I have dedicated much of my time to furthering the aspirations of the wind, brass and choral communities. Through various BBC series, like the BBC Festival of Brass, which I began in 1990, I have attempted to raise the profile of the leading brass bands in the wider musical consciousness.

Having worked with many brass bands in BBC studios, I was invited to become the professional Musical Director of the famous Besses o'th' Barn Band. This appointment re-kindled alove for the medium and initiated a deepening involvement in the amateur musical communities in the UK.  For three years (1990-1993), I directed the band in a range of broadcasts for BBC Radio 2 and 3, in regular concerts (including major festival Festival appearances at Lichfield, Chester, Newbury and Harrogate), and contests (including the Open and National Championships ).

Through the BBC and my own trust, The Brass Band Heritage Trust (BBHT est.1995), I have commissioned over thirty works for the medium, including a number which have become well established as contest pieces, as well as works for youth and community bands to play in concert and contest.

I established the BBHT to “preserve the past, promote the present and foster the future” of the band movement. To that end I was closely involved with the Boosey & Hawkes National Youth Brass Band Championships, mounting masterclasses and workshops for two years and running the championships for four (1999-2002). I now find myself conducting and arranging/editing music for brass bands.

In 2005 I was awarded the Iles Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians for services to the brass band movement.

WRITING AND RESEARCH

My writing and research has been centred on British and brass music of the 20th Century. This is reflected in my portfolio of writings, editions and arrangements.

1.Publications

A Companion to Scottish Culture (ed. David Daiches), a series of entries on Scottish composers.                                                           Edward Arnold, 1981
Frank Bridge - A Centenary Survey               Music Teacher, July and August 1979
Frank Bridge – A Thematic Catalogue (with full commentaries)
                                                                    Faber, 1983; rev.edn. in unpublished
Frank Bridge - Seeds of discontent                     The Musical Times, January 1991
Frank Bridge New Dictionary of National Biography,                                      OUP
Building a Repertoire: The Brass Band Music of the 20th Century, BANDS, ed. Trevor Herbert),                                                       Oxford University Press, 2000 Wilfred Heaton – an Appreciation                              British Bandsman, May 2000
Wilfred Heaton New Dictionary of National Biography,                                    OUP
Wilfred Heaton – biography in progress

Frank Bridge work list for the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
Philip Wilby short article for the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
Hymns and memories – The brass band music of Elgar Howarth 
                                                                        Manchester Sounds, vol.2 (2001)Eric Ball – A Centenary Appreciation British Bandsman, February and July 2003
CD Notes on English music and Brass band subjects for Chandos, ASV, Conifer,Doyen Recordings, S.P & S recordings including three substantial articles on Wilfred Heaton

2. Editing and Arranging

Frank Bridge: 16 Editions and arrangements of previously unpublished music,
All published by Thames / Elkin
Frank Bridge 
       Oration (Cello Concerto) 
       Isabella ( Symphonic Poem)
       Mid of the Night (Symphonic Poem)
       Five Entr’actes (The Two Hunchbacks)    All Faber Music
       The Pageant of London (Suite for Concert Band) arranged and edited. (currently withdrawn for revision)
                                                                  

       Four pieces for string orchestra arranged and edited   Thames / Elkin

Benjamin Britten Arrangements and adaptations of unpublished works
       Johnson Over Jordan Suite for orchestra from the incidental music to J.B.Priestley's play (1939)                           Faber Music
       King Arthur Suite from the music to the radio play by D.G.Bridson
                                                                  OUP(1937)

Walton Transcriptions for brass band
A Wartime Sketchbook Five extracts from wartime film scores                OUP
Music for Children Eight of the ten Duets for Children                              OUP
Galop-Finale (Music for Children)                                                           OUP

Delius: Two Aquarelles for unaccompanied chorus, arr. brass band
Bliss: Greetings to a City for symphonic brass ensemble, arr. brass band
Rawsthorne: Suite for brass band (new scoring commissioned by Novello)
Richard Rodney Bennett: Flowers of the forest for brass band (new edition for Novello)
Variations on a theme of Michael Tippett for brass band (concept and scoring)
Wilfred Heaton: Performing editions, realisations, editions of his unpublished work ( in progress)