Sunday Bandstand 27 February 2022

Sunday Bandstand 27 February 2022

Morgan Griffiths was born in Batley, West Yorkshire into a strong brass banding family. He was taught the cornet in his formative years by his father Edward Griffiths himself a very successful brass band conductor. 

After only a short period on cornet Morgan switched to Euphonium and studied with the legendary Black Dyke euphonium player and conductor Geoffrey Whitham, who was to have a major influence on Morgan’s playing style. 

In January 1990, after a brief spell with the Hammonds Sauce Works Band, Morgan was the youngest player ever to be appointed Principal Euphonium of Black Dyke Mills Band where he established an international reputation as one of the finest euphonium players in the world. It was during this time that Morgan first came under the influence of the brilliant Australian conductor, and later mentor, Professor David King.  Whilst at Black Dyke Morgan won two European titles (1990 and 1991) and was a principle soloist in their very successful tour of Japan. 

In 1992 he was invited to join the newly named Yorkshire Building Society Band, again working with David King. During this period Morgan became the most successful euphonium player of his generation, winning five European championships, three British Open titles, Three All England Masters Championships and a English Nationals win along with several Yorkshire area championships.  He also won two soloist awards at the Brass in Concert Championships. 

In 1999 Morgan was awarded the much coveted title of ‘International Euphonium Player of the Year’ and it was also the year that saw him record his debut solo CD titled ‘The Voice of the Euphonium’. 

In 2002-3 Morgan gained two National Championship titles with the Williams Fairey Band under Allan Withington as well as being voted the 4BarsRest outstanding instrumentalist and player of the year. 

2004 saw Morgan return to YBS band where he gained another All England Masters Championship title as well as being a featured soloist on the bands 2005 ‘Kings of Brass’ tour of Australia, where one of the many highlights was performing a solo in the world famous Sydney Opera House. After this Morgan turned his focus to conducting and musical direction. 

In 2007 Morgan was appointed the musical director of the newly named Hammonds Saltaire Band. Morgan has guided the band through a gradual rebuilding process which now sees the band back in top the Prizes at all the countries major competitions including the British open Championships from 2014, qualifying for the National Finals in 2011 (First Section) and 2017 (Championship Section) as well as regular appearances at the Brass in Concert Championships in Gateshead.

Under Morgan’s leadership the band now have many concerts, recordings and cross cultural projects to its name, and are establishing the bands reputation in the wider music world with projects like ‘Just a Vibration’ were Morgan collaborated with the Indian artist and composer Shri Sriram. This has seen the band perform at many international music festivals and has been a featured album on BBC Radio 6 and British Airways flights international flights. In December 2016 the music won the BASCA British composers award in the Brass & Woodwind Music category.

Morgan works for the Bradford Music & Arts Service as a Specialist Brass Tutor where he aims to inspire the next generation of brass players. In 2011 he formed the Bradford Youth Brass Band, which has already competed at National level with critical acclaim.

Morgan was the Music Director of the Bradford Youth Orchestra (BYO) for 8 years up until 2019. This  was extremely rewarding as the orchestra grows in musical stature. During the summer of 2013 the BYO performed its first full Symphony Concert performing Mendelssohn’s Symphony no. 4 “Italian”, and in 2014 won Innovation award for a performance of ‘Celtic Fusion’ at the Music for Youth National Festival, at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham.

In 2020, Morgan took up the position of Senior Lecturer at Leeds Conservatoire,  He has the responsibility of mentoring and guiding the next generation of talented euphonium students.

 

His debut solo CD titled ‘The Voice of the Euphonium’ is currently for  sale on my website shop £4.00 + £1.50p/p - overseas p/p please ask. .

