Hebweb news 2006: Hebden Bridge Band achieve best result for 50 years

HEBDEN BRIDGE BAND
- news musical director

Tuesday, 7 November 2006

BRETT BAKER TAKES MD POSITION AT HEBDEN BRIDGE

Hebden Bridge band are delighted to announce that Brett Baker has accepted the position as Musical Director.

Brett Baker is Black Dyke’s Principal Trombone and is one of Europe’s leading brass players and teachers. He is also a clinician for Michael Rath Musical Instruments Ltd.

Before the age of twenty-five Brett had won every major brass band competition, the Nationals, the British Open and the European Championships. He is currently the most recorded trombone soloist in the brass band movement and has been guest artist on six CDs this year alone. Brett is a past trombone solo champion of Great Britain and an Associate of the Royal College of Music.

Brett will be continuing is role as solo trombone with Black Dyke and as the Trombone and Senior Tutor at the Yorkshire Youth Brass Band. He is looking forward to sharing this role with other conductors as the need arises due to his busy schedule in 2007 and the focus will be on preparation for next years area contest.

The bands current resident conductor Professor Philip Wilby is off to pastures new in Bristol where his wife Wendy has taken on a new role at the Cathedral. The band would like to take this opportunity to thank Philip for his hard work, dedication and enthusiasm over the past year. He has been an inspiration to the band and had an instrumental role in the band’s recent achievements.

The band would also like to welcome a number of new players who have arrived just in time for the traditional busy Christmas period. Ann Squires on first baritone, Kate Salter on second trombone and Hebden Bridge stalwart Ian Coleman returns to the band to play second euphonium. Ian is the longest serving member of the band, having been a member on and off for over 32 years.

There is currently a vacancy for a Bb bass player, any one interested in this position should contact Ian Plant on 01422 252908 or 07831 833479.