Werneth Concert Band has announced the appointment of Jonathan Parkes (above) as its new Musical Director.

Following the death last year of its founder Allan Jones, the band has been seeking a successor, and thanks to a number of responses to its advert on 4BR the band was able to interview and audition five well-qualified applicants.

Band experience

Jonathan grew up in the brass band world and played Principal Trombone for the Rotherham Schools Youth Brass Band and the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain before going on to study at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester under Chris Houlding and Andrew Berryman.

Whilst at the Royal Northern he started his career as a freelance trombonist working with the Halle Orchestra and since graduating has gone on to work with all the professional orchestras in the North West of England, including the Manchester Camerata, BBC Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera North and Northern Ballet.

thanks to a number of responses to its advert on 4BR the band was able to interview and audition five well-qualified applicantsWerneth Concert Band

Freelance career

In 2004 he played Principal Trombone for the Philharmonia of the Nations in Germany, touring Europe and South Africa.

Alongside his freelancing career, Jonathan teaches primary school music and teaches brass for the Tameside Music Service. Since 2000 he has been a regular tutor and course director at the Musicales Summer Schools courses and in Easter 2012 was appointed Musical Director of the National Children's Wind Orchestra.