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Conductors
Nigel Howard became Muscial Director of Daventry Brass in January 2006 following the retirement, to Ireland, of the band's previous MD Paul Northey.
Nigel first started playing Trombone at the age of 7 and has played with brass bands at all levels including Principal Trombone in Salvation Army Bands and Championship Section bands including Lydbrook and Cinderford. Currently Nigel is playing Principal Trombone for Bilton Silver Band.
Nigel started conducting at the of 15 when he was made Assistant Leader of the Salvation Army Junior Band. He is an established conductor with a sucessful track record. In 2001 he conducted Bath Spa and Bream to the West of England Third Section Title.
When not conducting Daventry Brass, Nigel is Manager of the South Warickshire Carers Support Service and in his spare time teaches private brass lessons.
Paul was Musical Director of Daventry from 2001 - 2005. During his time with the band he took it from thrid to the second section qualifing for the National Finals in both 2003 and 2005. In 2003 the band went as Regional Champions, this was the first time the band had been regional champion in any sections and was a huge honour.
Paul's musical career started in his school days as a Tenor Horn player. He has played at all levels with various bands, including Coventry Festival Band, Jaguar Cars (City of Coventry) and Ransoms.
Paul enjoyed many years success as MD of Dunchurch Band, taking them from the bottom of the third section to the top of the second, where they were due for promotion to the Championship Section. Unfortunately, the first section was introduced that year! Successes under Paul's leadership included wins at Reading, Pontins, Leamington Spa, Northants District and the South Midlands and East Anglia Area.
Paul went on to study for his degree in Band Studies at Sheffield University, and also is a licenciate of the Royal Schools of Music (Band Musicianship).
In 1998 Paul took the post of Musical Director of Ibstock Brick Brass during his time with the band they twice qualified for the National Finals and he took them from the Second to the First Section.
Barrie was Musical Director of the band for 3 years.
During his time with the band he was also Head of Music and Co-ordinator for Expressive Arts and PE at Wootton Upper School in Bedfordshire. Barrie's school music groups are well travelled, with the Concert Band and Big Band having performed in the finals of the National Festival of Music for Youth and the National Concert Band Festival at such places as the Royal Festival Hall, London, and Symphony Hall, Birmingham.
In a former life he used to be a euphonium soloist.
Previous conductors have also included Ord Hume (1950's); Walter Beckett (1956); Arthur Jolly (1960); Bert Sullivan (1963); John Berryman (1970's); John Firth (1971-9); Ken May; Kevin Russell; Alan Parker; Don Blakeson; Ian Johnson; Barry Schnsaw; Trevor Groome; Mike Pegram (1993-8); Bob Stradling; Lloyd Landry (1998)
To see more about the success of the band over the years please look at our History page.