MUSICAL LEADERSHIP TEAM

Musical Director
Iain McKnight
Iain grew up in Cornwall where he took his first steps into the world of brass banding, aged 11, as a cornet player at St Austell Band. A move to tuba soon followed.
A graduate of the University of Salford (BA (Hons) Music and MA Compositional Studies) and Manchester Metropolitan University (PGCE Secondary Music), Iain spent ten years as a player at Leyland Band before, after a short break, joining Foden’s Band in 2017.
In tandem with a highly rewarding playing career, Iain is a respected and in-demand composer, arranger and conductor. His music has been featured on live national television and radio as well as numerous commercial recordings. As a conductor, he has led bands of all levels and skills.
In September 2022, Iain relocated from the North West to the Midlands, to take up the post of Director of Ensembles and Projects at Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust.

Professional Conductor
Howard J Evans
Howard is a Mus.B (Hons) graduate from the University of Manchester. He also holds LRAM (Piano Teaching), LTCL (Horn Teaching), and the ARCM - Hons (Piano Performing) diplomas.
As a postgraduate pianist at the Royal Northern College of Music, he gained a Diploma in Performance Studies, where his piano studies were undertaken with the distinguished Russian pianist and international teacher, Sulamita Aronovsky.
He completed his Performance based MA (Dist) from Salford University, majoring in conducting. This was followed in July 2009 by his subsequent award of ‘Doctor of Musical Arts’ (DMA) from Salford University.

Conductor and Musical Advisor
Brad Turnbull
Brad was first recognised as an outstanding trombonist studying at the Royal Academy of Music under the tuition of renowned trombonist Dudley Bright and played both tenor and bass trombone with the International Staff Band of the Salvation Army.
Brad is now recognised as a leading brass band conductor and has had significant success with Northamptonshire Youth Brass Band, a position he has held for 16 years.

Life President
Dave Lea
Dave Lea's remarkable contribution to the success of the band is recognised with his appointment as Life President. After 30 years of service as the band's Musical Director,
Dave is retired from full-time banding but remains an integral part of the band acting as Musical Advisor.