Under the spotlight: Oldham Band (Lees)

THE next band spending some time under the spotlight is Oldham Band (Lees). Hailing from Greater Manchester, the band will be making the trip north ahead of the Scottish Open on November 28. 

Here is some information about the band, as told by its members...

Soprano cornet: Ian Twiss

Principal cornet: Grant Taylor

Flugel: Toni Heywood

Solo horn: Chris Sanders

Solo baritone: Catherine Cordwell

Solo euphonium: Harrison Healey

Solo Eb bass: Josh Flynn

Solo Bb bass: Will Jordan

Principal percussion: Alex Temple-Heald

Even though the Oldham Band (Lees) is a relatively young band, its history can be traced back to 1873 when the Glodwick Band was formed. In 1955 the band became the Lees and Glodwick Band and later amalgamated with the Cobden Chadwick Band.

The band reformed as Oldham Brass '97 and when the band was reduced to a dedicated group of just eight players, it was agreed that John Collins would take over the helm as Musical Director and bring with him several young players from Bare Trees Community Band. After months of planning and preparation, the band had its first rehearsal in August 2004 at the Royal British Legion in Lees. The Oldham Band (Lees) was born.

The band is now thriving and is busy performing in concerts and contests nationwide. The band enjoyed a lot of success in the lower sections, including five consecutive area championship wins and four Pontins'titles. In 2011, the band achieved yet more landmarks in its history by winning two consecutive championship section contests, at Tameside and Fleetwood. We are very proud of our contest history which has seen the band win over half the contests it has entered, a statistic we don't think any other band can boast.

As Oldham Band (Lees) continues to flourish, another venture begins with the formation of Lees Band, This band provides players of all ages with the opportunity to gain experience of playing in a band under the direction of John Collins. More details can be found on its website.

The conductor

John Collins' conducting career started at Bare Trees Junior School in 1998 where he was working as a class teacher. The band he created grew and grew until they achieved their ultimate success by winning the Outstanding Performance Award at the Music for Youth National Festival in 2004. Consequently the band appeared at the Schools Proms that year at the Royal Albert Hall. Whilst doing this John was also playing principal euphonium for the Todmorden Old Band, before moving to Dobcross Silver Band.

In 2004 John teamed up with Andy Robinson at Oldham Brass '97 to reform the band under the name the Oldham Band (Lees). John brought many of his young players with him from the Bare Trees Community Band, some of whom are still members to this day (and now considered the senior members despite only being in their early 20s!). The new band started in August 2004 with the Blackpool areas in their sights, which, after testing the new band out at the Preston contest (and winning), won the area as well.

John is committed to finding and nurturing young talented brass players to be the Oldham Band (Lees) players of the future. In 2011 he started Lees Band, a junior band which aimed to give young players the opportunity to rehearse and compete on the brass band circuit.