The Rockingham Band has announced the appointment of Rob Straw as their new Musical Director.

Outstanding

Rob originally stepped in to take the band in a temporary capacity just five weeks before this year’s Yorkshire Area contest, where with an outstanding effort from the players they managed to field a band to perform in the Third Section.

Now the next step is to build on the encouraging start, with no less than eight new players staying with the band form their Bradford debut as they look to recapture former glories.

Rob is ideally suited to leading the band’s development. He has played in all sections on a variety of instruments, in a career spanning 34 yearsRockingham Band

Suited

Band spokesperson Kieron Price told 4BR: "Rob is ideally suited to leading the band’s development. He has played in all sections on a variety of instruments, in a career spanning 34 years."

He added: "Rob has a broad knowledge of musical styles, ranging from contemporary jazz to the classics, and is also an accomplished jazz trumpeter and pianist in his own right. Rob is delighted to step into the breach and is looking forward to re-building the band with the help of players old and new."