Paul Norley MA (Class Stud) BA (Mus) LRSM LDBBA CNCB MCGI Paul Norley began his musical career at the age of eight, learning to play the cornet and, later, tenor horn with the Devon based Totnes Band. In 1982 he joined the Army immediately on leaving school, enlisting into the Band of The Junior Leaders Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps; it was here that he learned clarinet, saxophone and violin. On completion of training he joined the Regimental Band of The First Royal Tank Regiment and was posted to Germany. During this period he served with 5 Armoured Field Ambulance in the first Gulf War. In 1994 Paul was posted to The Band of The Royal Lancers. Prior to this he enjoyed two years as musical director to the Hungerford Town Band. In 1996 he was selected to attend the Bandmaster’s course at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, graduating in 1998 with prizes for instrumental performance and composition. He was also awarded a Licentiate Royal School of Music Diploma in Bandmastership and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music. During his time at Kneller Hall he became Musical Director of Thames Brass. In January 2000 Paul Norley took up position as Bandmaster of the Band of The Light Division, the first Bandmaster appointment of the new millennium. Whilst in this post he studied with the University of Salford and was awarded the Licentiate Diploma in Brass Band Adjudication. In 2004 he graduated from the Open University with a Masters Degree in Classical Studies and was also awarded the Licentiate National College of Brass Diploma in Conducting. A Staff Appointment saw him become the Training Design Team Warrant Officer at Headquarters Corps of Army Music, Kneller Hall. In his spare time he enjoyed a run of contest successes as the Musical Director of Verwood Concert Brass. He is a member of the National Association of Brass Band Conductors and was accepted as a member of the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators in 2004. Paul was commissioned as Captain in 2006 to become the Director of Music of The Band of The Royal Irish Regiment. Upon the disbandment of the Regular Band in October 2007, The North Irish Territorial Army Band was renamed and equipped as The Band of The Royal Irish Regiment (TA), he was appointed as its first Director of Music. This was followed by appointment as Director of Music of The Band of The Kings Division, based in Weeton, Lancashire in 2008. During this year he accepted the post of Musical Director to the National Youth Marching Band, an ongoing and immensely rewarding role. He was promoted to Major and appointed as Officer Commanding Training Development Team, Headquarters Corps of Army Music, Kneller Hall in September 2010, acting as the Chief Examiner and Testing Standards Authority for all the musicians in the British Army. A further move in 2013 saw him become Director of Music of The Brigade of Gurkhas, successfully delivering the musical and ceremonial backdrop to the celebrations of 200 year’s Gurkha service to the British Army. He returned to Kneller Hall in 2016 as Staff Officer Plans for the Corps of Army Music. 2019 saw him appointed as Director of Music of The Band of The Coldstream Guards; he retired to civilian life in Devon from this prestigious appointment in 2021. This same year he was invited to become President of the Traditional Marching Band Association (TYMBA). Delighted to accept, he now finds himself involved with Youth Marching Bands across the whole of the UK. He regularly adjudicates at various Brass Band Regional Qualifiers and is also in demand at numerous local contests across the UK and overseas. Happy to step ‘outside of the box’, he often undertakes workshops and masterclasses for both bands and conductors.
Nicholas Davie
B at A Level Music. A* at GCSE Music. Distinction in Grade 5 Theory. 1st Class BMus Performance degree, specialising in Contemporary Guitar. Grade 8 Trumpet Merit. Grade 5 Piano Pass. Been instrumental teaching and running Ensembles (specifically jazz/big bands) since the age of 16 (I am currently 28). Have been a part of semi successful Indie band before they disbanded in 2024 (60k followers on Instagram, 2k subscribers on YouTube, sold out UK tour in 2023).
Tony Jones
Ex military musician with exemplary record. 2 years kneeler hall training and instruction. BA hons mus completed in under 2 years.
I have taught for Cornwall Music Service Trust and brass bands for several brass bands. I have experience of performing at a very high level. I am friendly, approachable and always make my lessons fun, entertaining and innovative.
Sarah Jones
An experienced and keen musician with a passion for the arts who works well under pressure and is a committed team player. Possesses strong leadership, management and communication skills being adept at prioritising demands and meeting deadlines. Inventive and adaptable to change, ensuring learners of all ages are motivated to reach their full potential, whilst gaining an understanding of musical disciplines through enjoyable, active participation. 100% exam pass rate for 37 years. Accomplished male voice musical director of 22 years.
