Pennine Brass has announced the appointment of Huw Thomas as their new Musical Director.

Hailing originally from South Wales, Huw studied at the Birmingham Conservatoire before working as a professional trumpet player and then as a peripatetic brass teacher.

Salford graduate

Huw has conducted the Kibworth Band where he enjoyed working closely with John Berryman before embarking on a Post Graduate Diploma course in Conducting at Salford University under Professor David King.

In 2004 he was awarded the Denis and Maud Wright Conducting Award in which he conducted the Faireys Band and he was also runner-up in the North-West Brass Band Conductor of the Year.

Their recent Area result under Ray Farr shows the strength of the band and its great potential for the future. I'm really going to enjoy working with themHuw Thomas

Success

Huw has been Musical Director of the Enderby Band since 2005 with whom he has had numerous successes, of which promotion to the Championship Section for 2008 is just one. He is currently a post graduate student at Durham University, studying for an MA in Conducting with Ray Farr.

Huw has already taken up his duties as the band's MD and will be conducting them in a Listen to the Band recording in April with his first public performance being the Grand Shield in May.

Absolutley delighted

Huw Thomas told 4BR: "I'm absolutely delighted to have been offered this post. Pennine Brass is a very dynamic and hard working band. They've just been promoted back into the Championship section in Yorkshire — one of the toughest places to be in band contesting. Their recent Area result under Ray Farr shows the strength of the band and its great potential for the future. I'm really going to enjoy working with them."

The right person

Meanwhile Pete Denton, Band Chairman, commented: "We had several excellent applicants for this post and Huw was clearly just the person to follow in Ian Pothouse's footsteps. As well as being a great musician he has just the right personality for the band. He's going to make sure we keep working hard but he'll make sure we have fun too."

He added: "I'm sure he'll build on Ian's work. We're all really looking forward to working with Huw — there are some exciting opportunities ahead for us."