Russell Gray - Musical Director

Russell has been a professional soloist for the last 15 years, establishing himself as one of the worlds leading cornetists. He keeps a busy diary of engagements including gala performances, recitals, master classes, and educational workshops. This regularly takes him to most of the European countries as well as America, Japan and Australia. His other great passion of course is conducting, and in the last few years he has become one of the most successful brass band conductors on the circuit. He was awarded the title of "4barsrest conductor of the year" in 2002.

He was born near Glasgow in 1968 and an early interest in music saw him pick up his fathers trumpet by the age of 9. Within a few years he had won many national solo prizes,, including the under 17 solo championship of Great Britain by the time he was 12.

Russell moved to Yorkshire to study music and joined the ranks of Black Dykes cornet section where he stayed for two years. He left University with a distinction in performance and was soon on the look out for his first principal cornet seat. The Britannia Building Society band gave Russell his first break in 1990 but in 1991 he moved back to Leyland on principal cornet, leading them through a very successful period which culminated in them gaining the coveted No. 1 position in the BBW rankings.

Quickly establishing himself as a soloist of some distinction Russell's diary began filling up with solo concerts all over the World. In 1999 he and his wife Mareika went on a World tour for six months, performing over 100 engagements in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Canada and England.

Russell's conducting career started when he was appointed resident conductor of the Stavanger Band in Norway in 1998. He moved back to England in 2001 to take over as Principal Conductor of the Ransome Band. Along with many successful tours and concerts with Ransomes, the highlight was obtaining a 2nd place at the National Championships in 2000. In 2002 Fodens approached Russell to conduct them and within the first year the combination gained three 1st and two 2nd prizes in five contests.

The year 2005 was one of Russell's most productive, winning six out of eight competitions culminating with winning the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain with Leyland.

Since 2003 Russell has been freelancing as a conductor and player and this has continued to take him around the world. At home Russell teaches at Salford University and the RNCM and he is also a Yamaha endorsed artist.

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