CAREER HISTORY
1987 – 1997 Gwent Music Service: Peripatetic Brass/KS3 & 4 Music Teacher
1997 – 2001 Private Music Teacher
2001 – 2014 Gwent Music Service: Peripatetic Brass/Steel Pan/Piano/Theory Teacher
2002 – 2010 Rougemont School Newport: Infant School Music Co-ordinator
2011 – 2015 Bridgend Music Service: Peripatetic Brass/Samba Teacher
2015 – 2016 Somerset Music: WCET Teacher
2016 – 2022 Merthyr Tydfil Music Service: Head of Music Service & Brass/Curriculum Music Teacher
2020 – 2023 Christ College Brecon: VMT French Horn
2020 – 2024 Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama: Junior Conservatoire Assistant/Cover Tutor
2021 – 2024 Musical Director: Pontnewydd Male Choir
2022 – 2023 Bridgend Music Service: Peripatetic Brass Teacher
2022 – present Gwent Music Service: Brass/WCET/Curriculum Music Teacher
2023 – present Musical Director: City of Newport Male Choir
2023 – present Torfaen Music: WCET Teacher
2023 – present Charanga Associate Trainer
2023 – present Educa on Supply Pool: Music Teacher
2024 – present Somerset Music: WCET Teacher
EDUCATION
Bath College of H.E. Sept 1983 – July 1986 B.A. (Hons) Music (II/i) (Bath University)
Cardiff University Sept 1986 – July 1987 P.G.C.E. Secondary Music
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
NASUWT 1987 ISM 1989 (FISM)
Musicians’ Union 2024
EWC 2015
SKILLS & TRAINING
French Horn
Piano
Conductor/Musical Director
Trinity Arts Award Adviser
Safeguarding Level 3
Licensed Chaperone
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
Live music and theatre
Gardening, sewing, languages
Miles Maguire
Miles was the Co-Principal Trumpet with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra for over ten years. He then free-lanced in London for many years playing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony and Concert Orchestras, London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra as well as regularly playing in West-End shows such as Phantom of the Opera and Mary Poppins. Miles is a past winner of the prestigious Shell/LSO Music Scholarship Competition and the Guildhall School of Music Brass Competition and Chairsmans Prize. Miles has over fifteen years experience teaching brass, both privately and in schools as a visiting music teacher.
He has also been involved with many music education projects over the years.
Nicholas B. Hudson
Education and Teaching Overview
Instrumental teacher with an excess of thirty-five years’ experience in educating professional
musicians, college students and within state and private sector instrumental music schemes.
Passionate about instilling the benefits and importance of instrumental tuition within the
school curriculum. Has been heavily involved in the direction and coaching of numerous
ensembles from brass ensembles, brass bands, orchestras and wind ensembles, both at local
and International level.
Amongst numerous benefits, instrumental music is very much a social medium and believes
student involvement in ensembles, from an early age and ability, is of paramount
importance. Has a proven track record of achieving the highest ABRSM brass examination
results recorded in the United Arab Emirates; in the final May 2016 sitting before repatriating,
seven out of eight brass entrants achieved Distinction at Al Yasmina School. Fully realizes
the importance of frequent communication with parents to ensure close monitoring of
expectations, progress and goals. Uses up to date technology as part of daily teaching
resources; SmartMusic, Tunable, Garageband, PracticePal, Logic Pro X and numerous iPad
applications.
Aware of the importance of greater involvement within the School Music Department. Has
been heavily involved with school productions, concerts, recitals, ABRSM entries, recordings
and securing Al Yasmina as an accredited ABRSM examination centre. Carried out ICT CPD
to curriculum staff on the use of the iPad within the music curriculum and SmartMusic as a
teaching aid for the instrumental teacher, student and parent. Presented performance and
training workshops to GCSE, AS and A level students in preparation for exam recitals.
Has recorded, edited, mixed and mastered GCSE, AS and A Level performances and
compositions along with production of music for a recent Mindfulness programme and IOS
app for full school use.
Observed as a ‘Outstanding’ teacher on separate occasions by both line manager and school
Principal.
CPD included a recent SEN course, in addition to a weeklong instrument repair course with
Trevor Head in the Brecon Beacons. Qualified to carry out basic repairs to brass
instruments.
Teaching Experience
Cheshire County Council Music Service – Peripatetic Brass Tutor 1992 to 1996
■ Responsible for the tuition of in excess of fifty students across the County. Engaged in
the low brass tuition of the County Youth Brass Band and Orchestra.
North Yorkshire County Music Service – Peripatetic Brass Tutor 1996 to 2005
■ Accountable for six schools across the North of the County and was involved in the
extra curricular music activities in most schools including; Jazz Band, Brass Band,
Orchestra, Wind Band and Brass Ensembles.
