Meet the NCBF Adjudicators who listen and offer feedback to the participating wind and big bands that perform at our regional and national festivals across the UK!

Gerard Booth is Head of the Oldham Music Service and Director of Music for Oldham. He studied at the RNCM with Stuart Roebuck, Andy Duncan and Brian Kingsley. Gerard’s performing experience includes performing with the Halle, BBC Philharmonic and East of England Orchestras. He still regularly plays with the Mowbray, St Cecilia and Stockport Symphony Orchestras as well as the City of Leeds Sinfonia and freelancers with other various ensembles.

Gerard has appeared with and been a member of many of the country's top brass bands, including Grimethorpe, Brighouse and Rastrick, Leyland and Foden's bands amongst others. He was a member of the world famous 'James Shepherd Versatile Brass' group for over ten years and still enjoys performing occasionally with various chamber ensembles. He has acquired a breadth of experience both as an educator and performing musician and continues to work on a daily basis with young people.

As the Head of the Oldham Music Service for over a decade, he is responsible for overseeing around 40 different ensembles which rehearse on a weekly basis at the Music Centre and in community locations serving almost 1,000 people. In addition to this Music Service staff deliver high quality musical opportunities to over 10,000 young people in Oldham schools every week during term time. As the musical director of various young people's ensembles, Gerard has conducted at all of the country's major venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Symphony Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Royal Festival Hall and many others. His work as one of the directors of the Greater Manchester Music Hub also sees him working regularly with the North West's principle music educators including the RNCM, Chetham's School, Salford University and many others.

Gerard has also been the NW advisor to the foremost, national music education body, Music Mark, a position that he held from 2020 until 2023.

Heather Nicoll is a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS), and was appointed Head of Woodwind in 2007. In a diverse performing career as a clarinettist, she has given concerts and recorded with many of Britain’s leading orchestras, and held a principal position with Scottish Ballet for several years. Heather has appeared as concerto soloist on many occasions, making her professional debut with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO), and has featured regularly with a diverse range of professional contemporary and chamber music ensembles. She has played on numerous soundtracks for films, working with composers including John Williams (Harry Potter: The Philosopher’s Stone), James Horner (Enemy At The Gates), Craig Armstrong (Moulin Rouge), Elmer Bernstein and Jerry Goldsmith, and recorded with a diverse range of artists such as Bryn Terfel and Joni Mitchell. In 2002, Heather gained an MA in Psychology for Musicians (University of Sheffield). More recently, she completed a PGDip in Performance Psychology at the University of Edinburgh, exploring the psychology of peak performance in a range of fields including music and sport. In addition, Heather is a qualified Mindfulness Now teacher, certified by the UK College of Mindfulness Meditation. Heather has adjudicated extensively at regional, national and international festivals and competitions, such as the Yamaha Foundation Awards, BBC Young Musician, National Concert Band Festival & the Norwegian Wind Orchestras Championship in Trondheim. She has also examined, and given masterclasses and workshops at leading Conservatoires in Britain and Europe

Andy Rogers is a music leader, conductor, teacher and composer based in Buckinghamshire. Since 2019, Andy has been a Director at Musica Europa – the specialist tour operator delivering performance opportunities for bands and choirs in Europe and around the world.

Andy grew up in High Wycombe, where he studied tuba and piano. His love of composition led to commissions for bands, orchestras and choirs with notable performances including the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican and by massed youth ensembles at the Royal Albert Hall on several occasions.

Andy conducted the High Wycombe Music Centre Concert Band for more than 20 years, before taking up a role as Principal of Chiltern Music Academy, where he led their Concert Band to successes at the National Concert Band Festival as well as international performances in Austria, Germany, Italy and France.

