New year, new MDs for Johnstone and Kilmarnock

Two bands are starting the new year with new musical directors. Johnstone Band has welcomed Joshua Parkhill and, at Kilmarnock Concert Brass, Rebecca Wilson has taken up the baton.

Originally from Ayrshire, Joshua began playing brass through the Salvation Army and their YP Band. He is a recent first-class graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and has collected numerous awards in his time there, including the Governor’s Recital Prize for Brass.

Joshua is the current musical director of Brass Sounds Inverclyde and is resident conductor at the Unison Kinneil Band.

When not playing or conducting he is passionate about widening access and participation to music through his work with Live Music Now Scotland and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Rebecca is a professional trumpet player hailing from Ayr who began playing the cornet in the Dalmellington junior band. She is now currently the principal cornet of the senior band.
A student at the Junior Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2013, she went on to study trumpet performance at the RCS where she gained both her Bachelor's and Master’s degrees.
During her studies she was involved in numerous projects and performances, including trips to the Victoria International Arts Festival in Malta with the RCS Brass 10-piece ensemble and performing as a soloist with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
She was also a winner of both the David James Prize for Brass and the Governor's Recital Prize for Brass.

Rebecca has gone on to work as a freelance trumpet player and is also a founding member of brass quintet Aura Brass who, in 2019, gained a place to compete in the inaugural Philip Jones International Brass Ensemble Competition.

Alongside her freelance career, she works as an instrumental instructor, continuing to develop her passion for youth development in music.