Former Thirsk RBL Band Musical Directors
Sean Riley MSc BSc(Hons) BMus (Hons) FLCM LRSM CAMUS
Sean Riley began his musical journey at a young age performing in brass bands on cornet, baritone and euphonium. In 1987 he joined the Army and attended the Army Junior School of Music, Bovington, as a French horn player. On completion of two years musical and military training, he was assigned to the Regimental Band of the 1st Bn the Royal Regiment of Wales. In August 1990, the Regiment were relocated to Hong Kong during which time the band toured extensively in the Far East. In 1993, the Battalion returned to the UK, to Ternhill in Shropshire. After a relatively short period of time, the Regimental Band was disbanded under options for change and Sean remained in Ternhill as principal horn of the newly formed Band of the Prince of Wales’s Division (Clive).
Having expressed a desire to become a conductor, he was selected to attend the Student Bandmasters’ Course at Kneller Hall in 1999 and on completion was awarded prizes in choral and brass arranging and composition, in addition to achieving a BMus (Hons) degree. As a conductor, he has directed numerous bands in many prestigious locations including the Royal Albert Hall, the Sage and Wembley Stadium. Sean also has a keen desire to coach and mentor others, and has held various instructional positions at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall.
Sean was appointed MD of the Thirsk RBL Band on 24th July 2017 and picked up his baton with the Band on 4th September 2017. Due to other commitments, Sean regretfully left the position of MD in February 2019.
Having expressed a desire to become a conductor, he was selected to attend the Student Bandmasters’ Course at Kneller Hall in 1999 and on completion was awarded prizes in choral and brass arranging and composition, in addition to achieving a BMus (Hons) degree. As a conductor, he has directed numerous bands in many prestigious locations including the Royal Albert Hall, the Sage and Wembley Stadium. Sean also has a keen desire to coach and mentor others, and has held various instructional positions at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall.
Sean was appointed MD of the Thirsk RBL Band on 24th July 2017 and picked up his baton with the Band on 4th September 2017. Due to other commitments, Sean regretfully left the position of MD in February 2019.
Paul Fothergill
Paul was brought up in County Durham and started playing the cornet, piano and singing at school. He studied music at Durham University, conducting the university brass band, before teaching music privately for several years in the County Durham area. He went on to study for an MA in Musicology at the University of Würzburg in Germany, before returning to England to train as a secondary-school music teacher. He has conducted a broad variety of ensembles, currently running the show-choir of Darlington Operatic Society, and is active as a performer and arranger in the region. He is looking forward to working with Thirsk Royal Legion Band over the coming months.
Alan Owens
Alan was born and brought up in Hinckley, Leicestershire. He developed his love of music initially as a trombonist with the school brass band and then a saxophonist when he joined the Army as a professional musician. During his time in the Army he enhanced his reputation as a saxophonist and Big Band leader, becoming involved with many bands throughout the UK and Europe.
After settling in North Yorkshire Alan formed his own Big Band which proved to be an immediate success and now the “Alan Owens Big Band”, along with his Dance Band, Dinner Quartet and other groups are in great demand throughout the country performing at concerts, weddings, dinner dances and many other events.
As well as leading his own band Alan is also a prominent Musical Director with a number of musical societies. Shows to his credit include Oklahoma, Grease, The Wizard of Oz, Scrooge: The Musical, Man of La Mancha, Oliver, Copacabana, Bugsy Malone, Calamity Jane, Camelot, Anything Goes, Crazy for You, Hairspray, Our House, as well as a number of Pantomimes.
Alan is also a conductor and instructor with North Yorkshire Music Services giving him the opportunity to pass on his knowledge as a woodwind specialist, and also his Big Band and Symphonic Wind Band experience gained over many years of playing and leading some great bands.
Regretfully, Alan will be leaving us after the concert on 6th May 2017. We would like to thank him for his hard work and commitment over the last year. We wish him all the very best for the future.
After settling in North Yorkshire Alan formed his own Big Band which proved to be an immediate success and now the “Alan Owens Big Band”, along with his Dance Band, Dinner Quartet and other groups are in great demand throughout the country performing at concerts, weddings, dinner dances and many other events.
As well as leading his own band Alan is also a prominent Musical Director with a number of musical societies. Shows to his credit include Oklahoma, Grease, The Wizard of Oz, Scrooge: The Musical, Man of La Mancha, Oliver, Copacabana, Bugsy Malone, Calamity Jane, Camelot, Anything Goes, Crazy for You, Hairspray, Our House, as well as a number of Pantomimes.
Alan is also a conductor and instructor with North Yorkshire Music Services giving him the opportunity to pass on his knowledge as a woodwind specialist, and also his Big Band and Symphonic Wind Band experience gained over many years of playing and leading some great bands.
Regretfully, Alan will be leaving us after the concert on 6th May 2017. We would like to thank him for his hard work and commitment over the last year. We wish him all the very best for the future.
Clare Winter
Clare began learning the piano at the age of 5, the violin at the age of 7 and began playing the euphonium at the age of 11 - as it was the shiniest instrument she could see at the Norton Youth Brass Band Open Evening - much to her Mum and the Nissan Micra's delight! Throughout her secondary school years Clare played for the York Area School Orchestra and Concert Band and also played with the North Yorkshire County Band. At Durham University she sang in college and chamber choirs, as well as playing in and conducting the College Orchestra. In 2013 Clare held the position of Deputy MD of Bradford Metropolitan Concert Band, where she had the privilege of working under the expertise of Louise Lingard Snape (BA Hons FTCL LTCL). Clare previously held the position of Principal Euphonium with Northumbrian Water and Ellington Colliery Band. Due to work commitments Clare left us at the end of 2015.