Musical Director
Dave Jones
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Principal Bb Cornet Steve Redfern.
This is Steves 5th year playing with ilkeston Brass.He also started learning to play with Ashbourne Town Band,again with Arthur Chadwick at the age of 11.He joined the army in 1979 and played with The 1st Battallion The Devonshire and Dorset regimental band.He packed up playing for 15yrs after leaving the forces.He started playing again in 2000 with Ashbourne Town band again,then moved on to play with BM and W band at Wirksworth. He left BM and W in 2003.Steve has been principal cornet for nearly 2yrs now with Ilkeston.
Steves qualifications are grade 3,4,5, Associated Board,but didnt gain the cycling proficiency test unlike John.Steve is Vice Chairman of the band and also helps out training youngsters in the Training band,he also works as a HGV driver at Lafarge Cement uk.
Solo Bb cornet. George Pierson
George has been with us 5-6 years,he sits 2nd man down on the front row and is a good asset to the band.He has had to take on a bigger role since Nick moved on to play bass.He is currently studying A level Music Technology at Bilborough College.George has played with Rolls Royce Training band,he also attends a music centre most weekends and also plays Trumpet for the County Wind Band.
George has achieved the following qualifications.Grade 3,4,5 and 6 Associated Board,also Grade 5 Jazz and Grade 5 Theory. George also helps out on a Sunday evening teaching in our training band and is also a member of the band committee.Well done George.
Solo Bb Cornet. Simon Tatham
Simon has been with the band for 8years now,he was 12 years old when he first picked up an instrument.He has recently joined the front row cornet section after playing Soprano cornet.Simon is an enthusiastic musician,he plays with quite a few other brass groups and bands,mainly at The South East Derbyshire Music Centre at Ilkeston Community School.His bands include,Swing Band,Brass Band,and senior band,he also plays Trumpet in a jazz group called" Blue Wave".Simon,s qualifications are,Trumpet grade 1,3,4,5,7.Music Theory grade 4 and 5.A level maths,physics and chemistry.He is currently at Nottingham Trent University studying civil engineering.
Soprano Eb Cornet. ( vacant )
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Repiano Bb Cornet ( Vacant )
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Second Bb Cornet. Reg Dawkins
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Second Bb Cornet.Alexander Kay
Alex was a late starter to joining the world of brass bands.He did not start learning to play until reaching 23years of age.Alex,s first band was back in his home town in Northern Ireland called Bally Duff silver Band.He moved to the UK in 1976 and had a break from playing.He started playing in 1993 when he joined Ilkeston Brass.Alex returned to Northern Ireland in 2005 but after 2years decided to return to the uk.Since returning Alex has re-joined Ilkeston Brass again.Alex is now retired from his job as an insurance salesman.
Third Bb Cornet John Berry
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Third Bb Cornet Sarah Allsop
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Third Bb Cornet Natalie Allsop
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Third Bb Cornet. Hannah Jones
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Flugel Horn. Yvonne Wareing
Yvonne is our Flugel player, this will be Yvonnes 5th year with the band.When she first came to the band she played Repiano cornet as we already had a Flugel player.She has been back playing her own instrument now for the last 2 years.Yvonne first started playing with Ashbourne Town Band in 1990, where her dad Mike was Musical director at the time.She left in 2002 to join BM and W Brass ( Wirksworth) until eventually joining ilkeston in 2004.Yvonne enjoys teaching children to play and read music.She is in charge of our junior Training Band, and is also on the band committee doing a fine job as secretary.Yvonne also has her Bronze swimming Badge,but not her cycling proficiency test.
Yvonne works as a receptionist at the Peveril of The Peak Hotel, Thorpe near Ashbourne.
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Solo Eb Horn. Dave Diment
Dave is now one our senior members of the band today with over 50yrs of brass banding experience behind him.Dave was first introduced to brass bands at the early age of 12 years old ( see a very young Dave in the Gallery).First starting out with the original Stanton Iron Works band in the 1950"s playing the Flugel Horn.Other bands which Dave has played for over the years are The Ransome and Marles Band,1961-1976, The William Davies Construction Band 1976-1988.He joined Ilkeston Brass in 1990,where he currently plays Solo Eb Horn.Dave retired at christmas 2007 from is job as a Technology teacher.
First Eb Tenor Horn Michael Evans
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Second Eb Horn.Eileen Harse
Eileen has been with us for 9 months now,having a husband and a son already playing in the band ( Bob on Trombone and Julian Percussion ) she thought well, if you can`t beat them,might as well join them ! Eileen only took up playing the Tenor Horn in summer of 2007 and joined the main band of autumn 2007.Eileen is a qualified music teacher.She studied education at Padgate college,and has had a successful career teaching music in both Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.Eileen has gained the following qualifications.1st study recorder,2nd and 3rd study cello and guitar.She has also conducted many ensembles,bands,choirs,orchestras and wind bands.Eileen has played with H.E.R.O. ( Heart of England Recorder Orchestra ).She also teaches privately, and also at the South East Derbyshire Music centre at Ilkeston.Eileen is now semi retired.
First Baritone.
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Second Baritone. Sally Jones
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Second Baritone. Lyndon Helmore
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Second Baritone. Mathew Allsop
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Principle Bb Euphonium. John Newberry
John has been playing with Ilkeston since joining the band in 2000, John has played with Ashbourne Town Band ( where he origionally was taught by Arthur Chadwick).He used to play cornet,but has since changed to playing Euphonium.John is our Band Chairman and also Band sergeant.Asking John what qualifications he has to offer the site he has put down his best achievement up to date, which is his cycling proficiency test.Well done John !
