Amid the British Open disappointment was the deserving presentation of the Mortimer Medal to John Boax

While yesterday didn’t go quite as planned or desired for supporters of the two Scottish bands taking part in the British Open, the occasion was indeed a memorable one for Scottish Brass Band Association education officer John Boax as he was presented with the 2023 Mortimer Medal by the Worshipful Company of Musicians in recognition of exceptional work with young people over a period of more than 40 years.

Educated in Kilmarnock, attending the James Hamilton Academy, John played cornet under the tuition of Andrew Keachie MBE. He held the position of principal cornet in the school band and later became a founder member of Kilmarnock Concert Brass.

In 1978 he became a peripatetic brass instructor for the Ayr division of Strathclyde, based at the Carrick Academy in Maybole. Two years later he founded the Carrick Youth Brass Band, with whom he had many fine contest results, including two Scottish Championship wins and in 1991 European Youth Champions.

It was in 1985 that John began a 38-year association with the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland (NYBBS) working alongside Nigel Boddice MBE, Geoffrey Brand, Richard Evans, Russell Gray and Ian Porthouse.

His first appointment was as tutor with the training band then with NYBBS Reserves with whom he currently holds the position of musical director. He is very proud of his work within the NYBBS organisation, where he continues to encourage, inspire, and shape the musical journeys of young brass and percussion players.

John has organised many successful school and international tours for young bands, including trips to France, Italy, Germany and Spain. In 2016, with the support of NYBBS MD Russell Gray, John led a very successful tour of Norway and has toured with NYBBS to Bavaria.

He was extremely honoured to be able to conduct NYBBS at the EBBC Youth Championships in 2022, proudly flying the flag for Scotland at this prestigious event. In fact, he thrives when given any opportunity to promote the NYBBS when and wherever possible.

John has undertaken a vast array of work to educate and develop senior band players, having worked with bands from Fourth to Championship Section across Scotland, both as a player and conductor.

In his role as a conductor John has worked with leading figures in the brass band world, including Major Peter Parkes, Roy Newsome, Phillip McCann, the Childs brothers, Paul Lovatt-Cooper and John Doyle.

He is still actively promoting youth brass in Scotland, employed as a peripatetic instructor with North Ayrshire Council and musical director of Irvine & Dreghorn’s youth brass pathway programme where he maintains his commitment to the young brass players of the future. 

The Symphony Hall in Birmingham provided the perfect backdrop to John’s presentation of the Mortimer Medal.

He is pictured with proud wife Carrie, SBBA president, and daughter Charlie, who played solo baritone on stage with Whitburn Band.

“There is nothing better in life, in our opinion, than having the privilege of being part of a wonderful brass band family,” beamed Carrie. ”When it’s magic it is just the best!”

The full results of yesterday’s British Open were:

Test Piece: Sand and Stars (Thierry Deleruyelle)
Adjudicators: Dr Robert Childs, Dr Stephen Cobb, Stephen Roberts

1. Foden's (Russell Gray)
2. Valaisia Brass (Arsene Duc)
3. Tredegar (Ian Porthouse)
4. Grimethorpe Colliery (Michael Bach)
5. Black Dyke (Prof Nicholas J Childs)
6. Cory (Philip Harper)
7. Brighouse & Rastrick (Prof David King)
8. Flowers (Paul Holland)
9. Hammonds (Morgan Griffiths)
10. WFEL Fairey (Philip Chalk)
11. Whitburn (Luc Vertommen)
12. Aldbourne (Ivan Meylemans)
13. Desford Colliery (Allan Withington)
14. the cooperation band (David Morton)
15. Hepworth (Ryan Watkins)
16. Rothwell Temperance (David Roberts)
17. Leyland (Thomas Wyss)
18. Northop Silver (Gareth Brindle)