Reg Vardy Band Back Row Cornets

The Reg Vardy Band Back Row cornets at Brass In Concert November 2005 at the Sage Gateshead. Pictured left to right:

Bert Lovell

Gordon McGeorge

Stephen King

Alan Catheral

Bob Temple

Michael Burr

 

Tom Glendinning - Soprano Cornet

 

 

Thomas Glendinning was born in Welwyn Garden City in 1973 and began playing by joining in, on posthorn, with his dads record collection. In 1981 he was awarded 'The Most Promising Player Award' at the Hatfield and District Music Festival by one of his heroes, the late John Fletcher.

Tom was born into a strong musical heritage; taught by his father, his brother plays, and tracing his brass band roots back down the generations to his great grandfather playing with the Leadgate Mission Band. He has played with Welwyn Garden City Band, Hitchin Band, Stamford Brass, Easington Colliery and moved to Reg Vardy Band on soprano in 2004.

Tom was educated at St. Albans School, studied for a B.A. hons. Music at APU, in Cambridge, completed an M.A. in Performance (Brass Band Studies) at Durham University in 2005 and is now studying for a PhD in Composition, again at Durham University. At APU he was taught and encouraged by the late Bill Thompson.

Away from brass bands Tom is a freelance trumpeter and Senior Lay Clerk in Durham Cathedral Choir. He pursues an active interest in beer, being found in the 'Woodman Inn' when time allows, most especially after playing 5-a-side football for the pub team every Friday evening (injuries permitting).

 

 

Stephen King- Repiano Cornet

Stephen started playing the cornet aged 8 whilst at Tanfield Lea junior school in Stanley, County Durham, through the then Durham County Council brass peripatetic scheme. His first teacher was Colin Adamson, himself a former Ever Ready band horn player, who provided Stephen with a great base to start from and has been a great influence on him. Upon Colin’s retirement Stephen was taught by Robert Pearson, who encouraged him to sit his Royal Schools of Music grade examinations.

Stephen joined the Lanchester Band when he was 10 years old, and quickly moved through the cornet ranks with the help of their musical director David Dye (again a former Ever Ready horn player) who became his cornet teacher. At the age of 13 Stephen was appointed the bands principal cornet player, a position he held until he was 19, when he left Lanchester Band to join the Ever Ready Band.

Other influences in Stephen’s musical life have been Norman and Doris Williams who, through their association with the Gibside Singers and Newcastle Male Voice chorus, gave him plenty of encouragement and opportunities to develop his solo playing and musicality and as a result he was later regularly invited to perform as a soloist at their concerts.

In 1997 Stephen was given the opportunity to join the Ever Ready Band on second cornet, a position he has held ever since.

 

 

Alan Catheral - Second Cornet

 

Brass band enthusiasts will need no introduction to Alan Catherall. Alan’s association with brass bands began when he was twelve years old. He first played with the Whitworth and Spennymoor Silver Band. He then moved on to Mainsforth and AMOCO before joining Ever Ready almost twenty years ago. Alan has also train as an Orchestral Trumpeter performing with the Durham Sinfonia and Nova Brass.

Alan is a self taught arranger, his close listening skills and vision of how the Brass repertoire could be expanded first brought him to arrange for 5 piece brass groups and then eventually Brass Bands. Alan says he was inspired to start arranging by Ray Farr after listening and performing some of Ray’s arrangements in the 80’s.

Alan has always appreciated a wide range of music and this is reflected in his selection of pieces he has given the Catherall treatment. Alan inherited his love of Big Bands from his father Tom Catherall who was a woodwind player and a member of local orchestras. Maynard Fergusson is a particular favourite of Alan’s.

Alan also says he loves to work on arrangements of another musical genius John Williams and especially the styling of his Boston Pops orchestra.

 

 

 

Phillip Tait - Second Cornet

Phillip comes from a musical family, his Mother Catherine is a Piano player, his sister Charlotte is singer and his Father is Principal Cornet Brian Tait. Phillip is currently the youngest member holds the record for being the youngest ever player to join the band. He started playing at the tender age of seven and joined the Spennymoor Youth band on Principal cornet in 2002. He rising star was quickly spotted anhe was promoted to the SpennymoorTown Band playing in the Northern Area contest in 2005.

Phillip joined the Reg Vardy band in September 2006 making his debut in the Symphony Hall Birmingham at the British Open. He gained instant recognition that year winning the award for youngest player at Brass In Concert.

Phillip has been a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain since March 2006 working under the baton of Bram Tovey. Phillip is without doubt a star of the future so watch this space!

 

 

Bob Temple - Third Cornet

Profile To Follow

 

Michael Burr - Third Cornet

Michael started playing the cornet at the age of eleven with the South Shields Schools Band. In 1972 he joined the Harton and Westoe Band and moved on to the Flugel horn. Michael then had to move to the Shetland Islands due to work so he had to leave the banding world in 1978.

Michael made several moves around the country but returned to banding in 1981 when he joined the Boldon Colliery Band on a part time basis due to him still working away. But he soon began travelling back for contest rehearsals (from South Wales to Tyneside.) During Michaels 18 years with the band they progressed from the 4 th section to the Championship Section. He says this was due to the many talented and dedicated players around the stand. Some of these players are present in the Reg Vardy Band today.

Michael was asked to join the then Ever Ready band in 2000 to help out on the back row. However this did not last for long as he was offered a new challenge. The band needed a 2 nd Horn player and Michael stepped in to the breach. He had 3 enjoyable years on horn before recently moving back on to cornet.