Barrie Johnson was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, gaining early musical experiences through Salvation Army brass bands and choirs, his playing career included being principal euphonium with bands in Newcastle & Kettering. He has also featured on tenor horn, tuba and trombone with bands in London, Kettering and Birmingham, including City of London Brass. During this time he also took part in performance tours to Norway and Canada, featured on radio and LP recordings and performed in many major concert venues throughout the UK. Barrie has been conducting school, youth and community groups in all musical genres for many years. As a school music teacher, he has taught in primary, middle and secondary schools, heading up very successful music and expressive arts departments for over 35 years, retiring as Director of Music at Northampton School for Boys in 2015 after 14 years in post. Directing groups, including Wind Bands and Big Bands, from 3 different schools to regular top award-winning performances at the National Concert Band Festival and the National Festival of Music for Youth, programming challenging music, was key to raising standards and student aspiration. It also allowed him to direct performances in some of the country’s top performance venues including Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Royal Albert Hall and Royal Festival Hall, London, and The Sage, Gateshead. At NSB, he formed two community bands - Cripps Hall Jazz Orchestra and East Midlands Wind Orchestra - as exemplars to further raise aspirations in the school’s top groups. Regular successful performance jazz tours for his Big Band and Jazz Vocal Group, to New York, Los Angeles and Florida were also organised to further raise standards by partnering with high performance American school groups and receiving coaching from such international stars as Gordon Goodwin, Eric Marienthal, Wayne Bergeron, Jeff Jarvis, Chuck Owen and Tom Brantley. As well as school groups he has also conducted many area and county youth bands (both brass and wind), community bands and choirs, and has conducted groups, and acted as Musical Director, on a variety of residential holiday music courses. He has also been involved with IAJE (International Association for Jazz Education), adjudicated regularly at various music festivals and, together with Keith Allen, is responsible for keeping NCBF Repertoire lists and the Criteria Sheet up-todate and relevant. Since retiring from full-time teaching he has continued to teach A-level, act as a freelance Music Education consultant, adjudicate, guest conduct, lead workshops/holiday courses and compose and arrange for Wind Band and Big Band.

Saxophonist-composer Andy Scott initiates creative projects and collaborations, writing to commission and performing worldwide. Embracing elements of jazz, funk, latin and classical music, notation and improvisation, Andy has created an individual musical voice. Andy is a multi-nominated and British Composer Award winner, a founder member of the Apollo Saxophone Quartet (est.1985), Tutor of Saxophone & Visiting Tutor of Composition at the Royal Northern College of Music, equally at home free improvising with Duo partner percussionist Dave Hassell, to leading and writing for his Group S and performing and arranging for the Super Big Tramp Band/John Helliwell. Dedicated to composing, performing, commissioning and recording new music Andy has recorded with Decca (Argo), Naxos, Basho, Chandos & NMC record labels, with works being premiered at Carnegie Hall NYC, the Southbank Centre, Royal Albert Hall & Wigmore Hall, with an enviable catalogue of works that are published by Astute Music. Andy is an endorsee of Selmer Paris Saxophones & Vandoren Paris.

A graduate of the National Youth Orchestra, the Royal Academy of Music, London and Birmingham University, Simon Hogg became a founder member of The Fine Arts Brass Ensemble in 1980. During this time the ensemble performed two thousand concerts, visited over sixty countries throughout the world, recorded 150 BBC radio/TV broadcasts and made 25 commercial recordings. Fine Arts Brass Ensemble commissioned seventy original works by leading British composers and performed at most major British and European music festivals.

In 1994 Simon founded Warwick Music, a specialist music publisher, commencing with an unknown work for Trombone & Organ (1894) by Gustav Holst which he discovered in the British Museum. It was Simon’s original concept that led to the Warwick Music’s manufacture of the world’s first plastic trombone the pBone.

In 1996 Simon was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM), only awarded to alumni who have distinguished themselves in the music profession.

Simon has performed, lectured and examined at conservatoires around the world. He taught at the Royal College of Music, Junior Department for ten years and adjudicated the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition. He has been a Senior External Examiner at: the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Chetham's School of Music. In 2014 he was honoured with an award from the British Trombone Association and nominated for the Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Award.

Simon has performed with orchestras throughout the world including: The City of Birmingham Orchestra (with Simon Rattle), The English Symphony Orchestra and The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.

He was Director of Music at Warwick School, leading a staff of sixty music teachers and organising 750 music lessons every week. He is currently visiting professor at the Benedetto Marcello Conservatoire in Venice. When time permits he enjoys: reading, golf and all things Italian.

I began my musical life studying flute with Stanley Gleave (BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra) in 1972 before gaining a place at Dartington Hall to study flute and composition. Whilst here I developed a keen interest in electronic and experimental music making. Returning to Wales in 1978 I took up a position as an instrumental woodwind tutor and freelance musician. Studying the saxophone led to more diverse playing work. I joined the Welsh Jazz Orchestra during the mid 1980’s performing with many international and UK based jazz musicians including Lew Tabakin (Flute/Saxophone), Bobby Shew (Trumpet/Flugal), Pete King (Alto Saxophone) and many others.Freelance work led to tours abroad (United Arab Emirates, Europe and the UK). Other work included television and recording contracts for the BBC, S4C and independent film producers. My own recording facility was created during the late 1980’s and led to composition commissions for BBC 2, S4C and Sky Networks.

