OUR MUSICAL DIRECTOR

 

Dave Davies

 

Dave started his playing career at the age of nine with then the John Summers Steel Works Band which later became the Deeside Silver Band.  Dave was brought up playing both valve and slide instruments, and as a teenager was playing Eb Bass and trombone in the band and euphonium in the band's quartet.

When he was able to drive he joined the long established Northop Silver Band on second euphonium under the baton of Kevin Bolton.  Dave's first ever contest was the National Eisteddfod and the test piece was Gilbert Vinter's Symphony of Marches. Shortly after the contest Dave was asked to return to play 2nd trombone for a recording with the Brithoniadd Male Voice Choir. He has had many years of experience, and his style and determination emulates many of the professional conductors he has played under namely Graham Jones, Thomas Wyss and the master himself James Scott, who took Northop to first place at Wembley in 1996 with Peter Graham’s Essence of Time.

Dave moved to play percussion for a short period whilst studying for his PGCE at Manchester, but unfortunately the pressures from work, study and band commitments caused him to rethink his playing career. Dave took a break for a number of years, although he did return on odd occasions to help out in the kitchen sink department.

In the Christmas of 2001 Dave was asked by a work colleague to help out on trombone at a concert with the Holywell Town Band. There where only 12 players around the stand at this time and some positive direction was needed to improve the standard. Dave was asked to take a rehearsal shortly after the concert and from here on, his love and ambition for conducting began.

Over a four year period Dave built the band up to a full complement of players and he undertook many prestigious concerts in the locality. He took the band into the prizes in all but one contest hence the promotion to the third section for 2006. Dave prides himself on band deportment and on music that the audiences will enjoy.  At the Rhyl Festival of Brass in 2004 he took the overall contest deportment prize.
After leaving Holywell In July 2005,  Dave was invited to take the Royal Buckley Town Band for a couple of rehearsals.  The Band saw the potential of being able to secure a resident conductor who lived locally, and invited him for an audition, and the rest (as they say) is history.

Dave is currently working under the watchful eye of Paul Lovatt-Cooper who plays as a percussionist for the world famous Black Dyke Band.  Paul has recently taken the position of Professional Musical Adviser for the band. and has agreed to be Dave’s mentor. Together they hope to settle and establish the band within the 2nd section.  Recently joining the conducting team is Mark Bousie as Associate Professional Conductor.

 

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