A multi-skilled music teacher and organist with a background in choral music has taken the baton as the conductor of a South Warwickshire brass band.
Chris Brown, Head of Music at Chipping Norton School, has been appointed as the musical director of Stour Concert Brass, based in Shipston – and promises to bring a new and varied repertoire to the band ranging from film scores and pop music to traditional marches.
Stour Concert Brass is part of Shipston Town Band and involves brass players of all abilities. Unlike Shipston Town Band itself, concert brass doesn’t take part in competitive events, instead concentrating on concerts. Stour Concert Brass was founded by previous conductor David Birch, and has most recently been conducted by Nigel Hall.
Chris said: “I feel honoured. There is a clear strong history to the bands, so I don’t want to let things slip. The band are a fun, mixed ability group, who clearly enjoy playing.”
As well as being a teacher and now a brass band conductor, Chris is also an accomplished church organist and pianist, and accompanies Wychwood Chorale, based in Chadlington.
Chris previously played and conducted Fakenham Town Band in Norfolk.
Chris added: “I got into brass banding by accident! A sixth former I was teaching mentioned the [Fakenham] band, and the need for a percussionist, specifically tuned, so I popped over. I always loved the sound of the low brass, the rasp and power. They allowed me to borrow a cornet – I didn’t like it, so next was an Eb Tuba! Taught myself some carols for the Christmas Eve event, and that was that. The MD at the time was about to be working in London, so I had a fancy title of ‘Resident Conductor’, as he still chose the music and did the admin bits. He also played Soprano, so would play when we went out for musical engagements.”