The Virtuosi GUS Band has announced that Musical Director, John Berryman is to step down from his role with the band following their appearance at the National Finals later this year.

Connection

With a musical connection of over 40 years to the GUS organisation, the highly respected conductor has decided to reduce his day to day banding involvement to enable him to enjoy more time with his ever supportive wife Delia, as well as returning more regularly to his beloved Cornwall.

Respect

John gained worldwide respect as one of the finest principal cornet players of the post war period, leading the then GUS Band from 1960 – 1969, helping them to win the National title on three occasions.

He later became Resident Conductor from 1985-1988 and Musical Director in two highly successful spells from 1991- 1998 and again from 2008 onwards.

Influence

Band Manager Mike Smith told 4BR: "John’s influence has been woven into the fabric of the GUS Band for over half of a century.

In between periods with us he also worked with notable success with Bodmin, Grimethorpe, Bedford, Kibworth, and for decade or more with the William Davis Construction Group Band."

Force

He added: "Since returning to GUS in 2008, John has led the band back as a force at the very highest level, once again competing at all the major championships, with regular qualification to the National Finals and a return to the British Open.

More recently, the band has claimed a brace of Area Championship titles, returned to Brass in Concert for the first time in over 10 years and won the Butlins Mineworkers Championship."

Youth

Mike also paid tribute to what he believes is a lasting legacy through his nurturing of some of the finest young playing talent with the band.

"Unsurprisingly, given his teaching career with Northamptonshire Music Service, John has an unswerving belief in the ability of young musicians to rise to the challenge of playing at the highest level."

He added: "Virtuosi GUS has been blessed with many of those young musicians and John is particularly proud of having appointed three outstanding principal cornets players whilst still in their teenage years: Neil Fulton, Ben Godfrey and James Fountain.

Brass bands throughout the UK owe a deep debt of gratitude to John for the numerous players he has helped develop. Many of them continue to play and support the banding movement –locally, nationally and internationally."

It’s a wrench to leave an organisation that has been such a huge influence in my life and most importantly, such a fantastic group of supportive people at Virtuosi GUSJohn Berryman

Reflections

Meanwhile, John took time to reflect on his decision, telling 4BR:

"This ends my full time involvement with any one band, but I’m looking forward to some freelance work even if I will no longer be with a band that I can call ‘My Band’ such as Virtuosi GUS."

Wrench

He added: "It’s a wrench to leave an organisation that has been such a huge influence in my life and most importantly, such a fantastic group of supportive people at Virtuosi GUS.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my final stint with GUS and leave them in a strong position to move forward over the coming years."

Ideal time

He concluded: "I've been talking to Mike Smith for some time now about when would be a good time to stand down, and we both felt that during the Band’s 80th anniversary year would be the ideal time – and I can’t think of a better way to go out than at the Royal Albert Hall."