Somerset County Music Service – Peripatetic Brass Tutor 2005 to 2008
■ Involved in the running of school orchestras and brass ensembles as well as day-to-day
tuition of brass students in West Somerset.
Taunton School, Somerset – Low Brass Tutor 2005 to 2008
■ Responsible for the tuition of students from pre-prep through to sixth form. Heavily
involved with the direction of brass ensembles through prep and senior schools in
addition to frequent participation in concerts, recitals and school productions.
Clifton College and Prep School, Bristol – Brass Tutor 2006 to 2008
■ Answerable for the instrumental music tuition of students from Butcombe Prep School
as well as the Senior College.
Aldar Academies, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – Brass Tutor 2008 to 2016
■ Initiated, in entirety, the instrumental music scheme across all Aldar Academies.
Delegated responsibilities included writing all documentation including tuition terms and
conditions, instrument hire agreements, instrument budgeting and procurement,
producing website information and design, accounting systems, staffing, timetabling,
resources, student monitoring and report systems, tuition of brass students and extra
curricular music activities across all academies including Primary Brass Ensemble,
Secondary Brass Ensemble, Big Band, Saxophone Ensemble and School Orchestra.
Warwick School, Warwick – Brass Tutor 2016 to date
■ Responsible for the individual tuition of twelve students, the Year 7 Scheme low brass
students, pBone scholars, run and assist with ensembles including The Undertones,
Foundation Youth Wind Orchestra and All Stars Band.
King’s High School, Warwick – Brass Tutor 2016 to date
■ Responsible for the individual tuition of seventeen students, the Year 7 Scheme low brass
students, trombone scholars, the running of Big Brass (a beginner brass ensemble of
eighteen members) and Unity Brass (advanced Grade 5 plus ensemble of eleven
members).
Additional Experience
Low brass instrumental master classes and workshops carried out at:
Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester
Royal Danish Academy of Music, Copenhagen
University of Newcastle (Performing Arts), Australia
Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, Australia
University of Gothenburg, Academy of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music, London
Huddersfield University, Performing Arts Department
Past Trombone Tutor for:
The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain
The National Youth Brass Band of Scotland
The National Youth Brass Band of Switzerland
NJBB Graubunden (Switzerland)
The National Youth Brass Band of New Zealand
IBBSS trombone tutor
Brass Band Summer School (Framlingham College, Suffolk)
Education
Fellow of The London College of Music (FLCM)
Licentiate of Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London (LGSMD, Hons)
Referees
Contact details available on request.
Performance Overview
Nick Hudson’s musical foundations are firmly rooted within the brass band movement. He started playing at the age of eight and following initial tuition from his father and a brief spell in The Salvation Army, Nick was appointed principal trombone of the world famous Foden Motor Works Brass Band at the age of only fifteen. During his fourteen years in that position he established an international reputation as one of Europe’s finest trombone players and teachers. He has presented master classes and performed in concert halls as far afield as Australia, Israel, Canada, the USA and throughout Europe. In addition he was the featured soloist at the National Brass Band Championships Gala Concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London on four occasions. He premiered the Wilfred Heaton Trombone Concerto live on BBC Radio 3 and gave the first public performance of Philip Wilby’s concertino White Knuckle Ride – both composed especially for him. Recently he returned from a successful tour of Spain where he performed the Holst ‘Concertante for Trombone and Wind Band’ and the Derek Bourgeois ‘Trombone Concerto’ at the World Wind Band Association conference in Valencia following enthusiastic reviews from music critics and trombone players throughout Europe. Nick released his first solo recording ‘Anthology’ with the Britannia Building Society Band in 1996 followed by the highly successful ‘New Horizons’ in 2002 featuring a diverse range of styles from jazz, avante garde and brass band repertoire. Another recent recording features a range of specially commissioned works for tenor and bass trombone where Nick plays alongside Douglas Yeo, Bass Trombone with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. His most recent addition to his discography is