Directors

Directors / Tutors

Nigel Birch - Musical Director Lions Youth Brass

Nigel Birch hails from Sandbach in Cheshire, and from the age of twelve started to play the Cornet at Haslington Boys Brigade Band. Within twelve months he went on to play for the Roberts Bakery Band, and to play for them for many years.

In 1984 Nigel left Roberts Bakery to fulfil a lifelong ambition of playing for the famous Fodens Band.
While with the band he was fortunate to play under some great conductors, such as James Scott, Richard Evans and most notably, Howard Snell.

After a few successful years with Fodens Nigel rejoined Roberts Bakery, where he finished his playing career.

In 1990 Nigel took up the conductors baton, and joined the Lions Youth Brass. It was soon evident that Nigel and the band were an excellent combination, and in 1994, and then again in 1995, Nigel guided the band to becoming the Champion Youth Band of Great Britain.

Nigel left the Lions Band in September 1996, and at that time became band manager for the Roberts Bakery Band.

Nigel was persuaded to rejoin the Youth Band in August 2001, and already the band has gained third place at the National Finals, and won the Rhyl Festival of Brass.

In his time as conductor of the Lions Youth Brass, Nigel has brought many well known from the brass band world to the band, such as, Alan Lawton, Richard Evans, Russell Gray, Howard Snell, players from the Leyland, Black Dyke and Fodens band, and the bands president and musical advisor, Colin Cranson, musical director of the Roberts Bakery Band.

Nigel, who has been married to Helen for ten years, and has two beautiful daughters, Charlotte and Franczeska, he very much regards the Lions Youth Brass as his band.

The Following video is about Nigel, and our Chairperson Jane Stubbs...

Ian Raisbeck - Musical Director Lions Junior Brass, Composer in Residence - Lions Youth Brass

Ian began his playing the Cornet at an early age and quickly progressed through the Brass Banding culture of the North West joining the Championship section Roberts Bakery Band at the age of 13 as well as playing principal cornet with the Lions Youth Brass.

Ian then studied Trumpet at the Royal Northern College of Music Junior School and the Birmingham Conservatoire and has performed on Trumpet with variety of professional groups such as: The English Festival Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, English Pro Musica Brass Ensemble and many freelance orchestras. Ian also worked extensively with the Birmingham Music Service as a brass teacher, becoming a key member of staff in developing their 'Wider Opportunities' projects.

In 2008 Ian married his wife Katie and moved back to the North West to begin a Brass teaching post with ‘Music for Life’ in Cheshire and in addition is also now Musical Director of the 'Lions Junior Brass' and Composer-in-Residence for the 'Lions Youth Brass'. He also returned to Brass Bands in 2008 joining the 'Wingates Band' as their ‘bumper-up’ before moving to the 'Fairey Band' in May 2009 and now plays with the 'Fodens Band'.

In his spare time Ian is a Liverpool Football Club supporter and enjoys Lake District fell walking with Katie. In 2006 they completed Wainright’s 194 mile ‘Coast to Coast’ Walk raising over Ł1100 for St. Luke's Hospice in Cheshire.
Ian has his own website at http://ianraisbeck.co.uk

Chris Thompson - Musical Director Lions Beginner Brass

A former Bass Trombone player for the Lions Youth Brass, Chris currently holds the seat of First Trombone with the Nantwich and District Wind Band. Previously Chris has played for Roberts Bakery, Rode Hall and Audley Brass, where he held the position of Principal Trombone for three years, during which time he was a regular featured soloist and appeared at the National Finals at Dundee in 2003. Chris has been taught by the Principal Trombone of the Black Dyke Band, Brett Baker, and has taught several members of the Lions Youth organisation. In 2006 Chris was delighted to deputise with the world famous Besses O' Th' Barn Band.

Chris was delighted to be appointed as one of three Musical Directors of the Lions Beginner Band in 2005 and has also gained further conducting experience by filling in when required at the Nantwich and District Band, and has also been pleased to take the occasional Lions Youth Band rehearsal. In 2006 Chris formed the successful local brass ensemble, Delta Brass.

Chris currently works as a Teaching Assistant in Goostrey Primary School, which means some of the children at Lions can’t even get away from him when not at school! At work he coaches the girls football team and in Spring 2010 he started a school brass ensemble – a group which has already recorded a CD! He is also currently studying to qualify as a teacher. In his ‘spare’ time you will find him in the stands at Gresty Road, cheering on his beloved Crewe Alexandra, or on the greens trying to improve his horrendously high golf handicap.

Hayley Scott - Musical Director Lions Beginner Brass

Hayley is a former member of the Lions Youth Brass having started her playing career in the Beginner Band and finishing in the Youth Band. Hayley’s claim to fame in her days with the Youth Band on tour was to have the most luggage and the last one to get up in a morning!

