The band is pleased to announce that Robert Collinson has agreed to become the bands Associate Arranger.

Robert was born in 1963 in County Durham. He was a cornetist and played with a number of bands in the North East of England before turning to conducting in his late teens. He began composing at an early age and produced his first commercially successful score for brass quintet at age 14. Three years later, he composed a work which was performed by the Northern Sinfonia Wind Ensemble in their 1982 series of concerts.

He gained a place at the University of Hull to study music (1983-6) and worked extensively with the Reader in Composition, Anthony Hedges. Rob’s special areas of interest were composition and orchestration. Whilst at University he had the opportunity to write for a range of musical forces including The Allegri String Quartet, and the University Chamber Choir. He composed the music for his own graduation.

He was also involved in the production of recordings at University including the finalists’ performances and and performances by visiting artistes. He has a particular interest in Radio After leaving University, he taught privately and as a peripatetic instructor, worked as a music copyist and produced compositions and arrangements for a variety of ensembles.

As a performer, he played for a number of brass ensembles, big bands and as trumpet player for musical shows. In 1990 he gained a PGCE and moved to Yorkshire to take up a post in a high school in Leeds as a music teacher.

In 1997 he returned to his Brass Band roots by becoming conductor of the Clifton and Lightcliffe Band based near Brighouse, Yorkshire for eight years.

His musical work is not confined to the world of Brass Bands. He has composed synthesised music for a series of therapeutic tapes and produced educational materials for beginner instrumentalists. His current projects include the completion of his Cornet Concerto and a large-scale work for Choir and Brass Band.His work has received performances by some of the biggest names in Brass Banding including

Grimethorpe, Brighouse and Rastrick, the Ransome Band the Leyland Band and now Carlton Main for whom he is associate arranger.

After 14 years as a music teacher he now runs a company with his partner Kristina that services the music publishing industry. This company, Broadnib Music, now publishes much of Rob’s musical output.

The band have already introduced audiences to Rob’s works, so look out for new pieces being included in our concerts soon!