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Instrument:
Position:
Bass Trombone
Previous
Bands: Carlton Main Frickley Junior Band; Carlton Main Frickley Band;
Yorkshire Imperial Band; Horsham Borough Silver Band; Brighouse and
Rastrick Band; Black Dyke Band; Grimethorpe Colliery Band.
Profile:
After starting his banding “career”
early on Cornet, Horn and then Baritone, Mark had to stop brass playing,
under "doctor's orders", as blowing a brass instrument was affecting his
hearing. This was a massive blow for Mark as his whole family was involved
in Brass banding, so ironically he took up percussion and after being
“severely” taught by Brian Nichols, at the age of 15 joined the
Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band. Mark’s first championship section
contest was at Belle Vue in 1981, the last British Open to be held in the
magnificent Kings Hall in Manchester. Over the years, Mark moved through
many of Yorkshire’s top section bands including Yorkshire Imperial,
Brighouse & Rastrick (twice) and Black Dyke before settling down with
Grimethorpe Colliery Band in 1990. Over the following 14 years Mark
considers he has fulfilled all his ambitions in Brass Banding including
winning Area, National and European titles, Brass In Concert 4 years in a
row, playing on over 50 Vinyl / CD recordings, numerous radio and TV
appearances including being part of the interval act for the 1998
Eurovision Song Contest playing to an estimated 100 million worldwide
audience, doing many tours around most of Europe and the World including
Japan twice, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Australia 3 times playing in the
Sydney opera House, then finally performing in Carnegie Hall in New York.
Mark says the highlight
of his banding career "Up North" was being part of the Grimley Colliery Band
in the film Brassed Off!
After marrying Cornish
Lass Emma, Bugle Band’s Principal Cornet, Mark moved for a more relaxed life in
Cornwall joining Bugle Silver Band in 2005, first moving back to his original
instrument of sooooo many years ago, the Baritone then after the
birth of his son, Joshua, Mark has moved onto "3rd" Euphonium so
he can spend more time with him.
Mark says: "So many people have
said to me that it must be a real come down playing for Bugle. First I
find these kind of comments insulting as I find it a bigger challenge and
more satisfying achievement playing the Baass Trombone; Second, winning contests
with Bugle means so much more to the band than any I have been part of
previously".
Mark
now plays Euphonium in the Brass Group “Brass Worx” which is mostly
made up from family members all of whom actually also play in Bugle Silver
Band. The Brass Worx web site is www.brassworx.co.uk
Memorable
banding moment:
Too numerous to mention, but winning Nationals in 1992 with Grimethorpe on
the back of the pit closures - such an emotional time.
Playing at the
Eurovision Song Contest,
performing in Carnegie Hall in New York and being in the film Brassed
Off!
Why
Mark likes playing in Bugle Silver Band:
Mark says:
"It's a challenge for myself learning a new instrument but I enjoy it
mainly because I'm around such enthusiastic musicians giving it all but also having fun as
well".
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