Musical Directors

The Musical Director of a brass band provides the musical leadership to help players realise their individual and group potential. The MD is responsible for all musical elements of the band including: choosing what music to play, allocating players to positions, conducting rehearsals and presenting the band at concerts and contests.

The band have made a joint appointment to the position of Musical Director. Simon Jones joined the band in January 2008 and Alan Duguid joined the band in Summer 2011.

Simon comes from a strong brass band heritage in the North West. He started to play tenor horn at the age of 12 with his local town band and went on to study conducting and composition as part of the BA (hons) Band Musicianship course at Salford University.

Since moving to London in 2004, Simon has maintained a demanding banding schedule - conducting several bands in the area and also finding time to play and tour with some of the best known bands in UK. In November 2011 he joined Aveley and Newham Band as a playing member and was previously a member of Redbridge Brass Band.

Simon works as Business Consultant in London and is a member of the National Association of Brass Band Conductors.

Alan is a Scottish-born conductor and composer based in London. A native of Aberdeen, Alan attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama from 2000-2005, studying composition with Dr Gordon McPherson and Rory Boyle and conducting with Alasdair Mitchell.

In 2001, Alan won the Scottish heat of the NABBC Conductor Competition, going on to represent Scotland at the NABBC finals in 2003. More recently, Alan reached the quarter final of the 2011 European Conductor Competition in Montreux, representing the UK at this prestigious event.

Alan has worked with a wide range of bands in the UK and overseas, including the Bon-Accord Silver Band, Kingdom Brass, Brassage Brassband and Tokyo Brass Concord. As a composer, Alan has undertaken commissions for a number of musicians, including works for the Hebrides Ensemble, Kirkintilloch Band and West Lothian Schools Brass Band.

Alan is also Musical Director of Regent Brass and is a member of the National Association of Brass Band Conductors.