Weston Brass has announced the appointment of Stephen Sykes as their new Musical Director.

The hugely experienced trombonist has enjoyed playing tenures with many of the UKs elite level bands and has gained a respected reputation as a conductor and band trainer on both sides of the River Severn.

Natural progression

Speaking about the appointment Band Chairperson, Sally Horrox, told 4BR: "Stephen has been a friend of the band for some time, so this feels like a natural and seamless transition.

With a busy Christmas season ahead and preparations for the West of England Area contest just around the corner, the timing couldn't be better. Weston Brass already enjoy a strong reputation for imaginative concert programming, and we're excited to see how Stephen will help us build on this further."

Eager to begin

In response, Stephen said: "Weston Brass is a fantastic band to work with, full of talent and experience. I'm eager to begin preparations for '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' at the Area contest in March, and I've inherited a settled, hardworking ensemble with a real drive to succeed.

The potential here is enormous, and I'm looking forward to shaping an exciting future together."