Werneth Concert Band

Committee

All administration and decision making is by our committee. Please feel free to speak to any committee member with your queries or comments. Meeting minutes are available in the Members Area. You can contact the committee here.

The commmittee members are:

• Allan Jones (Musical Director)
• Shelagh Humphries (Chair)
• Terry Mitchell (Treasurer)
• Christine Murphy (Secretary)
• Melanie Oliver (Assistant Secretary)
• Andrew Dyson (Webmaster)
• John Glynn
• Nicola Renshaw
• Doug Hawes

Musical Director - Allan Jones

I founded the Werneth Concert Band in 1983 and have been its Musical Director ever since.

I have spent the whole of my professional life in music education, moving from a high school teaching post in Cheshire to Manchester City Council Education Department’s Music Service as Senior Brass Teacher in 1971. I was, subsequently, appointed Head of Manchester Music Service and Music Adviser for Manchester from 1990 to 2007. As part of my work in Manchester I directed many groups including symphony orchestras, wind and brass bands and choirs, and performed in many of the country’s major concert halls. I also undertook many concert tours throughout Europe and, further afield, to America, Canada, South Africa and Australia.

Over the years I have worked closely with most of the area’s leading music organisations including the Royal Northern College of Music, Chetham’s School of Music (governor), Halle Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and Manchester Camerata as well as advising the regional and national arts’ boards.

For a number of years I served on the national executive of the Federation of Music Services and the British Association of Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles.

I am very proud of the successes and achievements of the Werneth Concert Band which is, truly, a community band, serving the needs of amateur musicians and audiences in and around the Stockport area - long may it continue to do so.

Chair - Shelagh Humphries

I joined the Band in 1985 -playing 2nd clarinet after hearing about it from Roger Pearce, who taught music at my old college. I moved to first clarinet in 1997.

I have been a member of the committee for several years and have played an active part, getting involved in particular in designing the 25th Anniversary calendar and 2010 tour brochure. I was also part of the team that organised the tour.

I am delighted to have been asked to become the Chairman of such a thriving and professional concert band. I hope to continue to promote and support the Band in the way that my predecessors John Glynn and Nick Bradley did during their periods of office.

Treasurer - Terry Mitchell

Hi, my name is Terry Mitchell and I play the part of the evil treasurer of Werneth Concert Band, and 3rd clarinet.

I joined the band in 1993 after being cajoled by a member of the trumpet section whose daughter was involved with Stockport Schools Wind Band. My daughter Su (Ancliffe) played with SSWB and I was the administrator.

I have been a committee member of WCB for several years and treasurer since 2009. I believe the band is a true community band that supports its’ members through adversity. My recent fight with colon cancer was a case in point.

The band is a registered charity run by committee and is mostly self financing.

If you have any queries please email me or speak to me at rehearsals.

Secretary - Christine Murphy

My interest in music started with piano lessons aged 8. At secondary school I was given brass lessons once a week. I hired a Bass Trombone and attended lessons for six years, playing in numerous bands and orchestras. I actually played various brass instruments throughout my school years but preferred the trombone, even though it was like carrying a coffin around with me everywhere I went!

I joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 1977 and was one of only two female members of the RUC Wind Band. I gave up playing music when I moved to Manchester, until my young family showed an interest in music. I took up playing the trombone again with the children and joined WCB in 1998. My son Anthony was a member of the band while he lived at home. I volunteered as a committee member in 2007 and became secretary in 2008.

I have retired as a police officer, but more recently returned to work as a Management Information Officer.

Assistant Secretary - Melanie Oliver

I joined Werneth Concert Band in 2002.

I had learned the piano and clarinet in my childhood, and although I never played in any type of band, I played both instruments in my local church for many years. At the age of 30, I decided to learn another instrument – the Alto Saxophone – and soon decided that I would like to push myself further by seeing if I could ‘hack it’ in a Concert/Wind Band. Luckily, WCB took me on, and allowed me to find my feet in this new (to me) and disciplined, form of playing.

I was made to feel welcome immediately, and very quickly settled in, and now you will find me playing in the Concert Band, and also the recently formed Swing Band. In 2008, I joined the Committee, and I have continued to enjoy every minute of being part of this excellent community band.

Webmaster - Andrew Dyson

My first introduction to music came by banging the keys of an aunt's piano aged somewhat less than 2. I enjoyed it, although I suspect the rest of the family might beg to differ. I later learned the piano in a more conventional manner and then at secondary school took up the clarinet, bass clarinet (still a favourite instrument) and eventually tenor sax. I played in several wind bands and smaller groups and got real enjoyment from playing in an ensemble, with all that it brings musically and socially.

After flirting licentiously with rock music at university (while sporting a cheap plastic keyboard which impersonated a Hammond organ but fooled no-one) I started working in Stockport and joined WCB. I remembered vaguely how to blow down a clarinet and went from there, later moving onto tenor sax and also joining the swing band.

In 2008, having been outed as the band's resident nerd I took on the role of website manager and somehow found my way onto the committee.

In my non-WCB life I'm a systems analyst and web developer, amateur footballer and composer of dubious piano music.

John Glynn

I joined the band in 1994, the year I retired from headship. I had learnt the euphonium one step ahead of the children. It shows! But I am proud of my position as 10th euphonium.

To avoid being removed from the band I have made myself useful by being chairman for nine years, organising many trips abroad, getting sponsorship, offering my home for the annual bbq and storage of the band’s archive.

Last Christmas I bought a brand new valve trombone (£85 from India) and am now a treasured relic in the Swing Band.

My wife, Joyce, and I are privileged to be accorded life membership.

Nicola Renshaw

Doug Hawes