collaboration with Andrew Justice and the Enfield Citadel Band of The Salvation Army. The recording features original solo and duet repertoire and has already received critical acclaim. In June 2007 Nick also gave the premiere recording of Elizabeth Raum’s Fantasy for Trombone and Brass Band. In addition to these recordings Nick has been featured soloist on twenty other releases with ensembles throughout the UK and overseas. On both resident and freelance levels, Nick has played with most of the UK’s top brass bands; Britannia Building Society Band, Leyland Band, Yorkshire Building Society Band, Black Dyke Mills Band, Grimethorpe Colliery and the Fairey Band. In addition, Nick was a founder member of the highly acclaimed Howard Snell Brass ensemble. He has travelled worldwide coaching players and is currently trombone tutor at the celebrated Brass Band Summer School in Framlingham. Nick has been guest soloist with many ensembles including the New York Staff Band, Grimethorpe Colliery Band, the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, National Youth Brass Band of Switzerland, NJBB Graubunden, National Youth Brass Band of New Zealand, Enfield Citadel Band, Kortrijk Brass Band, Brass Band De Bazuin Oenkerk, Maple Leaf Brass Band, Brass Band Willebroek and Lyngby-Taarbaek Brass Band. Nick is now a member of the Sheffield based pro-orchestra Brigantes. He was featured soloist and clinician at the Leeds University Chain Brass Festival, a weeklong course of workshops and seminars for professional players from all over Europe. He has also given recitals and lectures at the Royal Northern College of Music, Royal Academy of Music (Stockholm), Melbourne School of Performing Arts, Newcastle School of Music (Australia), Goteborgs Universitet Artisten, RAF Cranwell, the Norwegian National Wind Band Championships in Trondheim, the British Trombone Society Festival at the Guildhall School of Music and London’s famous 100 Club. Nick was particularly pleased to be awarded The Don Lusher Memorial Prize for his playing at the BIC Contest. In addition to demands as a performer and clinician for Conn Selmer Instruments and Denis Wick Products, Nick is a regular editorial contributor and writer for many specialist brass publications. He is also a writer and advisor to the British Trombone Society. Nick’s recent schedule has included an increasing number of adjudicating engagements; he has been on the panel of judges at the US Open Brass Championship in Chicago, adjudicator at the Swiss National Solo Brass Championships in Sion and the Brass in Concert Championships at Gateshead.
What Other Players Say…..
“To hear Nick play the trombone is to indulge in a rare pleasure. His warm, supple tone combined with impeccable artistry places him in the top rank of trombonists.”
Douglas Yeo – Bass Trombonist Boston Symphony Orchestra (retired)
“Nick has a fine tone and his intonation is excellent, as well as phrasing and legato. I am sure his solo recordings will be a big success.”
Jay Friedman – Principal Trombone Chicago Symphony Orchestra
“Nick makes my solo sound his own, he has total command of the instrument and makes what I thought was a virtuoso solo, sound easy”
Bruce Broughton – Film Music Composer
“Tommy Dorsey, Michel Becquet, Don Lusher… Nick certainly belongs with these other lyric poets of the trombone…. his playing is the kind that attracts attention to the music itself; it is
unaffected, engaging and sincere.”
Scott Hartman – founder member Empire Brass USA
“Superlatives cannot express Nick’s sensitive playing in the slow movement of the Sparke.” Brass Band World Magazine
“Hudson was the soloist in Langford’s ‘Rhapsody for Trombone’ and this was the high spot of the day in terms of the soloists on offer. His was a faithful reading of a superb showcase
piece and his performance was never less than brilliant. He is a supreme exponent of the art of solo playing.”
4BarsRest.com – the Online Brass Magazine
“YEO AND HUDSON EXCEL. . .uncompromising high quality.”
Brass Band World Magazine
“A wonderful program of solos and duets marked by great variety, technical assurance, and above all, mature musical lyricism.”
The Brass Band Bridge
“Surface virtuosity is eschewed in favour of lyricism and refined musicianship. . .played with exquisite sensitivity.”
The British Bandsman Magazine
“A remarkable CD . . . This is a must-have album.”
The Online Trombone Journal
“Yeo and Hudson’s attention to musical line and lyric quality is purely exquisite and refreshing from top to bottom.”
International Trombone Association Journal
Discography
In addition to the list of compact disc recordings below, Nick has been featured soloist in
more than fifty BBC and international radio broadcasts.
