Homepage engagements bookings training band training band gallery tbg2 tbg3 vacancies twinning awards contacts Band History  Gallery 1 gallery 1.1 st h gallery 1.2 st h gallery 1.3 trin gallery 1.4 trin gallery 1.5 opperatic 2 gallery2.2 gallery2.3 gallery 2.4 3 enlarged picture b h  overview brass band history band master 

band master

ABINGDON TOWN BANDS MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Steve Rich Musical Director – Abingdon Town BandSteve joined Abingdon Borough Band in 1965 at the age of 10, where he started to learn to play the Tenor Horn. Over the following years he progressed to the Baritone before finally becoming the Band’s Principal Euphonium player. In 1968 he became a member of the Oxford and District Youth Band and took part in its 50th anniversary celebration tour to Luxembourg and Schaffhausen in Switzerland in 1971.In 1983 Steve began to take up the baton on a part-time basis before finally taking over the full-time position of Musical Director of the Band. Steve has encouraged the Band to take a more active and prominent role on civic occasions, to forge strong relationships with Abingdon’s twin towns and encourage the establishment of a friendly and family based Band. During his time as Musical Director Steve has regularly updated and modernised the Band’s repertoire, believing that it should be entertaining for all and not just the Brass band fraternity. He has also been responsible for the Band’s tours to Schongau in Bavaria, Lucca in Italy, Argentan and Colmar in France and Luxembourg.The Abingdon Band has undertaken some notable engagements whilst Steve has held the baton namely taking part in the Lord Mayor’s Parade in London, and the celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of the Morris Minor in Litchfield. Also playing in the London Parks, Bournemouth Winter Gardens and playing for HRH The Princess Royal on her visit to Abingdon. The Band has also forged links with the Royal Logistic Corps at Dalton Barracks in Abingdon and plays at functions there and other military establishments across the south of England.Throughout his time as Musical Director Steve spent 25 years working for the Atomic Energy Authority at Harwell, then working at Abingdon and Witney College of Further Education before taking up his position as Project and Technical Manager for the Abingdon Town Council.Steve celebrated his 25th Year as Musical Director with a concert in St Helen’s Church, which had a packed audience for the occasion and to see him being presented with a picture and engraved tankard from his friends in the Band.

ABINGDON BAND

To see all content, you will need the current version of Adobe Flash Player to view it.