Steve
started playing brass and percussion at the age
of 8 with Porthywaen Silver Band.
He went on
to study music at Liverpool and Trinity College
of Music in London before embarking on a career
in performing arts as conductor, performer,
teacher, composer and adjudicator. He has been
guest conductor and cornet player with some of
the finest brass bands, orchestras and male
voice choirs in the country. He has also played
keyboard and trumpet in theatrical productions
all over the UK as well as working for the BBC
and ITV in tandem with his remit as Musical
Director of The Band of the West Mercia
Constabulary. For ten years he was Musical
Director of North Powys County Youth Band in Mid
Wales and is now over the border working part
time on the brass team with the Shropshire
County Music Service. Steve is employed full
time as Head of Expressive Arts and Community
Education at Belvidere School Technology College
leading a large department specialising in art,
dance, drama and music. He is also a composition
and music performance examiner for the AQA
examination board.
Steve is
in great demand all over the UK and abroad as
conductor and adjudicator officiating at
national and local association competitions.
Recently he lectured members of The National
Association of Brass Band Conductors at the
annual convention on the art of conducting and
personnel management. Steve was one of the first
recruits on the Welsh Regional Council
adjudicators training scheme led by renowned
adjudicator Mr Brian Buckley and following this
enrolled on the NABBC / Salford University brass
band adjudication diploma course graduating in
July 2006 with a Licentiate diploma in brass
band adjudication.
Steve is
regularly engaged as tutor on brass band courses
and workshops throughout the UK as both
conductor and brass tutor. He has been house
tutor with The National Youth Brass Band of
Great Britain and The National Children's Brass
Band of Great Britain.
As a
composer Steve has received several commissions,
the most recent being a composition for brass
band to open the 80th celebration dinner for The
Round Table of Britain and Ireland and performed
by The Band of the West Midlands Police.
Steve is a
member of the Association of Brass Band
Adjudicators and of the National Association of
Brass Band Conductors.