My work at Gwent Music Support Service gave me many opportunities to develop my directing skills. In recent years this has produced more than 35 National Awards (National Concert Band Festival and National Festival of Music for Youth) for a diverse range of ensembles as well as significant successes in the field of Orchestral Wind Orchestras and Contemporary Jazz Ensembles. In both of these areas I’ve been responsible for commissioning and premiering major works by leading composers (including Tim Garland, Stan Sulzmann, Nikki Illes) as well as working alongside leading exponents in their fields (Gerard McChrystal, Hugh McDowell, Dave O’Higgins, Alan Barnes, Jim Mullen, Percy Pursglove and others).

International tours have included New Zealand, Australia, California, Germany, France and Italy.

During the early 2000’s I was invited to become an A Level examiner for EdExcel (Music Technology) prior to this my work at Gwent Music Support Service led me to become the Head of Woodwind Team and later to become Senior Assistant Head of Service and eventually Deputy Head of Service. Recently my work here allowed me to establish an elite team of Senior Instrumental Tutors to form the S.O.T.A.L team (Standards of Teaching and Learning). This team was responsible for quality assurance across all disciplines as well as providing support and mentoring to all instrumental and vocal tutors. Additional work has given me the opportunity to provide Workshops and INSET training both locally (Wales) and further afield. I chaired the steering panel for National Youth Jazz Wales at Ty Cerdd.

During COVID I wrote and co produced a Prog Rock album with producer Danny Chang for the prog band ‘The Kentish Spires’ I currently run my own band ‘Octopia’ playing a mixture of Jazz, Latin and fusion music.

Ian Johnson was born in Bushbury, Wolverhampton. His musical journey began as a chorister in his local parish church choir and learning the piano. He attended St. Peters Collegiate School where he took up the Baritone before progressing onto the Euphonium. He performed in both the schools and towns Wind Band and also with Wolverhampton Brass Band. The highlight of his fledgling career culminated in a joint venture, organising, arranging and conducting in the school’s annual concert. It was during this experience that Ian caught the conducting bug, which served as the perfect grounding for his future career as a military musician.

Ian joined the Army in 1986 and enlisted into The Band of The Royal Hampshire Regiment. He was able to develop his musical skills further, performing in the wind band on Euphonium, piano in the Jazz Quartet and vocals in the ‘Dance Band’. Service with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and The Royal Logistic Corps bands followed as did a ‘graduation’ from brass to woodwind as he took up the Bassoon vacancy on upon joining the RAOC in 1990.

In 1998 Ian volunteered to attend selection for the coveted Student Bandmaster Course at Kneller Hall, The Royal Military School of Music. His successful application resulted in his attendance on the 3yr Bandmaster Course, culminating in the attainment of his honours degree and accelerated promotion. His first Bandmaster appointment followed with an assignment to The Waterloo Band of the Kings Division and, shortly thereafter a commission and promotion to Captain followed. He was duly appointed Director of Music (DoM) to The Clive Band of the Prince of Wales’s Division, in
Shropshire. Subsequent assignments, as DoM with various bands ensued, culminating with promotion to Major in 2013, and appointment as Director of Music to the iconic Band of The Scots Guards in 2017, thirty years after his initial enlistment.

Ian’s musical military career has taken him all over the world and afforded him the opportunity to perform in some of the most iconic venues, from Buckingham Palace to Spruce Meadows in Canada, Westminster Abbey and Winchester and Salisbury Cathedrals. It has also afforded him the opportunity to perform at prestigious sporting events including the League Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium in 2003, England vs Wales during the 2018 6 Nations internationals atTwickenham and the 2018 Virgin London Marathon.

Having recently retired from regular service, Ian is now serving as DoM of the Band of the Mercian Regiment, in the Army Reserve. He is also MD for Wellington (Telford) Brass Band and regularly performs in the Shropshire area with his variety small Jazz ensembles.

