AWARD-winning ensemble Arrow Valley Brass have announced the appointment of Ashley Buxton as their new director of music.
Ashley is already director of music at a grammar school and spent 12 years as a trumpeter in the Regimental Band of Her Majesty’s Coldstream Guards.
Ashley, who is taking over the baton from the renowned Dave Stanley, joined the Army at 18 as a professional trumpeter and was awarded the Besson Brass Player of the Year 2000 at the Royal Military School of Music, and the Royal Military School of Music Certificate for Exceptional Proficiency on the Trumpet/Cornet.
His career enabled him to perform on live TV, at a royal wedding, on 36 commercially recorded CDs, at Live 8 and in premier concert halls around the world.
He joined Arrow Valley Brass over the summer, taking his first band stand engagement after only half of one rehearsal.
He then took the band to the Gloucester Brass Band Association ‘march and own choice test piece competition’ on Sunday, November 17, where they won the trophy for highest placed 3rd section band.
He’ll be back in action at the band’s annual Christmas concert on Saturday, December 14 at Inkberrow Village Hall where they will be joined by the Ballard Singers and children from both Inkberrow Primary School and Birchensale Middle School for what promises to be a wonderful evening of festive music.
Tickets are available from the Inkberrow village shop or on 07759 378219.
The band is always looking for new players, in particular cornet players; if anyone is interested call 07876 443558, or come down to rehearsal on a Sunday morning in the New Year at Inkberrow Village Hall from 10am.