Since then she has graduated with a first class BA (Hons) degree in Primary Education with QTS in 2008 and now she is a primary school teacher at Rode Heath School. She has been part of a very successful team enthusing many Beginner Band players with her energy and drive since 2005.

Andrew Felton - Musical Director Lions Beginner Brass

Andrew is another former member of the Lions Youth Brass who progressed through the ranks, moving from cornet to Bb bass. He now plays bass with the Roberts Bakery Band and was a founding member of the Delta Brass Cheshire Quintet. Andrew has worked along side Hayley and Chris since 2005 developing and improving the Beginner Band players.

Derek Gardener - Tutor Lions Junior Brass

Derek Gardener has been a long term member of the Lions team. He formed the Lions beginner band in 1990 and ever since then has been working with either the Beginner Band, the Junior Band or both. During this time he has been a key player in the development of Lions Youth Brass and now continues to share his experience with the current musical directors.

Recently Derek has also accompanied the Youth Band on several Tours; often driving the equipment van across Europe to foreign tour destinations.

For many years Derek has been a Cornet player with the Cheshire Constabulary Brass Band and has used his 'Police Band' experience to drill the Youth Band for marching events.

Tom Hancock - Tutor Lions Junior Brass

Tom Hancock was born in Stoke-on-Trent and joined the Lions Youth Brass organisation in 1997. After progressing through the Beginner and Junior bands, Tom was appointed Principal Cornet of the Lions Youth Brass in 2006. He held the seat for two years before 'retiring' as a player at the age of 20 following a highly successful tour of the Costa Blanca in Spain.

Tom was delighted to be appointed as a Tutor of the Lions Junior Brass in the Summer of 2008. This is his first venture into teaching and having spent over a decade as a player at Lions, is keen to pass on a wealth of knowledge and experience to Junior Band members.

Tom was invited to join the Roberts Bakery Band in 2003 and now holds the position of Solo Cornet with the band. He has contributed to two successful recordings and represented Great Britain at the European Blasmusikfestival in Germany on several occasions. Tom has also appeared as a guest player on the world famous Fodens Band's 2008 recording, Patrons' Choice.

In 2009 Tom graduated from Staffordshire University with a BA (Hons) in Modern and International History. As part of his studies, he completed his dissertation on the history of brass bands from their origins in the early-Nineteenth Century to the present day.

Matthew Darlington - Tutor Lions Beginner Brass

Matthew started playing the Cornet at the age of ten. In 2002, Matthew joined the Lions Junior Band and progressed through the organisation to become the principal cornet player for the Youth Band.

He joined the musical directors of the Beginners’ Band in 2009 as a full time tutor. Matthew plays front row cornet for Roberts Bakery Band and Delta Brass Cheshire. Matthew is currently studying for an economics degree at Manchester.

David Thornton - Musical Associate Lions Youth Brass

David Thornton was appointed as principal euphonium of the Black Dyke Band during July 2000.

4barsrest.com, the Internet magazine commented "...it was the position he was destined for……he has made it his own with a series of concert and contest performances that have been invariably breathtaking."

Born in Nottingham in 1978, David began his euphonium lessons at just eight years old and only five years later became the first ever euphonium player to gain a place at Chetham’s School of Music, one of the UK’s most prestigious institutions for specialist musical education.

Since then his success has earned him many awards, such as scholarships from the Countess of Munster Trust and the Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe, a hatrick of solo awards at the National Euphonium Conference 1995, 1997 and 1999, first prize at the Verso Il Millenio International Euphonium Competition, but most notably as the International Euphonium Player of the Year 2001.

As a recording artist David has released two solo albums. His debut CD, ‘Three Worlds’, was awarded Solo CD of the Year for 2004 by the British Bandsman magazine. In May 2007 David released his second solo album, ‘Devil’s Duel’. Furthermore, David features as a soloist on fourteen different albums with the Black Dyke Band, including ‘Epic Brass’ and ‘Jubilee Brass’ - live recordings of two concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.

Considering David’s relatively young age, his achievements in education are also quite remarkable. He tutors at the RNCM, the University of Huddersfield and Chetham's School of Music, as well as holding visiting tutor roles at the Birmingham Conservatoire and the RSAMD. His current and former students already hold principal positions in many leading bands around the UK.

David is regarded as one of the foremost euphonium players and teachers of his generation and is in constant demand as a performer and clinician throughout the world.

David is a Schrieber-Keilwerth York Consultant and Performing Artist, and plays exclusively on York euphoniums.

David became Musical Associate with the Lions Youth Brass in November 2007 following several successful visits as part of Black Dyke workshops and as guest conductor / teacher with the Youth Band.

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