The City of Chester Band has announced the appointment of Joshua Hughes as their new Musical Director.

The talented 22 year old from Bury has already gained a wealth of experience playing and working with a number of bands in the Greater Manchester and Coventry areas — including Sale Brass, who he led to the Butlins Fourth Section title earlier this year.

Contest return

Whilst a student at Coventry University, Josh persuaded Coventry Festival Band to return to contesting after a 50 year break and take part in a production of ‘Brassed Off’ at the city’s famous Belgrade Theatre.

A former soprano player with Besses o’ th’Barn Band, he also led Boarshurst Silver Band to five first prizes in the 2014 Whit Friday Saddleworth march contests.

He recently added another musical aspect to his portfolio when he worked with 4BR at the recent European Championship in Freiburg in Germany.

Keen to develop

A spokesperson told 4BR: “We’ve been searching for a MD for a while, and it was thanks to our former MD Phil Mottershead stepping out of retirement that the band has managed to perform in recent contests and concerts.

With Josh now wielding the baton, we are keen to develop further and to ensure that all the hard work is not thrown away.”

I’m looking forward to working with the band and progressing together as a team, both on the contesting circuit and in concertsJoshua Hughes

Looking forward

Josh Hughes’ first public engagement with the Band will be on 10th May when City of Chester perform in Vale Park, New Brighton.

Commenting on his appointment Josh Hughes told 4BR: “I’m looking forward to working with the band and progressing together as a team, both on the contesting circuit and in concerts.”