Coppull and Standish has announced the appointment of Andrew Baker as their new Musical Director.

A music graduate from Nottingham University, until January he played for Middleton Band who recently commissioned and recorded his composition 'The Sword and The Star'.

I'm also confident that, starting with Brass at the Guild, we can hit the ground running in the 2008 contest season and subsequently get to grips with Four Cities SymphonyAndrew Baker

Composer

His compositions are very well received and 'The Well of St Winifred' for viola, cello and piano was premiered by the Opus 3 Piano Trio in Chicago in 2003.

He won the Morecambe Band Centenary Composition Competition in 2004 and more recently he travelled to the Swiss National Championships in Montreux last year where his 'The Once and Future King' was the set piece for the 3rd Section.

Delight

Andrew told 4BR: "I'm delighted to have been appointed as the new MD of Coppull and Standish Band. At my audition I was immediately struck by the enthusiasm and commitment of the band, and the focus and ambition of the committee. I look forward to tapping into those qualities in the future."

Confident

He added: "I'm looking forward to putting together some enjoyable concerts, and hopefully introducing the band to a few pieces or composers that they haven't come across before.

I'm also confident that, starting with Brass at the Guild, we can hit the ground running in the 2008 contest season and subsequently get to grips with Four Cities Symphony. The latter with a view to getting the band back to the National Finals in September. With a bit of hard work, it is certainly possible.”