Welcoming our new musical director, Michael Pilley
Band members elect jazz trombonist, Michael Pilley, to lead Uckfield Concert Brass.
Following a thorough recruitment process and several audition rehearsals, last night, members of Uckfield Concert Brass had their say and voted for the candidate they wished to take over the role of Musical Director, following the standing down of the previous M.D., Nick Morris, after more than 14 years. We are pleased to announce that the successful candidate is Michael Pilley.
Heralding from Australia, but having lived in the UK since 2012, Michael has extensive experience not only as an accomplished player (trombone), but also as a conductor, transcriber, music engraver, competition-winning composer and arranger. He has played with the award-winning Tredegar Town Band, among other championship brass bands, and a variety of jazz bands and wind ensembles, and graduated from Melbourne University as a Bachelor of Music.
Additionally, Michael is the brass teacher for Create Music in Hastings & Rother and is keen to foster a love of brass music in schools. In 2023 he set up the South Coast Trombone Choir, an award winning ensemble that features over 20 trombonists at any one time in various locations across the region.
Uckfield Concert Brass are certainly excited to see what they can achieve under the direction of Michael, with the role effective immediately, to prepare the band for their slot at a concert commemorating VE Day taking place in Uckfield’s Civic Centre on Bank Holiday Monday 5th May.
Happy banding everyone.
Comments:
stephen walkley says
Congratulations Uckfield Concert Brass on the appointment of Michael Pilley as your new MD. Sounds like a great choice.
But I have to ask, has it become an established tradition that one of the requirements for being MD at UCB is to be an accomplished trombonist?? ?????? Ken Dennison, David Hughes, Steve Macintyre, Nick Morris – all fine trombonists.
All best wishes for the future together, and hi to old friends at UCB from Cyprus.
Steve Walkley
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Daniel Card says
Hi Steve.
Many thanks for the comment. It’s not a requirement that our MD is a trombonist, but perhaps it is an indication of the general qualities of trombonists?
We can’t comment further though for fear of over-inflating the egos of trombonists everywhere.
Nick says
Not forgetting a certain and most distinguished Mr S Walkley!