DIRECTOR OF MUSIC - PAUL SPEED

On 1st September 2008 we appointed Paul Speed as our Director of Music and he is set to bring a new dimension to the Band.

Paul is young, enthusiastic, well qualified and comes with a wealth of experience. He studied music at Goldsmiths’ College, London for a Bachelor of Music degree before continuing his trumpet studies with Paul Cosh and Paul Archibald.

As a freelance trumpet player Paul has performed abroad with the Hong Kong Philharmonic and the Philharmonie die Nationen. At home he has played with various orchestras including Orchestra of St John’s, Smith Square and The London Concert Orchestra . He has also toured with the Carl Rosa Opera Company and the national tour of Joseph.

Paul enjoys teaching and has been involved in conducting various wind bands and Brass bands in the area and is delighted to be Director of Music for South Berks Concert Band.

Paul has high hopes and aspirations for the Band and is keen to revamp things. He would like the Band to perform at least 7-8 times a year with the concerts being a mix of high profile events, traditional parks and some joint concerts  with other bands, ensembles, choirs, schools etc.

Having worked with us for the previous 8 months as our Assistance Musical Director, Paul gained a knowledge of what we are capable of and now wants to take us to the next level and beyond. He has already begun to introduce the band to new music including some of today's more modern works for wind band. He wants to encourage smaller groups, such as quartets or other combinations that can feature in concerts and wants to include more solo items.

His enthusiasm and high ambitions are infectious and the band is very excited at what lies ahead.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MUSIC - STEWART LEWINS

Stewart joined as Assistant Director of Music in March 2009. He is currently director of the Pangbourne and District Silver Band a position he has held for over a year.Stewart has conducted the Midsomer Norton Band and made regular guest appearances to conduct Filton Concert Brass as well as Marshfield Band and the Bristol Veterans' Brass. He has also been the MD of the Bath Spa University Brass Ensemble and conducted Brighton's Fretful Federation Mandolin Orchestra, with whom he won the Banjo, Mandolin and Guitar Federation Cup for Musicianship.

A talented multi-instrumentalist, Stewart has played and contested from the 4th to the Championship section and has played every instrument in the brass band at one time or another, including percussion, which was his principal instrument when he studied music at Bath Spa University. Indeed, he has been known to play both percussion and a brass instrument simultaneously(!) and he is currently playing euphonium with us.