Reg Vardy Band Horn Section

Reg Vardy Band Horn section pictured at Brass in Concert 2005. From left to right:

Jillian Dixon

Linda Cook

Andrew Hall

Joanne Winspear

 

 

Joanne Winspear - Flugel Horn

 

Joanne started playing cornet with her village band - Lingdale Silver at the age of 11. But at 13 was enticed down the road to North Skelton Junior band (where she was also introduced to the brass banding social scene!). The band started competing in the fourth section around a year later as North Skelton Concert Band which moved quickly up the sections throughout the late eighties and became known as Langbaurgh Brass. Joanne progressed on cornet too and became their Principal Cornet when she was 17.

In 1992 Joanne made the move back over the road in North Skelton to British Steel Teesside Band on Flugel. She joined at Christmas '92 and the first job she did was the Durham League Contest playing Pagannini Variations. The band gained first place and it was a memorable first outing in the championship section for her.

In 2000 the British Steel Teesside stopped contesting so Joanne decided to keep playing and made the move to Yorkshire Imps on Flugel where she experienced the British Open and Masters Contests for the first time. But after two years the travelling took its toll - the poor Mazda was getting more tired than her with the 140 mile round trips to band! Joanne joined the Reg Vardy Band in January 2002. But she still struggles with the lingo at times.....allllreeet hiney?

Joanne is a Graphic Designer and works for the Gazette Media Company in Middlesbrough . Her brother Robin plays Soprano and sister Zoë is a cornet player.

 

 

 

Andrew Hall - Solo Horn

Andrew started playing in 1975 when at the age of 10 he was given a French Horn through the County peripatetic scheme. His teacher was Colin Adamson, himself a horn player with the Ever Ready Band who persuaded Andrew to join Lanchester Brass Band in 1978.The band provided him with a tenor horn (and a glove to keep his right hand warm) and he quickly settled into the solo horn seat.


His first taste of the Royal Albert Hall came with Lanchester when in 1986 the band qualified as 4th section champions.The next encounter at national level was in 1988 when he joined the Durham Constabulary Band. He stayed for 18 very enjoyable months, but made the most of the opportunity to develop his playing under a range of conductors.


In 1989 he joined Ever Ready on first horn under David Dye and alongside George Dawson, both players being a major influence on his music making and story telling!When David left in 1991, Andrew was promoted to solo horn where he has remained (except for a short break around 1994) until today.
In addition to playing Andrew enjoys talking to Linda Cook in bars rest, and conducting bands. His first and most successful partnership to date being with Bearpeark and Esh, taking them to the Nationals finals as Area Champions in 1999.

 

 

 

 

Linda Cook - First Horn

Linda started playing at the age of 14 at he Dawdon Lodge Band under the baton of Stan McDonald. She learned to play on cornet and quickly progressed assitant principal cornet sitting next to John Cook who is now her husband.

Linda became the first lady to join the then Ever Ready(Craghead) Band in 1972 on Repiano Cornet later moving to Flugel She is proud to have been conducted by such legends Eric Cunningham, Geoffrey Brand, Professor Hargreaves, Major Kenny, George Thompson, Major Peter Parkes, and Harry Mortimor. During this time she enjoy many successes such as 1974 BBC band of the Year, numerous Northen Area contest and appearances at the Belle Vue Contest.

Linda was one of the first ladies to play at such a high level in a time where most bands were exclusively men. On one occasion she was the only lady on stage in a mass band performance at the Royal Albert Hall among some 100 musicians.

Linda took a break from the band in 1980 to have her two sons. Her oldest son Joesph played for Ever Ready band and now plays Principal Tuba for Black Dyke,. Her youngest son Elliott is also a tuba player and has played for BHK Horden and also the Reg Vardy Band.

Linda returned to the band in 1988 on cornet, moving to Flugel again and settled on Tenor Horn in 1995. Since then Linda has enjoyed further success with the band notably coming third at the Internatioanl Masters in 2004 and 3rd at the National Finals the same year. She proud to have been a part of the band aiming for a 7th consectutive Northen Area win.

 

 

 

Jillian Dixon - Second Horn

Jillian began her banding career at Harton and Westoe Brass Band in 1977, on cornet.She moved to flugel horn, which she played with Hull City Youth Band and Hessle Royal British Legion Silver band whilst at university, also dabbling with the baritone and soprano cornet!.

Jillian has been a member of several North East bands, most recently 9 years with Newcasle Brown Ale Band on flugel then solo horn, and 4 years on solo horn at Fishburn Band, featuring as a soloist on recordings and at contests. After en earlier spell with the band she Joined the Reg Vardy Band in 2003.