Brass Bands England has announced changes to its executive structure as part of its on-going development as a brass band Sector Support Organisation funded by Arts Council of England.

Welcome

BBE Chairman Mike Kilroy told 4BR: "We are delighted to announce two new appointments to the BBE executive team.

Following a review of our operational structure in becoming a Sector Support Organisation for the brass band community in England, we are pleased to welcome Alex Parker and Sophie Anderson.

Both will be based at our BBE office in Barnsley and will bring wide-ranging experience and enthusiasm which, along with the rest of the team, will help drive the organisation forward during our new Arts Council of England funding cycle.

With further key appointments to be made in the near future we believe that this is possibly the most exciting and significant time in the 50-year history of our organisation."

Thanks

Mike added: "BBE would also like to offer our sincere thanks to Rachel Veitch-Straw who left the organisation recently after five years dedicated and successful service.

Rachel's contribution to banding during her time with BBE has been huge and she will be missed by many of the bands which she assisted, although we all look forward to seeing her from time to time as an active cornet player in the Sheffield area."

Alex Parker

Dr Alex Parker will join BBE as Relationship & Partnership Manager. Well known within banding, he joined Warwick University Brass Band in 2008 and has since worked in banding management, helping establish the UniBrass competition and recently returning from Kampala working for the Brass for Africa charity.

He currently plays with Ireland Colliery Band and is MD of Stockport Silver Band.

He has also worked alongside BBE since becoming very involved in UniBrass, including two years as Chair of its organising committee in the development of the UniBrass charity structure and it highly popular UniBrass Championship.

He said: "I'm motivated by the good that banding brings at all levels; whether that's the discipline of learning an instrument or the ability to unite people either as players or an audience. The modern world can leave people isolated behind a screen and I see the ability to bring people together as serving a greater and even more important social good in today's world."

With further key appointments to be made in the near future we believe that this is possibly the most exciting and significant time in the 50-year history of our organisationBBE Chairman, Mike Kilroy

Sophie Anderson

In addition, Sophie Anderson joins BBE in the new role of Development & Education Coordinator. A graduate of the University of Huddersfield Sophie studied both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in music, specialising in musicology and performance.

After graduating in 2013, Sophie managed the UK's largest music hire collection at the Yorkshire Music Library, growing membership substantially and delivering a commercially sustainable business model that has since been adopted by other similar services throughout the UK.

Prior to her new BBE role, she was a Business Development Manager for Culture at Doncaster Council working with libraries, museums and culture departments to increase income potential and supporting strategic partnership work.

Sophie also plays trombone in orchestras, big bands, brass bands and chamber ensembles in and around Sheffield and enjoys volunteering with the Greyhound Trust Sheffield walking its retired racers.