Ian is passionate about the power of music and how we, as musicians engage with each other and our audiences. He believes that music is about connectivity, and that the conductors’ engagement with their musicians is key to the effectiveness of each performance, which in turn, transmits to the audience.

Previously a guest performer with the Royal Armoured Corps and Scots Guards bands, Ian is now very excited to have the opportunity to support other musicians and build on his relationship with the NCBF as an Adjudicator.

Ian Johnson was born in Bushbury, Wolverhampton. His musical journey began as a chorister in his local parish church choir and learning the piano. He attended St. Peters Collegiate School where he took up the Baritone before progressing onto the Euphonium. He performed in both the schools and towns Wind Band and also with Wolverhampton Brass Band. The highlight of his fledgling career culminated in a joint venture, organising, arranging and conducting in the school’s annual concert. It was during this experience that Ian caught the conducting bug, which served as the perfect grounding for his future career as a military musician.
Ian joined the Army in 1986 and enlisted into The Band of The Royal Hampshire Regiment. He was able to develop his musical skills further, performing in the wind band on Euphonium, piano in the Jazz Quartet and vocals in the ‘Dance Band’. Service with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and The Royal Logistic Corps bands followed as did a ‘graduation’ from brass to woodwind as he took up the Bassoon vacancy on upon joining the RAOC in 1990.

In 1998 Ian volunteered to attend selection for the coveted Student Bandmaster Course at Kneller Hall, The Royal Military School of Music. His successful application resulted in his attendance on the 3yr Bandmaster Course, culminating in the attainment of his honours degree and accelerated promotion. His first Bandmaster appointment followed with an assignment to The Waterloo Band of the Kings Division and, shortly thereafter a commission and promotion to Captain followed. He was duly appointed Director of Music (DoM) to The Clive Band of the Prince of Wales’s Division, in
Shropshire. Subsequent assignments, as DoM with various bands ensued, culminating with promotion to Major in 2013, and appointment as Director of Music to the iconic Band of The Scots Guards in 2017, thirty years after his initial enlistment.

Ian’s musical military career has taken him all over the world and afforded him the opportunity to perform in some of the most iconic venues, from Buckingham Palace to Spruce Meadows in Canada, Westminster Abbey and Winchester and Salisbury Cathedrals. It has also afforded him the opportunity to perform at prestigious sporting events including the League Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium in 2003, England vs Wales during the 2018 6 Nations internationals atTwickenham and the 2018 Virgin London Marathon.

Having recently retired from regular service, Ian is now serving as DoM of the Band of the Mercian Regiment, in the Army Reserve. He is also MD for Wellington (Telford) Brass Band and regularly performs in the Shropshire area with his variety small Jazz ensembles.

Ian is passionate about the power of music and how we, as musicians engage with each other and our audiences. He believes that music is about connectivity, and that the conductors’ engagement with their musicians is key to the effectiveness of each performance, which in turn, transmits to the audience.

Previously a guest performer with the Royal Armoured Corps and Scots Guards bands, Ian is now very excited to have the opportunity to support other musicians and build on his relationship with the NCBF as an Adjudicator.

Duncan Stubbs is one of the UK's most experienced wind band directors. He was awarded his music degree at York University, specializing in performance, followed by a year's postgraduate study in Birmingham specializing in music education. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1983 as a member of the Central Band of the RAF and was commissioned as a Director of Music in 1990, being one of the youngest ever commissioned Directors of Music in all three Services. He went on to serve with all the RAF Bands and completed 2 tours in the Headquarters with responsibilities for all aspects of training and administration. He was appointed Principal Director of Music for the Royal Air Force in November 2009

During his nine years as PDM, Duncan worked tirelessly to maintain the RAF's reputation for musical excellence on a global scale. He worked collaboratively with some of the UK's leading musicians including; Nigel Hess, George Fenton, Phillip Spark, Martin Ellerby, Phil Cobb, Linda Merrick, Simone Robello,  Steven Mead. Responsible for instigating a successful commissioning programme to generate new music for Wind Bands he has both broadened the repertoire and supported new, talented composers. His musical experience ranges from working with musicians in school, University, Conservatoire, and Community Bands to televised performances, producing and recording commercial CDs, arranging for film and composing for Wind Band and smaller ensembles as well as having led major ceremonial events with the RAF, a highlight being writing and conducting the wedding fanfare for the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Duncan continued his musical studies throughout his career, being the first musician to be awarded the Fellowship of the Royal Schools of Music (Directing –Wind Band) and completing a master’s degree in composition where he was awarded both the Albert Thomas Composition prize and the Primrose Ensemble Composition Prize for composition. In 2017 he was awarded the OBE for services to Military Music.

