Paul Norley

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.