More New Appointments at Leyland

Published in Band News on 2014-07-10 by Empty Chairs

More news from Leyland Band

Leyland Band are pleased to announce the appointments of Tom Challinor (principal trombone) and Steve Taylor (third cornet).

Tom started playing at Northop Silver Band where he progressed from the junior band to the senior band. His military career began in London, where he served with the Band of The Coldstream Guards (part of the Corps of Army Music) for 5 years, taking on the role of principal trombone for the last 2 years. He has recently moved to Weeton to play solo trombone with The Band of The King's Division (CAMUS), one of the British Army's first professional Brass Bands. Tom will replace Ross Johnson who moves to London in September to commence a music degree.

Steve joins Leyland with a wealth of experience, most recently as a member of his ‘home’ band Marple. Now resident in Disley near Stockport, his playing career includes time at many bands including Manchester CWS, Fodens, Bedford Leigh, Wingates, BT and Hammonds Saltaire. Having opted for banding retirement earlier this year, there came the opportunity to join Leyland in time for the British Open – an opportunity which, in Steve’s own words “was too good to miss!” Currently a Senior Vice President with responsibility for Project Delivery for a RFID Technology Company, Steve joins the ever growing collection of golf enthusiasts at Leyland and replaces Ryan Broad who has moved on to the front row within the cornet section.

The band can also confirm that John Doyle moves from Soprano Cornet to Flugelhorn, the instrument on which he has built his reputation as one of the country’s leading brass performers. John replaces Romana Hallstead who is taking a break from banding to concentrate on her studies.

“It is a pleasure to welcome Tom and Steve to Leyland,” commented musical director Huw Thomas. “Both bring diverse and significant playing experience to the bandroom, and I wish them a happy and fruitful time with us. It is also great to see John playing Flugel once again with a leading band. His talent and prowess on the instrument are unrivalled in brass banding and it was the logical step for us when we learnt that Romana would be taking a break from her own banding.”