Playlist 27 February 2022

Recording Details 

Rhythm and Blues – Philip Sparke   Opening for weekly show Foden's Band MD: Michael Fowles - 2010  'Patrons' Choice III' - CD - Egon CD-SFZ154 - 2010
March One by One - John Pattison  International Staff Band BM: Dr Stephen Cobb - 2015  'Heritage Series - Regeneration - Marches from a Golden Era' - CD -SP&S CD353 - 2015
Le Roi d'Ys - Eduard Lalo arr. Frank Wright Black Dyke Band MD: James Watson - 1994   'Essential Dyke Vol. 1' - CD - Doyen Recording  DOY CD034 - 1994
Valse Militaire - The Grenadiers - Emile Waldteuful arr. Frank Wright Ransome Hoffman Pollard Band MD: Dennis Masters - 1972  'Sounds Of Brass: Ransome Hoffman Pollard Band – Vol. 3' - Vinyl - Decca SB 303 - 1972
Star of the North - J.A.Greenwood Cornet Soloist Arthur Laycock with the St Hilda Colliery Band MD: James Oliver  - 1923  Zonophone Recording - Recorded 25.09.1922 released January 1923. This is a 78rpm recording with The Nightingale on the 'B' side. 
Sunrise at Skanderborg Sö - Hendrik de Boer Brass Band De Waldsang (The Netherlands)  MD: Rieks van der Velde - 2017  'Lake Music Publications Recordings' - Download from the owner of the recording company  - 2017
Cloud Rider - Dan Price Trombone Soloist Brett Baker with the Flower Band MD: Paul Holland - 2015  'Myths and Legends - A musical journey' - CD - Sony - White River Evocations  Sku124755-b - 2015
All Of Me - Marks and Simons arr. May trs. Gilje Eikanger Bjorsvik  Musikklag (Norway) MD: Reid Gilje - 2014  'Highlights from the European Chamionships 2014' - DCD - Doyen Recording CD334 - 2014
Flashlight - Jan van der Roost European Youth Brass Band MD: Raf Van Looveren - 2017  'Highlights from the European Championships 2017' - DCD - Doyen Recording CD373 - 2017
Alone With My Thoughts - Erik Spenc arr. Brendan Wheeler  Baritone Soloist Katrina Marzella with the Black Dyke Band MD: Professor Nicholas Childs - 2019  'Spotlight' - Doyen Recording DOY CD393 - 2019
Voices of Youth Suite i) Nobility of Youth ii) Sadness and Tenderness iii) Gaiety - Edward Gregson  National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain MD: Geoffrey Brand - 1969  'Voices of Youth' - Vinyl - Pye Recording GGL 1428 - 1969
Zamora  Spanish March - Frank Seymour arr. Edrich Siebert Harry Mortimer's Men O' Brass the massed bands of Foden's, Fairey and Morris Motors MD: Harry Mortimer (originally 1958 - several years later it was reissued)   'Brass and Voices - Men Of Brass Vol. 2' - Vinyl - London Records – PS 129 - 1958
Babylon - Thibaut Bruniaux     PBG (Provinciale Brass Band Groningen (The Netherlands) MD: Richard Visser - 2016  'Lake Music Publications Recordings' - Download from the owner of the recording company  - 2016
Solitaire - Neil Sedaka arr. Stephen Corbett Trumpet Soloist Maurice Murphy with the Leyland DAF Band MD: Richard Evans - 2007  'The Lighter Side of Maurice Murphy' - CD - Doyen: DOYCD007 - 2007
Sanctus From "Saint Cecile" - Charles Gounod arr. Thomas Wyss Northop Silver Band MD: Thomas Wyss  'It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow' - CD - 
Alla Marcia from Serenade for Strings - Dag Wiren arr. Rune Fröden Solna Brass MD: Lars-Gunnar  Bjorklund - 1977  'Live Brass The National Brass Band Festival 1978' - Vinyl - 1978 (Remastered 1992) Chandos – CHAN 6561 - 1978
Rule Britannia - John Hartmann Euphonium Soloist Morgan Griffiths with the Yorkshire Building Society Band MD: David King - 1998  'European Band Championships 1998 [Disc 1]' - CD - 
Psalms and Alleluias - Philip Wilby  Black Dyke Band MD: Dr. Nicholas Childs - 2009  'Within Blue Empires' - Black Dyke Band  MD Dr. Nicholas Childs - Doyen Recording DOY CD269 - 2009
Zenith - Dean Jones  Brass Band De Waldsang MD: Rieks van der Velde - 2017  'Lake Music Publications Recordings' - Download from the owner of the recording company  - 2017
Sons of New Zealand March - Alexander Frame Lithgow - 1968 The Wellington Metropolitan Fire Brigade Band  'March Of The Anzacs' - LP Vinyl - HMV CSDM6267 - 1968
Rhythm and Blues – Philip Sparke   Closing for weekly show Foden's Band MD: Michael Fowles - 2010  'Patrons' Choice III' - CD - Egon CD-SFZ154 - 2010

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