate principal trumpet of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra before his move to Norway.
Here he has flourished as a soloist and musician and in 2005 his solo CD ‘a Winter's Tale' was voted 4BarsRest.com and British Bandsman Solo CD of the Year. He continues to be a playing member of the Eikanger Bjorsvik Band and has conducted many top Norwegian ensembles with great success. Martin is also a holder of the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians.
