The successful five year musical partnership between the East Yorkshire Motor Services Band and conductor Alan Morrison has come to an end.
It is understood that the former Grimethorpe Colliery and Brighouse & Rastrick cornet star has accepted an offer to take his career in a new direction at the end of the year.
Enjoyable years
Alan, who leaves the Hull-based band after what he called, 'five thoroughly enjoyable years', will make his new plans public in the near future, but it has been confirmed that he will conduct EYMS on their Brass in Concert debuts next month.
Although his association with EYMS goes back to 2000, Alan's full-time MD tenure began in 2011 alongside his wife Anita on horn and daughter Natalie on cornet.
Sustained period
It was the start of a period of sustained period of stability and success for the band — gaining an enviable reputation for their brand of entertainment, often using Alan's arrangements and climbing the world ranking following increasingly consistent contest outings.
Alan told 4BR: "I've thoroughly enjoyed my five years at EYMS and leave with many happy memories along with the satisfaction that the band is in good shape for the future.
I wish them every success and thank everyone involved for their support and friendship. I will always be available to help in any capacity and look forward to being asked."
Great five years
In response Band Chairman Tony Newiss added: "I suppose all good things come to an end and I know Alan has wrestled with this decision. It's been a great five years and he leaves us a very different band from the one which greeted his arrival.
Now we need to give him a good send-off at his last contesting engagement at Brass in Concert. We wish Alan all the very best in his new venture and I am sure we will be taking up his offer of assistance at some stage in the not too distant future."
Contest success
During his two spells at the helm, EYMS claimed victory at the Bolsover Festival of Brass on three occasions and also won the Kippax contest to reinforce their reputation as an innovative entertainment contesting band.
In recent years this was also backed up by qualification to the National Finals on two occasions (above), podium finishes at the Butlins Mineworkers Championship and Dr Martin Wainstone Cup and promotion to the Grand Shield, with solid performances also at the Scottish Open.
I've thoroughly enjoyed my five years at EYMS and leave with many happy memories along with the satisfaction that the band is in good shape for the futureAlan Morrison
Hits
EYMS and Alan made one CD together last year, The Old Rugged Cross, which was a compilation of their concert hits.
He is currently the chairman of the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators and examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.