John works as a Manager at Lafarge cement uk at Cauldon works Stoke-on-Trent.
John is also a teacher in our junior Training Band.
First Bb Euphonium. Robin Gray
Robin is the newest member to join our band.We were very pleased when he came to join us on Euphonium, he has been with us for about 2months now and has settled in very well.Robin has played with a variety of bands over the years to include Corby Silver,Rushden Town and Phoenex Brass.He has just moved to the local area due to work commitments. Robin is a transport planning consultant,he lives in Long Eaton and now works in Nottingham city centre. All of us hope Robin enjoys his time with us at Ilkeston.Asked what qualifications Robin has to offer,he has gained the very hard to get ( if you can,t swim ! ) Bronze swimming badge.This is almost as good as John,s cycling test.It must be a thing with Euph players ! Well done Robin.
Second Bb Euphonium. Brenda Parker
Brenda was born into music with three grandparents and an aunt being musically tallented,both with brass instruments and piano.She recalls being taken from a very young age by her grandfather to listen to the band concerts in Victoria Park ilkeston.
She was awarded a BA (Hons) majoring in music.She was also awarded along service award by the North Midlands Brass Band Association in 2000.She accompanied pupils at Ilkeston school on the piano for Associated Board exams grades 3-8 and O and A levels,has tought music at the Toucan Music Centre as well as at Adult Education centres in the area and privately.
Brendas first instrument is the piano.Starting lessons at the age of 7 she reached LTCL level by the age of 18.She later took up playing the cornet with Stanley Common Silver Band and has since played with various bands,both locally,in the West Country and in Germany,a country where she is very much at home.Along with her husband Brian she joined the Nottinghamshire Police Band where she played Euphonium.This band twinned with the Polizemusikkorps,Karlsruhe and they have made several visits to the Black Forest area of Germany to rehearse and play joint concerts with them.One of the musical highlights of Brenda`s musical career was playing before a packed audience at Pforzheim Konzerthall after she had taught the male members of the police band to sing the Hoch Badnerlied in German whilst the ladies played the music.It received a standing ovation from the German audience.
Brenda played with Derby Concert Band, Trent Concert band and Loughborough Concert bands before playing with Ilkeston Brass for the last 6 years.
First Tenor Trombone. Bob Harse
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Second Tenor Trombone Brian Parker
Brian started playing the cornet and later the Tenor Horn with the Salvation Army band in Long Eaton at the age of 8.He joned the band of the 9/12 Royal Lancers at the age of 17 where he played the French Horn and the Trombone.His postings included Catterick.Northern Ireland,Sweden and Kneller Hall,but for most of his service life he was stationed in Germany,a country that is still dear to his heart.One of the highlights of his military career was playing at the Royal Festival Hall at the South Bank in London.
His father was a drummer and his brother and cousins also played with the Salvation Army band.His wife Brenda is a fellow musician.
Brian was taught the art of conducting at Kneller Hall and following demob from the armed forces he became the musical director of Long Eaton Silver Prize Band for several years before moving back to playing the French Horn with the Nottinghamshire Police Band,Loughborough Concert Band,Rolls Royce Derby Band and Trent Concert Band,where he was also musical director.
Other instruments that Brian plays are Oboe and the Clarinet,He was awarded a long service award from the North East Midlands Brass Band Association in 2000 and he has taught music at thr Toucan Music Centre and Long Eaton Silver Prize Band as well as giving private lessons.
Brian has proven to be a versatile member of Ilkeston Brass by swapping instruments at the drop of a hat if asked to do so,he has often covered Eb Bass, Baritone and Cornet.
Bass Trombone. Vacant
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BBb Bass Russ Brierley
Russ comes from the heart of brass band country.He originates from Elland,which is in Brighouse Yorkshire.Russ has been with us since joining the band in 1996.He moved to the area through work commitments in 1989.He worked as a fitter for Powergen at Ratcliffe Power station.After retiring in 2000 Russ manages to keep a busy social life,mostly by travelling abroad.Each year he flys to Australia with his wife and spends 4-5 months over the winter there .He keeps his lip in by playing with a local band in Perth ( western Australia) called The Town of Victoria Park Band.Russ has played with other bands which include:- Blackburn Valley,The Yorkshire Friendly,and The Lindley Band.He played in the British open Championship section at Belvue Manchester in 1966 and 1977 with The Lindley band and The Yorkshire Fire service band.He has also played with Rolls Royce and Ind Coope Brewery.
Asking Russ what qualifications he has,he replies in true Yorkshire style," he knows nowt,still learning"! Russ is a well liked character,he very often entertains the band with his sudden outburst of Yorkshire humour which sounds especially funny having a broad Yorkshire accent ! ( view excuses page).
BBb Bass. Nick Duncan
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Eb Bass. Pete George
Pete is probably the longest serving member of the band today.He started learning the Tenor horn at 8yrs of age with the Long Eaton British Legion Junior Band.Pete stayed with Long Eaton Band from 1942-1968,when he moved to The Stanton Ironworks Band.At the time he was offered a job and a house,but decided to stay where he was in his occupation as a shop keeper.Over the years Pete has played a variety of instruments which include,Soprano cornet,Bb cornet,Euphonium,Baritone,Bb bass and finally his present instrument Eb bass.Pete has 40years sevice with Ilkeston Brass alone,he has been band Treasurer for the last 30years.Asked what qualifications Pete has,he says he is still learning !
Nigel Allsop Eb Bass
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Eb Bass Elizabeth Cook
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Percussion. Julian Harse
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Percussion. Sam Claypole
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