Eccles Borough Band Appoint Associate Musical Director

Eccles Borough Band is pleased to announce the recent appointment of David Hamilton to the position of Associate Musical Director. This appointment comes during the band’s preparation for the North West Area Brass Band Association regional qualifying competition in Blackpool on 1st March.

David originally hails from South West Scotland where he attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and also studied conducting under Ray Farr at Durham University. He spent a successful period as resident conductor of West of England Championship band Camborne Town Band and has recently been seen on stage with some of the countries finest brass bands and orchestras. In 2005 David won the prestigious National Association of Brass Band Conductors competition and is now studying performance at the Royal Northern College of Music with some of the leading musicians in the brass band world.

“I’m delighted to be working alongside Mareika at Eccles,” said David, when asked about the appointment. “The band has some outstanding players and has a great attitude towards improvement. I’m really looking forward to helping shape the band for the future.”

David’s appointment follows momentous success for the band at the Butlin’s Mineworkers Festival Of Brass competition earlier this year; where the band took first place in their division.

“I am very pleased that Dave has accepted the associate job at Eccles,” Musical Director, Mareika Gray. “He brings an extra dynamic to the band with his expertise and musicianship. He is a loyal bandsman and has the best interests of Eccles at heart.”

David will continue to play principal tuba within Eccles Borough Band at their concert and competition appearances, but he will now take the step out in front of the band to coach and conduct on regular occasions, especially during the band’s busy spring and summer programme of events.