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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 Mills 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.
Paul Lovatt-Cooper
Paul Lovatt-Cooper is a Percussionist with the world famous Black
Dyke band from Yorkshire. He is also a fine composer in his own right,
recently winning the Prestigious Brighouse March Competition against
many up and coming composers. He is also a Bolton Wanderers season
ticket holder (but we won't hold that against him !).
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