The St Austell Town Band has announced that Gareth Pritchard has agreed to become the band’s Principal Conductor and Musical Advisor.

Bouyant

The band, still buoyant after their recent success of winning the Royal Trophy at The West of England Bandsmen’s Festival with Gareth conducting, is now even more up-beat with the announcement of this appointment.

Really excited

Gareth told 4BR: "I’m really excited about working with the band again, this time on a more permanent, long term basis."

Gareth added: "This position was suggested to me in the lead-up to Bugle Contest last June and it has taken a little time to sort out because of my other commitments, but we’ve finally manage to work out an agreeable situation for both parties. It was the enthusiasm and ‘will to work’ that drew us together last time and it was one of those situations where you knew it was right."

It was the enthusiasm and 'will to work' that drew us together last time and it was one of those situations where you knew it was rightGareth Pritchard

Working in tandem

Gareth will be working in tandem with the band’s Musical Director Aaron Harvey and Gareth added: "It will be good to work with Aaron again. He was the principal cornet at Bodmin when I conducted them when they won Yeovil in 2000. He is an excellent musician and is working very hard with the Band on a day to day basis. All in all, I’m very happy about the future we will have together."

The band has a busy calendar and will be using Gareth’s talents at Contests, Concerts (including one in a cave!) and on their forthcoming CD recording.

Successful relationship

Rob Faro, told 4BR: "We are delighted to secure the services of Gareth on a more long term basis. It was very clear following Gareth’s first rehearsal with the band that the relationship would prove to be successful and success came sooner than first thought with a convincing win at Bugle.

"The band is going from strength to strength and with a mix of young talent and experience coupled with the expertise of Aaron and Gareth we are looking forward to a very bright future."