Since leaving the RAF he has been appointed resident conductor with 2 wind bands, he frequently leads wind band workshops throughout the UK and is the regular conductor for the Kent Youth Wind Orchestra summer course. He teaches conducting for the RAF and the University of West London and has been asked to lead a conducting course for a residential summer school in the South East of England.  He frequently adjudicates at both brass and wind band Festivals and continues to write and arrange music.

Duncan is delighted to be appointed the chairman of the NCBF and looks forward to using his skills and experience to further broaden the musical opportunities and aspirations of Wind Band musicians throughout the UK.

“…. In Duncan Stubbs they have one of the finest conductors in the UK wind band world, full of dynamism but with a sensitive ear for balance and colour”  Tim Reynish

'Duncan brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to every rehearsal and continually motivates students of all ages to work to their full potential. An engaging technique allows for any group under his direction to flourish and develop in a very enjoyable atmosphere. A consummate professional.'    Phill Hyde  - Manager: Kent Youth Wind Orchestra,  Kent County Youth Orchestra, Kent Music Summer School. 

“.. the conducting of Duncan Stubbs was an object lesson: clear, decisive but unobtrusive and always at the service of the music”  Peter Wilson, ‘British Bandsman’ magazine

“The consensus of the LCM Wind Ensemble was that it was their best concert performance to date and the best conducted” Nigel Clarke, on the occasion of Philip Wilby’s birthday concert 1999

'Duncan Stubbs is a leading light in the musical world. He has established world class standards of performance with RAF Central Band and has consistently maintained a dedication to share his knowledge and leadership with aspiring young musicians. Duncan’s enviable reputation as a director, composer and educator place him amongst the world’s finest exponents of Concert Band Music, with his charismatic mentorship and skillful presentation always producing remarkable results'.  Kevin Price. Interim Director of Music (2018) and Head of Brass and Percussion - Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

Simone Rebello graduated with Distinction from the Royal Northern College of Music to embark on a career as a solo percussionist that has seen her recording several CDs (the latest with the BBC Singers), touring and broadcasting extensively nationally and internationally and winning a collection of awards and prizes including Cosmopolitan Woman of the Year in the Performing Arts. She works frequently as a concerto soloist with wind orchestras and brass bands around the world and as a solo recitalist.

Simone is a founder member of BackBeat Percussion Quartet who have won a number of chamber music competitions in the UK, Japan and USA and who continue to tour record and present concerts globally.
Simone appears regularly as a guest performer with a number of ensembles including The Equivox Trio, Ex Cathedra, The Young Voices Band and in a duo with outstanding jazz pianist Jason Rebello. She has worked with artists including Beverley Knight, Alexandra Burke, Tony Hadley and Mika.

In September 2010 Simone was appointed as Director of Percussion at The Royal Northern College of Music, and is currently also Acting Head of School of Wind, Brass and Percussion. In addition to performing Simone is an experienced adjudicator of percussion events, wind and brass contests and general music competitions and has judged for such prestigious events as BBC Young Musician of the Year, National Brass Band Championships for New Zealand, Australia, USA, Europe and Switzerland and for the National Concert Band Festivals in UK and Norway.

Simone is frequently invited to present concerts and talks/lectures/workshops featuring all aspects of percussion and performance. Simone works regularly as a presenter for events including the European Brass Band Finals, The Brass in Concert Championships from The Sage and the RNCM Festival of Brass including a concert for BBC Radio 2. She has also worked as a presenter for the National Brass Band Finals (Royal Albert Hall),The Great Northern Brass Arts Festival and European and national events for Yamaha. Simone is a solo artist and endorsee for Yamaha Music Europe, Mike Balter Mallets and Sabian Cymbals.

SIMON PLATFORD hails from East Anglia and began his musical career playing the trumpet as a seven year old. By 13 he had passed grade eight and and at 16 had gained a music scholarship to study with the renowned cornet player Philip McCann in Yorkshire. The pair worked together for 5 years with the final three at the Birmingham Conservatoire where Simon left with a First Class honours degree in performance and he was a grand finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Musician of the Year Competition.

