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Adrian started playing the cornet in the Barry Town Band and went on to play for Parc and Dare, Cory, Sun Life Stanshawe and GUS bands. He is a founder member of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales, of which he became principal cornet in 1985 and was awarded the tutors prize in 1986.
He was principal cornet with Parc and Dare for ten years and played in that position at most major contests in the brass band world. He also played on the end for GUS under Keith Wilkinson at the British Open and National Championships.
Whilst still in school, Adrian won a part time scholarship to study trumpet with Robert Ferryman at the Welsh College of Music and Drama for two years, the college that he later went on to attend full time. He studied trumpet with Terry Lax and conducting with Nigel Seaman and Adrian Shephard. Whilst at college , he won a number of music prizes including the ‘first year music award’, the ‘20th century brass prize’ (3 years) , ‘brass subject prize’ (2 years) and the ‘Versuvio award’ (3 years).
As a brass band conductor, Adrian has worked with a number of bands including Parc and Dare, Tredegar, Tongwynlais and currently conducts Markham band in the Championship section. He conducted the Gwent Youth brass band for a period of 7 years and during that time won the National and European youth band championships, and gained 2 outstanding awards at the National Festival of Music for Youth.
As a trumpet player Adrian has worked with many different orchestras and groups. Everything from playing the ‘Trumpet Shall Sound’, from the Messiah with Bryn Terfel to backing Rolf Harris in a pit orchestra. In 1996, he played with Elvis Presley's original backing band and singers, the Jordonaires, on a tour of the UK. He also has an interest in jazz and big bands, playing with the Dave Barry Big Band on lead trumpet. He is a member of the Welsh Symphonic Brass Ensemble and works regularly with a number of big bands in South Wales.
Since 1994 Adrian has been a full time brass tutor with the Greater Gwent Music Support Service - teaching, tutoring on courses and giving a number of school concerts through the year.
Adrian is delighted to be a member of Norfolk Brass.
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