With just weeks to go before their appearance at the Royal Northern College of Music Festival of Brass series in Manchester, and with the 2008 North West Regional Championships looming on the horizon, sources have informed 4BR that Russell Gray has resigned his position with Leyland Band.

Conducting schedule

4BR understands that the Scot, who took Leyland to their greatest success in their history when they won the National Championships of Great Britain in 2005, resigned his position following disagreement over his proposed conducting schedule with the band up to the North West Regional Championships.

4BR understands that the Scot resigned his position following disagreement over his proposed conducting schedule with the band up to the North West Regional Championships4BR

Commitments

Sources state that with him taking Desford at the forthcoming Butlins Championship as well as working with Carlton Main Frickley and Fishburn for their forthcoming Regional appearances, allied to his established on going commitments, concerns were aired over the schedule proposed for Leyland.

Meeting

4BR was informed that this resulted in a meeting taking place where the decision was made to end their partnership — a decision that means the band has been forced to find a new conductor for their forthcoming appearance at the Festival of Brass weekend in under three weeks time.

Succesful partnership

In the past few years the partnership between the busy Scotsman (who is currently studying for an MA in orchestral conducting), who is a former principal cornet player with the band, has seen rejuvenation in fortunes, following a difficult period after Leyland lost their long term sponsorship.

Reduction

However, sources have told 4BR that they understood that he was to have relinquished some of those extra commitments after the forthcoming regional events in order to concentrate his time with the band.

National win

The 2005 National win was the immediate culmination of the partnerships success, although the band also won the North West Regional title under his command the same year.

Further prize winning performances have enhanced the bands reputation and they are currently ranked 11 in the World of Brass/4BR World rankings, although they have yet to regain their position back at the British Open following relegation to the Grand Shield in 2003.

Announcements

No official announcement has been made from either party at present although 4BR understands that Howard Evans has been approached to take the band at the Festival of Brass.