Following the news that Andrew Duncan had stepped down from the post of Musical Director of Kingdom Brass, the Fife based band has moved quickly to appoint their new conducting team.

New resident

They have announced that their new Resident Conductor is Bede Williams.

Originally from New Zealand, Bede moved to Scotland in 2003 as an undergraduate to study trumpety at the RSAMD (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland). He gained a Masters in Orchestral Conducting in July 2010 and has been in demand as a conductor ever since.

Heart

Bede told 4BR: "The whole Kingdom organisation has at its core a strength and ambition which allows conductors to get straight to the heart of music making. I am thrilled to have input to their growing success."

The whole Kingdom organisation has at its core a strength and ambition which allows conductors to get straight to the heart of music makingBede Williams

Belgian connection

Kingdom has also announced that the highly respected Belgian conductor Frans Violet will lead the band at the 2012 Scottish Championships.

Band Secretary John Todd told 4BR: "Frans is one of the most experienced conductors in Europe with three European Championship titles just the tip of his achievements.

We are honoured he has accepted our invitation to travel over to Scotland and work with the band on ‘Devil and the Deep Blue Sea’. We’re all really looking forward to working closely with him."

Looking forward

Frans Violet added: "I am looking forward to leading Kingdom Brass to the Scottish Championships. They have established themselves as one of the top bands in Scotland, and my motivation is to lead them to qualify for the Albert Hall.

I’m also looking forward to teaming up with my former Willebroek principal cornet, Raf Van Looveren."