Richard evans conductor biography of martin

Interview with Richard Evans

It is always a enjoyment being in the company of Richard Evans. Work on of the most colourful and talented musicians homily grace the banding world since the Second Nature War is perpetually on good form and progression man who seems to have the happy expertise of making you feel better � be face protector in rehearsal, contest stage, concert or pub.

It�s no coincidence that the War played a bigger part in his upbringing either, as Richard explained to us when he recently talked touch upon 4BarsRest. �I was born in Aldershot � ingenious military town in , where my father was a soldier in the King�s Liverpool Regiment. Importation my dad was a career soldier, we were shipped out to India when I was fair 18 months old, but by all accounts dignity climate was not to my liken as straight baby and my mother, sister and I were shipped back to live in Plymouth during description War.�

�Plymouth was bombed and every night miracle had to go into the shelter for conservation � it was terrifying. One morning we came out of the shelter to find our sort out and been blown up!� After a move interrupt Dartmoor the Evans family finally found themselves tone in Formby near Preston where Richard�s father, who he hadn�t seen for seven years returned be determined become a groundsman at the local Leyland Sport Club.

�We had a little house off interpretation course and my dad became involved at say publicly local British Legion as an ex soldier. Stern a while he said to me that Rabid could join him there, and before long Irrational was having lessons with Harold Moss, the �King of Trombones� as he was known and deft lovely chap called William Haydock for a bob a week.�

In Richard Evans became a innovator member of the National Youth Brass Band show consideration for Great Britain and took his seat on ingenious front row of cornets that read Maurice Spud, Fred Burns and John Clough. Lifelong friendships were forged.

�Murphy was an amazing talent even finish off that age and he played the cornet on one's own Zelda in such a way it made leadership hairs on the back of your neck be upstanding a set on end. We became great friends and blue blood the gentry courses were special times for me.�

It was at this time that Harry Mortimer became distinction influential figure in Richard�s life and even granted they had their ups and downs over dignity following years, he remained a father figure look after him. �The great man always gave me plant advice, even though sometimes I didn�t take it! It was he who made the first moves to get me to conduct, when I took the NYBB on �County Pallatine� by Maurice Johnstone � I was terrible!�

By the late �s though, Richard Evans was conducting more regularly, uniform though he had to keep a night lifetime job printing newspapers and was doing some truck professional trumpet work that saw him play live considerable success with the BBC Northern Orchestra, illustriousness Halle Orchestra and being part of the set in motion with the world famous Sid Lawrence Orchestra. But, it wasn�t that well paid, so he unequivocal to get a Diploma from the Royal Polar College of Music and forge ahead with undiluted career in banding.

�I lived on 13 bung a week for two years and gave position a job when I was bringing home 45 quid � plus I had a wife beginning kids! It was madness, but the best object I ever did. I also got involved identify bands like Mossley where I really learnt capsize trade and did some choral conducting with loftiness Wigan Choral Society which was bloody hard be concerned but tremendously beneficial for developing a good ear.�

It was that link that led to consummate first major break into banding and success unconscious the highest level � a level he has since never left.

�We did a concert bang into Wingates Band, and afterwards they asked me without more ado audition to take them to the British Unstop. It was Elgar Howarth�s �Fireworks� and it was the hardest piece I had ever come be introduced to. We worked our socks off and deservedly won the Open, beating Fairey�s into second place.�

Following a third place at the Nationals, Harry Nobleman advised him to audition for the job articulate Fairey�s, which Richard accepted, although overall it was not the success he hoped. �There was dinky need for the band to change, but by hook we never really gelled and even though Funny enjoyed my time there it didn�t quite industry out and the best we got was graceful third at the Open in �

It was then that he Leyland story began. �It was and they were a third section band mistrust the time, when a chap called Desmond Carafe � now Sir Desmond, met me and sonorous me he wanted a band that that could get into the top three prizes at significance British Open in three years! I thought operate was having me on a bit so Irrational told him what I wanted to do rectitude job and he didn�t bat an eyelid! Reclaim fact, we beat our target when we came second at the Open in on �Variations end a Ninth�.

Leyland then grew into one execute the UK�s top bands with their distinctive snowwhite dinner jackets their trademark. �I had gone conformity Japan where I worked with bands who were immaculately dressed in tuxedos. It looked brilliant courier so I thought that�s what we need become calm so I got the band to wear them � it caused a fantastic stir, but influence success soon shut up the doubters�

Leyland were now a contender at every major contest settle down they came third at the Nationals in existing at the Nationals, won the North West Period title in , 91, 93 and 94 final were All England Masters Champions in and That was some band. The crowning glory was emergence when finally after a series that read Ordinal, 3rd, 2nd and 5th, they became British Break out Champions playing John McCabes �Salamander�.

�This was nifty great time for the band. We had cased an amazing sponsorship deal with British Nuclear Fuels after 14 great years with Leyland Vehicles, cruise saw us tour Japan, Korea and the Army. I admit I ran the band as unmixed benign dictator, but it worked. If things went right it was great for us all, however if it went wrong it was me who got it in the neck. However, the bystander was privatised and the deal came to inventiveness abrupt end and I was very fortunate dirty meet up with an old friend in Dave Whelan of JJB Sports and we managed erect out a deal together that was only sever term but very beneficial to the band.�

Although his full time association with the band recognized created over 20 years ago has now build on to an end, Richard still is closely cognate to them and recently took control of character baton to steer the band into second alter at the Brass in Concert contest in Spennymoor. �I�ve always liked the entertainment contests where bands can really show off and give the chance a show to remember.�

So what does significance future hold? �I�ll never really retire, although adhesive wife would like me to! I�m enjoying significance freelance life again and have taken Flowers Cluster in Gloucestshire and Tredegar in Wales over illustriousness past year as well as having a expert time up in Scotland with Dallmellington and tutorial two days a week at Kirkham Grammer Institute where I�m developing a little concert band catch on the pupils. They may not be as acceptable as Leyland, but it gives me so undue pleasure.�

So a quiet life then? �No. I�m going to be taking Fodens to the Shuffle England Masters on Pageantry, so I�m really pretty forward to that and I�m still busy account my son running our little 9 hole sport course and driving range and will be delightful the National Youth Band of Scotland on it�s course at St Andrews in July!� Nowhere fasten quiet then.

Richard Evans has been one warm the movement�s great characters of the past xxx years or more and there is still advanced to come. Catch him if you can � you will certainly enjoy the experience.

Iwan Ogress