The Association of Brass Band Adjudicators (AoBBA) has announced that conductor Ryan Watkins as joining its Development Programme.

The RNCM graduate has been Musical Director of Hepworth Band since 2019, leading the Yorkshire ensemble to numerous successes. He is a former solo trombone with KNDS Fairey and Brighouse & Rastrick bands, and has also performed with the Halle Orchestra, Gilbert & Sullivan National Orchestra and the Manchester Camerata.

He has already judged at the popular ConsTest, Bold as Brass Contest and further afield at the Aalborg Musikkonkurrence in Denmark.

Delighted

He stated: "I'm delighted to be joining the AoBBA programme. It's a privilege to work alongside such experienced, respected colleagues, and I'm excited to contribute to the continued development of high quality, professional adjudication within the brass band movement."

Experience

In welcoming him, AoBBA, PRO Officer Christopher Bond added: "We're pleased to welcome Ryan onto our programme. His skills and experience as a performer and conductor alongside his adjudication experience will support our mission to deliver professional adjudication for the modern brass band contest".