|
|
||
|
|
Musical Director
Raymond G. Jones CA (Mus) Ray was first introduced to music at the age of 7 Years, when an Insurance salesman gave him a battered old trumpet he no longer needed (Ray still has it today) and by the time he was 11 joined his schools brass band under the eminent direction of Mr Anthony Small M(Mus) From there he was encouraged to play most of the brass range including Cornet, Flugel, Eb Horn, Trombone, Tuba, ending up as the Euphonium player with the Penclawdd National Championship Brass Band. He took time out to sit the ABRSM exams until he was proficient enough to join the Army in 1973 as a Junior Musician at the tender age of 17 years. As a young musician his military career took shape academically starting with a foundation course at the Royal Military School of Music ‘Kneller Hall’ in Twickenham. Tuition at Kneller Hall is delivered by some of the country's leading instrumental and academic professors of music, who play and teach in an around London’s music colleges, ensuring strong contemporary links with the world of civilian professional music. Ray studied all aspects of symphonic wind band, including harmony, theory, aural perception, orchestration, and later on conducting and the management of the wind band repertoire. Ray was fortunate enough to be part of the ‘Golden Eight’ Fanfare Trumpet Team at Kneller Hall where he played the fanfare trombone at many royal, state and public engagements. On completing his studies at Kneller Hall Ray joined The Royal Welch Fusiliers Regimental Band, then on promotion joined The Gloucestershire Regimental Band as Principal Euphonium. Over the next 17 years he travelled to many different countries in Europe such as Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Belgium, Cyprus, Africa, Belize, Mexico, Gibraltar, Canada, USA, Eastern Europe, Berlin, The Channel Isles, Northern Ireland and UK. He was fortunate enough to take part in many traditional pageants and ceremonial duties, including Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace twice, Trooping the Colour, Royal Tournament, Berlin Tattoo and even the Queen’s Birthday on Horse Guards Parade. Ray enjoyed the privileges of performing in public around the world, especially in front of the Royal family. He also was part of a brass quintet and ran a successful 10 piece German oompah! Band. In 1993 Ray auditioned to become one of the first course co-ordinators at the Royal Military School of Music to become part of a unique team of instructors administrating both Musicians and Band Sergeant’s promotional courses assisting in the management and training of all musicians within the military band structure. Ray successfully completed his 23 years of Military Service at Kneller Hall and retired from the Army with an exemplary conduct achieving rank of Senior Non Commissioned Officer. Ray moved with his family to Nottingham in 1997 and is still currently employed by the Ministry of Defence. He joined the Belper Town Wind Band in 2000 to play Solo Euphonium and was soon invited to take up the baton on Tuesday nights and then shortly after appointed as a Musical Director. Ray’s passion for music is always at the forefront of every rehearsal and he strives to encourage members of the band to achieve their potential. Musical Director
Gaynor Lovett My first experience in music was at the age of 11 when I started to learn to play the descant recorder at school. I can still remember how much I wanted to be able to play an instrument and the thrill of making music. This has never left me. I entered into various under 16’s open woodwind competitions, and won some of them with the recorder, and regularly performed recorder solos in front of the whole school during morning assemblies. During this time, I also started to learn to play the violin but after passing my Grade 1 was introduced to the clarinet, and I concentrated on this until leaving school. After getting married and having my son, I bought a clarinet after a break of 20 years. I took clarinet lessons again and joined a local wind band and although I have a full time job, I’m never happier than when I am making music with others. I joined Belper Town Wind Band from its start in January 1999 and have seen it grow from strength to strength, and feel so proud to be part of it. I now share the position of Musical Director of the Band with Ray Jones, who between us conducts at rehearsals and concerts. When not conducting I play 1st clarinet and bass clarinet in the band. In my spare time, I have recently started taking lessons to learn the piano.
|
|
