John Ambrose Greenwood - known to his friends as Johnnie Greenwood. Born in 1876 in Cheshire - cornet player, conductor, band trainer, adjudicator, composer and arranger. He also had a way with words: 'When this elderly white haired gentleman came to the band room Derek Mitchell, the former conductor of the City of Chester Band recalls the day coming face to face with Mr Greenwood. Having been asked to conduct the band in the late 40’s – The day Mr Greenwood was at the rehearsal. Derek recalls in particular when he asked the back row cornets to play their parts (Eric Ball’s test piece ‘Divertimento’) – after a few moments of listening to their efforts and after some careful thought. He looked at Derek, the 2nd cornet player, then aged 11 and said to him - ” Is that cornet insured lad”, not knowing what to say, Derek sat open mouthed, just staring at him. Mr Greenwood then said “If it is insured lad – chuck it under a bus and get yourself a new one”. The great man had spoken...

Arthur Gullidge, son of a Broken Hill (New South Wales, Australia) miner, was a Christian as a young boy. He was an accomplished conductor and composer of band music. He felt that he should play a part in Australia’s defence deciding that a non-combatant role, for a Christian, would be more appropriate

He and 25 other Salvationists from a number of citadels, ranging from Sydney to Hobart, all marched into the Royal Park Military Depot in Melbourne enlisting as a group. Age 32, as the band leader and commissioned by the Army to write a collection of band music for use on ceremonial occasions that would remain in use by the military, right on into the present.

The 2/22nd military band led by him was the BM at Brunswick and to this day is recognised internationally for his brilliance as composer and musician. The majority of the bandsmen perished when, as prisoners of war being transported to Japan, the ship (Montevideo Maru) they were on was torpedoed by the US, who didn’t realise that it contained prisoners of war.

Franz von Suppé (18.4.1819 – 21.5.1895) an Austrian composer of light operas from the Kingdom of Dalmatia, Austro-Hungarian Empire (now part of Croatia). A composer and conductor of the Romantic period, he is notable for his four dozen operettas.

His parents named him Francesco Ezechiele Ermenegildo Cavaliere di Suppé-Demelli born in Spalato, now Split, Dalmatia, Austrian Empire. His Belgian ancestors emigrated there in the 18th century. He was a distant relative of Gaetano Donizetti. He spent his childhood in Zara, now Zadar, where he had his first music lessons and began to compose at an early age. He was helped by a local bandmaster and the cathedral choirmaster. As a teenager Suppé studied flute and harmony. His first composition is a Roman Catholic mass, premiered in 1832. At the age of 16 he studied law also but continued to study music.

The brass band world recognises him for his popular overtures and we have one of those on this week's show - enjoy

   Stephen Bulla began his musical instruction at age six, growing up in a musical household, his father played tuba and mother played piano. He eventually graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied trombone and Composition/Arranging.

   In 1980 he successfully auditioned for the position of Staff Arranger to "The President's Own" United States Marine Band and Chamber Orchestra in Washington DC. For the next 30 years he provided musical scores for the White House beginning with the Reagan era until 2010.

   Working alongside film score legend John Williams he has transcribed music from many of his most famous film sound tracks. His commissioned concert works are performed and recorded internationally. The Dutch, British, Swiss and New Zealand Brass Band Championship organizations have all commissioned test pieces.

   We have two of his compositions on this week's show - Enjoy...

   Derek Garside - the finest cornet player of his generation. A concert programme for CWS (Manchester) Band MD: Alex Mortimer from the late 1950s. The second item in the second half is Derek Garside playing that very famous Cleopatra cornet solo by Damare. On today's show Derek is featured playing that same solo. He is also one of the cornet trio I have featured playing Don Jacoby's cornet trio Carnival Variations. He is playing alongside Brian Cronshaw and Alan Holmes.

   These two tracks featuring Derek is by means of a celebration - this last week he celebrated his 87th birthday. Young players may be saying 'Derek who?' - An American cornet player of some note once asked me to locate a recording of Cleopatra played by Derek. As far as she was concerned his was the definitive performance.

   A 1960 recording of this solo is on today's show - and this is how it should be played... enjoy

Desford Colliery, Britannia Building Society/Foden's Band

Conductor: Howard Snell

Doyen Recordings: CD365

   Andrew Duncan was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1962. After learning to play the Trombone at Primary school he joined local brass bands playing the Trombone, Euphonium and then Tuba. He then went on to study music at Napier University in Edinburgh and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London

   1984 he became Principal Tuba with the Hallé Orchestra, a post he held until 2000. During this time he travelled the world, as well as playing with most of the major British orchestras and with London Brass, Andrew was for a member of Hallé Brass. He has held a number prestigious appointments as Professor of Tuba

   1995, he started an MA course in composition at Salford University and It was during this time he began to write and arrange for brass bands. His success in this field has won him a number of prizes.

    In 2001 he & his family moved to Stornoway in the Isle of Lewis in Scotland where he works as a freelance composer/arranger and conductor and runs the Lewis Music Press.

The Regionals 2017

Yorkshire Building Society Band -MD: Prof David King, Williams Fairey Band - MD: Major Peter Parkes, Britannia Building Society Band MD: Howard Snell, Cory Band MD: Philip Harper and Black Dyke Band MD: Prof Nicholas Childs  

Tracks produced at varying dates

Forte - Derick Kane 

International Staff Band of the Salvation Army 

BM: Dr. Stephen Cobb

SP&S  Recording: SP400

Fantasy - Philp Cobb 

With the Central Band of the Royal Air Force

Conducted by: Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs &

Squadron Leader Piers Morrell

Doyen: DOY366