MEET THE BAND
| GARRY CUTT | PROFESSIONAL CONDUCTOR |
 |
Since graduating in the early 1980's, Garry Cutt has developed a reputation as one of the banding worlds most respected and successful conductors. |
| SANDY SMITH | ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR & ARRANGER |
 |
Sandy was born in Scotland and began his career with the Whitburn Band. Studying initially in Edinburgh he gained L.T.C.L. and L.L.C.M. teaching and performing diplomas and also became principal horn of the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland before moving to Yorkshire.
In 1981 he joined the Black... Biography |
| ANDREW BANNISTER | SOPRANO CORNET |
 |
Andrew started playing the cornet at the age of 8 with the Haverton Hill Silver Band in Teesside being taught by Arthur Morrison, father of ex Grimethorpe principal cornet Alan. At age 13 Andrew joined North Skelton Band, who were then North of England Champions, on assistant principal cornet. ... Biography
|
| ROGER WEBSTER | PRINCIPAL CORNET |
 |
Biography
|
| DANIEL ROBSON | SOLO CORNET |
 |
Daniel started to play the cornet at the Salvation Army under the Band Leader Ian Robson, his Father. Dan was principle cornet of the Tees Valley Youth Band and Egglescliffe School Band.
When Daniel was 18 is went to Birmingham Conservatoire to study cornet under Ian Porthouse and Richard Marshall. While at college Daniel won the prestigious Alfred Corfield Trumpet... Biography
|
| JAMIE COOPER | REPIANO CORNET |
 |
I have played repiano cornet in Grimethorpe for 4 years now after gaining experience on the front row of Brighouse and Rastrick, where I worked my way up to assistant principal cornet. I also previously played with Faireys on the front bench. During my younger years, I played with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and principal cornet with local band, Derwent Brass.... Biography
|
| JOE MURRAY | SECOND CORNET |
 |
Coming soon ..... Biography
|
| GARETH CRANE | SECOND CORNET |
 |
Gareth is married with three boys aged 13, 11 and 6. One learning percussion, one the guitar and the eldest winding people up. Gareth is a big football fan supporting Blackburn Rovers, enjoys a game of Darts and for some obscure reason growing vegetables.
Gareth stared playing cornet at the age of 8 with the local school band and his first mainstream band was the Warburton... Biography
|
| JOEY WILLIAMS | THIRD CORNET |
 |
Born near Sheffield, Joey joined the Band in 2009 and is a welcome member to the Bands cornet section. He studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, again under Roger Webster and wants to become a Music Teacher, passing on his expertise to the musicians of tomorrow.
He was awarded the Grimethorpe Colliery Band Player of the year for 2010 for his dedication, playing... Biography
|
| ANDY HOLMES | FLUGEL HORN |
 |
Andy began playing cornet at the age of 9 with the Horden Colliery band in his native North East. His early inspiration for playing came from the band's annual concerts with Grimethorpe soloists Alan Morrison and Bryan Smith.
After playing principal cornet from the age of 14 he moved to Huddersfield to study for a BMus (Hons) degree and received cornet lessons from... Biography
|
| DANNY POWELL | SOLO HORN |
 |
Coming soon Biography
|
| JIM FLETCHER | FIRST HORN |
 |
As a member of the horn section since 2000, Jim has travelled the world with the band, including tours to Australia, New Zealand, America, Japan and Hong Kong, playing in venues such as the Sydney Opera House, New York's Carnegie Hall and events such as the proms and proms in the park. He has appeared with the band on Tv with Lesley Garrett and Paul O'Grady. On the contest stage, Jim helped... Biography
|
| MURRAY BORTHWICK | SECOND HORN |
 |
Murray originates from New Zealand and has been the band's second Horn Player since December last year. Murray previously guested with the band on their first Brassed Off Tour in 1999.
For many years, Murray was the Principal Tenor Horn of the Desford Colliery Band. On his debut Contest with Grimethorpe, he helped the band become the Brass in Concert Entertainment... Biography
|
| MICHAEL WELLS | SOLO BARITONE |
 |
Michael originally hails from Blackpool, Lancashire, and started playing baritone at the age of nine. He is now studying under David Thornton at the Royal Northern College of Music, in Manchester, where he currently lives.
He has worked his way through the sections, playing for the Blackpool Brass and Longridge bands, before being offered the Solo Baritone seat at the... Biography
|
| NICK YOUNG | SECOND BARITONE |
 |
Nick was born in Saddleworth and began his playing career with Dobcross Youth Band. After spells playing with local bands Boarshurst and Dobcross Silver he joined the Todmorden Band winning numerous Contests.
