Derwent Brass has announced the appointment of the two new conductors who will provide the artistic lead for the Midland band following the retirement of long serving MD Keith Leonard.

New Music and Artistic Directors

After an extended selection process, Jack Capstaff will take over the role of Music Director, joining the respected Mark David as Artistic Director.

Regarded as a rising conducting talent most recently with Yorkshire Imperial Band, Jack was runner-up at this year's NABBC Conductor's competition and also holds a residency with the symphonic brass group Harlequin Brass Ensemble.

He said: "I'm incredibly excited to be the new MD of such an innovative and exciting group as Derwent Brass. It isn't very often that you find an ensemble whose aesthetics and musical values coincide so clearly with your own and I look forward to seeing what excellent musical and extra-musical results this relationship might create in the years to come.

Keith leaves very large shoes indeed to fill, and I just hope that we can build on the considerable success and musical enjoyment that he has brought the band over the last 25 years... I can't wait to get started."

Distinguished

Mark David is currently Artistic Director and Head of Brass at the Royal Academy of Music, Principal Trumpet at the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and a member of the Nash Ensemble.

Having enjoyed a distinguished career as a performer in some of the most prestigious ensembles in the world he also held the position of Principal Trumpet in the Philharmonia Orchestra for over twenty years.

With brass band roots starting in the St. Austell Band he went on to play with GUS, City of Coventry and Jones & Crossland, and has also worked in collaboration with Elgar Howarth and Howard Snell.

Ambition

He said: "I've been following the activities of Derwent Brass from afar since making my home in Derbyshire and have been incredibly impressed with the breadth, ambition and originality of their artistic programme. It was evident at my first rehearsal that the band was committed, ambitious but also friendly, supportive and determined to have fun!

I'm looking forward very much to working with Jack and the band in writing the next chapter in the already compelling story of Derwent Brass."

Derwent Brass have worked tirelessly to ensure a smooth transition and I have every confidence that the future of the band is in very safe hands indeed with both Jack and Mark at the helmformer MD, Keith Leonard.

Dream team

In response Band Trustee said: "We are fortunate to have ended up with somewhat of a dream team for Derwent Brass.

Jack is clearly a talented conductor, brimming with ambition with a profile that is perfectly aligned to that of the band, AND Mark is an astonishing musician and an inspirational educator."

Meanwhile Keith Leonard added: "Derwent Brass have worked tirelessly to ensure a smooth transition and I have every confidence that the future of the band is in very safe hands indeed with both Jack and Mark at the helm.

I shall continue to actively support and help the band as much as I can, and I look forward to monitoring the band's continued success."