Following the news reported extensively on 4BR that the Corps or Army Music is to form three new full time brass bands, the names of the Directors of Music who will lead them has now been confirmed.
Preston, Cosford and St Athans
Based in Preston, The Band of the King’s Division will be led by Captain Justin Matthews, whilst at RAF Cosford near Birmingham, The Band of The Royal Corps of Signals will be under the baton of Captain Stewart Halliday.
Meanwhile, The Band of The Prince of Wales’s Division will be based at RAF St Athan in South Wales under the direction of Captain Paul Collis-Smith.
Captain Collis-Smith is currently responsible for the recruitment for all three bands and has been overwhelmed with the response from brass and percussion all over Britain.
Contact
He told 4BR: "We have been contacted on a daily basis from many talented players across England, Scotland and Wales and pleased that many of them have decided to apply."
We have been contacted on a daily basis from many talented players across England, Scotland and Wales and pleased that many of them have decided to applyCaptain Paul Collis-Smith
Busy
The current personnel of the three bands will convene in April this year, in preparation to commence with a busy calendar of events.
The bands coincide with the formation of a string orchestra and three contemporary pop bands adding to the various military wind bands across the Corps.
More often
Captain Collis-Smith added: "All bands will be equipped to provide the nation and the Army with more music, which is more relevant, to more people, more often, both home and abroad."
If you are interested in a career as a musician in the Corps of Army Music, Paul can be contacted on camushq-brassband@mod.uk.