Nick then enjoyed playing with the Fodens Band and joined the Grimethorpe Colliery Band in December 2007.
Nicks day job is working as a civil... Biography
|
| MICHAEL DODD | SOLO EUPHONIUM |
 |
Michael began playing at the age of 11 for the Grimethorpe Junior Band. He subsequently fulfilled a lifetime ambition to be part of the famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band after gaining experience with other renowned bands such as Carlton Main Frickley and Brighouse & Rastrick.
Michael currently works for the North Yorkshire Music Services as a peripatetic... Biography
|
| PHILIPPE SCHWARTZ | SECOND EUPHONIUM |
 |
Born in Luxembourg in 1985, Philippe began playing the Euphonium aged 8 at the Conservatoire of the City of Luxembourg. In 2004 he decided to further his musical studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester where he was taught by euphonium-pioneer Steven Mead. Philippe graduated from the RNCM with both a Bachelor's and a Master’s degree in music performance as well as the... Biography
|
| CHRIS GOMERSALL | SOLO TROMBONE |
 |
Chris started playing in the Salvation Army and Westoe Colliery Band aged seven. By the age of twelve he had joined the Newcastle Brown Ale Band and the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, winning the first of three Katie Ogden Trombone solo awards. Chris was appointed Principal Trombone in the NYBBGB aged 14.
Chris won the British Open under 16s... Biography
|
| STEVE JONES | SECOND TROMBONE |
 |
Coming soon! Biography
|
| GARRATH BECKWITH | BASS TROMBONE |
 |
Garrath Beckwith hails from Saddleworth - the heart of Brass Band country in the Pennines. He began playing the Bass Trombone, (as it was the only instrument available!) at Dobcross Youth Band, and progressed to the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain - a very memorable time, where he had the opportunity to forge lifelong friendships and play under some of the finest conductors in... Biography
|
| SHAUN CROWTHER | SOLO E FLAT BASS |
 |
Shaun became Principal Tuba at Grimethorpe in 2002.
As far as hobbies go, Shaun has little time for anything other than banding and doting on his beautiful wife Suzanne, who presented him with a very handsome son Jacob William on the 3rd of March this year.
After concerts, Shaun likes a drink of Lager so please don’t be shy in offering... Biography
|
| BEN DIXON | E FLAT BASS |
 |
Ben started playing the tuba aged 10 at the Salvation Army in Sheffield, Where he continued to play until the age of 16. He made his first contest appearance at the age of 12 and his first appearance at the British Open when he was 13.
Ben is currently in his first year of studying music at Salford University and is enjoying the opportunity to further himself as a musician... Biography
|
| OWEN WALLAGE | B FLAT BASS |
 |
Owen started playing trumpet when he was 7 years old and his first brass banding experience was with Pittington primary school. He continued playing trumpet with numerous school and county bands until he was 15, but always wanted to play 'the big one at the back' (the tuba!!).
Soon after his brother joined chester-le-street youth band, Owen was invited along to play Bb... Biography
|
| CARL RYAN | PERCUSSION |
 |
Carl was born in the mining village of Armthorpe in South Yorkshire. He started playing percussion in school at the age of 7 and joined his local brass band a short time later. At the age of 15 Carl joined his first championship section band, Carlton Main Frickley Colliery. A number of enjoyable years ensued at Frickley. Highlights included a Yorkshire area win in 1999 and... Biography
|
| JOHN WATTERSON | PERCUSSION |
 |
John joined the Grimethorpe Colliery Band in 2005.
As well as being a percussionist in the Grimethorpe Band John works as a freelance musician playing music from a variety of different genres.
When time permits John’s hobbies are Motor Sport, Cooking and having a good game of Pool. John enjoys spending time with his girlfriend Liz and son Josh.... Biography
|
| ANDY LOCKETT | PERCUSSION |
 |
Andy commenced his playing career playing percussion and brass at school under Iain Forgreive and Mike Wildgust. He started to play in Brass Bands at the age of 14 with the Todmorden Band. Andy then went on to play for Flixton and Longridge before making the move across the Lancs/Yorks border in 2007 to the Hepworth Cookson Homes Band. Andy played at all of the major contests that... Biography
|
| GAVIN PRITCHARD | PERCUSSION |
 |
Gavin Pritchard was born in Yorkshire into a very musical environment. At the time, his father Gareth, was Principal Cornet with the Brodsworth Colliery Band and then GUS/Rigid Containers Band. As a toddler, Gavin would regularly attend rehearsals with his father often sitting under his seat listening to the band. He even learned how to follow (the percussion line at least) a... Biography
|