SOLO RECORDINGS
New Horizons (Belburn)
Anthology (Polyphonic)
Two of a Mind (SP&S)
Comrades (SP&S)
FEATURED GUEST SOLOIST RECORDINGS
Sovereign Soloists (Doyen Recordings)
Sovereign Soloists meet CWS Glasgow Band (Doyen Recordings)
Brass with Class (Polyphonic)
Year of the Dragon (Doyen Recordings)
NJBB of Switzerland ‘Live’ (Tonhalle)
Light as Air (Polyphonic)
Cry of the Celts (Polyphonic)
Brass in Concert ‘Live’ 2004 (SP&S)
Hamilton Band ‘Live’ in Canada (Simply Brass)
European Brass Band Championships (Polyphonic)
National Brass Band Championships (Polyphonic)
NJBB Graubunden Gala Concert (Tonnstudio)
Brass at the Masters (Polyphonic)
Premiere (Polyphonic)
Je Deux Enfant (Polyphonic)
Four Seasons (Polyphonic)
Swedish Brass Band Championships (Gothenburg Brass)
Brass Band Aid (Pennine Brass)
Shout (National Youth Brass Band of Switzerland 2010)
Tokyo City Brass (Japan) 2013
Where Have all The Flowers Gone – Desford Band (Island)
Recent Recital and Solo Engagements
Guest soloist with Tokyo City Concert Brass, Japan 2013
Concert Tour of Canada with National Arts Centre Orchestra Brass and Maple Leaf Brass – May 2008
Guest soloist and tutor National Youth Brass Band of Switzerland 2008
Performance of the Derek Bourgeois Trombone Concerto with TSO 2009
Adjudicating Panel for Swiss National Brass Championships in Sion, Switzerland 2009
Recital Tour of Toronto – May 2005
Guest Recital Huddersfield University – April 2005
US Open Band Championships – Chicago 2004
British Trombone Society Festival – Portadown, Northern Ireland 2004
Spanish Trombone Society Festival – Valencia 2003
Brass in Concert – Spennymoor 2003
Recital tour of Canada – 2003
Recital tour of New Zealand – 2003
Recital tour of Switzerland – 2003
Recital tour of Spain – 2003
New Jersey Brass Festival– New York 2002 and 2003
World Symphonic Wind Band Conference – Valencia 2002
Great Northern Brass Festival – Bridgewater Hall, Manchester 2002 and 2003
National Brass Band Championships– Royal Albert Hall, London 1999, 2002 and 2003
Regent Hall Brass Festival – London 2001 to 2003
Danish Brass Band Summer School 2002 – Hjorring, Denmark 2002
Low Brass Tutor Brass Band Summer School – Framlingham 1996 to present
British Open Brass Band Championships – Symphony Hall, Birmingham 2001
Recital tour of Australia – 1997
Gail Denning
I have 25 years experience teaching music to all ages. I actively encourage and support all performance opportunities. I am familiar with both ABRSM and Trinity exam boards and prepare and accompany candidates for graded music exams should they choose that pathway.
IMS Music
Founded in 1991, IMS is a principal provider of music lessons in schools, colleges and universities across Devon and Cornwall. We supply tutors on a range of instruments at an affordable price. Please contact us for further information or to arrange lessons.
Richard Miners
Mid Devon Music Ltd launched in 2015 as a way of providing schools and organisations with quality curricular and extra curricular music making in varying formats. Led by Richard Miners a leading music educator at the highest levels for over 25 years in the United Kingdom and Europe. Mid Devon Music aims to deliver quality musical experiences for pupils and communities of all ages, allowing students to develop, discover, enjoy and celebrate music of all types.
Richard Miners has enjoyed a combined career as both a professional musician and as a respected music educator. As a professional trombonist, he has worked alongside some of the leading names in jazz, popular and world music, appearing on commercial albums, broadcasts and playing throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. As an educator he has led several large school music departments, worked as a freelance workshop leader and worked with schools and colleges as an advisor on delivering schemes of work and assessment. He has also worked with the European Union to develop music in the Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
Recently Richard has worked for one of the largest county Music Hubs in the UK, delivering and helping to develop Whole Class Instrumental and Vocal Teaching at Key Stage 1 and 2. His teaching has consistently been classified by leading professionals and inspectors as good and outstanding and due to this he has met and maintained for numerous years the highest level of post threshold teaching standards.
Richard has also been a keynote speaker for various Music Education Hubs, where he has led presentations on Whole Class Ensemble Teaching, Development of Music In Primary Schools, Curriculum Planning and Assessment and on how businesses can work with schools and the community.
As an administrator and producer Richard has worked on providing resources, events and music for large organisations including the BBC, Canary Wharf, BP, Mercedes Benz and the Intercontinental Hotel Group.
West Country School Music
West Country School Music is a small collective of peripatetic instrumental teachers located in East Devon since 2012. We currently mainly visit primary schools where we supply one talented and well-qualified teacher to reach a wide range of instruments.
We are also available to deliver lessons on the same instruments to either adults or children in their homes.
We are happy to prepare pupils for exams with any of the recognised examination boards (or not), as required.
We have close links with Honiton Youth Orchestra and will recommend a suitable progression route for each pupil as they develop to help them flourish in their musical journey.
Our teachers all hold an enhanced DBS check, have public liability insurance and have been reference checked.