The Band

Musical Director: Michael Brook

Our MD Michael Brook started his musical career at the age of seven playing cornet in the junior section of the then Championship section, Markham Main Colliery Band.

He joined the main band at age 12 under the professional baton of Walter Hargreaves staying until he was 15, when he joined the Royal Artillery Band as a Junior Musician. The next three years saw him develop his musical skills, learning to play the viola in preparation for joining the main Royal Artillery Band and Orchestra whilst still improving his cornet playing. The orchestra and band were 110 strong, making for a big sound.

After three years on ‘boys service' he attended a course at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, where he was taught by the legendary cornet player and professor Jack McIntosh. However the viola was already his preferred instrument and he received the prize for the instrument at the end of the course.

Going back to his band he soon became Principal viola and over the years played in many famous venues, the Albert Hall, Festival Hall, Buckingham Palace, to name some, and every type of musical ensemble from quartet to full symphony Orchestra, from playing Post Horn to full Military Tattoo.

Being accepted, when auditioning for the new Opera North Orchestra, he found himself eligible for the first wave of redundancy from the forces so couldn't accept the post but later joined the BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra. This again broadened Michael's repertoire as this post involved a lot of Radio 2 and television work, but as the studio in Glasgow was shared with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, it meant he was able to ‘dep' with them where he played under conductors such as Simon Rattle. The BBC axed most of their Light Orchestras in the 80’s causing a break in his musical career.

Coming back into brass banding he managed to resurrect his old band, from teetering on the edge of collapse, to a full band, and then took over as Hathersage MD in June 2022. In the time since, Hathersage has grown as a fully functioning brass band with a comprehensive calendar of engagements for the year. Having had a varied musical career has helped him to introduce a broader spectrum of music played by the band, which, coupled with enjoying the making of music, is why the band has grown so much.

Michael added a personal note:- "The last two years have been some of the funniest, enjoyable and musically rewarding times I have had. What a great group of people and friends. Thank you, Hathersage Brass Band."

Our Players

Principal Cornet	Andy Abele
Front Row Cornet	Ed Throp Amy Kitching Alex Forrest James Gowers
Soprano Cornet	Trudi Brook
Repiano Cornet	Emily Faulds
Back Row Cornet	Jon Howard Jenny Dibden CB Max Sloan Cath Batley --VACANCY--
Flugel Horn	Hannah Bunting Philip Perry
Solo Horn	Bethany-Ann Sargeant Sue Silver
First Horn	Sam McAuley Andrea Darlington
Second Horn	Tony Bryant Mary Simmonite
Baritone	Angela Booth Diane Bell
Euphonium	Anne McGolrick Stephen Burnage
Solo Trombone	Ken Mackay
Second Trombone	Dewi Bromage
Bass Trombone	Barney Merriman
EEb Bass	Hazel Allbones Claire Wasden Dulcie Jones
BBb Bass	Bob McEwan Brendan Sloan
Percussion	Andy Oldfield

If you would like to make a Donation to Hathersage Band, please click this link.