Simon has always worked in music education, his previous schools have included The High Arcal School where he led a band of 17 beginners to become National Concert Band Festival Platinum Award Winners in six years and Abraham Darby School, Telford, where as Head of Music he led a department that accumulated an amazing 23 National top awards, five performances at the Schools Prom held at The Royal Albert Hall and four International awards, including a performance at the Isaac Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall, New York.

As a performer, Simon's main instruments are Cornet & Trumpet. He has been privileged to play with some of the country's finest bands and ensembles as well enjoying many solo recitals. As a teacher he has been a national finalist in the Classic FM Music Teacher of the Year Competition and earlier this year he was a national finalist for the Musician's Union Inspirational Teacher award. In October 2014, Simon was awarded an MBE for his services to music education.

Simon is currently the Director of Music at Wrekin College, Telford, a non selective co-ed independent school. He has held this position for two and half years. In this short time participation in the extra-curricular music has increased by nearly 40% and the department has been recognised by the incorporated society of musicians as one of the top 200 in the country for it's GCSE results.

TOM DAVOREN is a composer and band director with a growing international reputation. His music for bands is premiered and commissioned the world over by artists including ‘The President’s Own’ United States Marine Band, Central Band of the Royal Air Force, Brass Band of Battle Creek, Cory Band, Philippe Schartz (Principal Trumpet BBC National Orchestra of Wales), Glenn Van Looy (International Euphonium Soloist) and Steven Mead (International Euphonium Soloist).

Noted performances of his work have been given at New York's Carnegie Hall, the BASBWE London Festival, Royal Northern College of Music Festival of Brass, World Music Contest (Kerkrade), International Tuba Euphonium Conferences, International Trumpet Guild Conferences, Schagerl Brass Festival, Swiss Solo Quartet Championship and the solo and band sections of the National Band Championships of New Zealand, Australia and Great Britain. He also has a special relationship with the Belgian ensemble Brassband Buizingen, acting as their Associate Composer since 2015. Away from bands Tom composed a fanfare for the Royal opening  of the fifth National Assembly for Wales in 2016, whilst his first work for orchestra, Tourbillon, was premiered by Denmark's Aalborg Symfoniorkester in 2017.

As a conductor Tom began his career with the BTM Band from South Wales. He has since gone on to success as Musical Director of Desford Colliery Band, Associate Conductor of the Fairey Band and Musical Director of Bristol’s Filton Concert Brass, who he has established as one of the UK’s newest championship bands. In 2015 he directed Maidstone Wind Symphony to the National Concert Band Championship title and was honoured to serve as conductor of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales in 2016.  He has also led conducting students and directed the brass band at the University of Salford since 2016. You can view Tom's contesting history at www.brassbandresults.co.uk.

Tom studied tuba with Nigel Seaman at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in composition having studied with Anthony Powers and Arlene Sierra at Cardiff University School of Music. In 2009/10 he was awarded a research scholarship from the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Welsh Livery Guild Composition Award. He was also a BASCA British Composer Award nominee in 2011, a prizewinner at the EBBA European Composers Competition 2012 and the recipient of a Harvey Phillips Award for excellence in composition, presented by the International Tuba Euphonium Association, in 2014.

IAN DARRINGTON was Director of Jazz Performance for Wigan Council Education Department from 1977 until March 2011. Whilst working for Wigan he had special responsibility for jazz education, having joined their instrumental teaching staff in September 1977. Ian was educated at Dudley College of Education, Huddersfield Polytechnic and Bretton Hall College of Education. He is the founder and director of the Wigan International Jazz Festival, now in its twenty-sixth year and co-founder of the Wigan Jazz Club now in its twenty-eighth year. He was also musical director of the award winning Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra, a post he has held for over thirty years. During that time he produced sixteen albums the most recent of which is due for release in July 2011.

Through his work with the orchestra he toured France, USA (five times) Hong Kong, British Columbia, Poland, Ireland, Czechoslovakia, South Africa, the Faroe Islands, Hungary, Isael, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Australia and Romania. Artists that Ian & WYJO worked with include Maynard Furguson, Bobby Shew, Salena Jones, Georgie Fame, James Morrison, Buddy Childers, Conte Candoli, Bill Perkins, Eddie Bert, Bill Watrous, Elaine Delmar, Marion Montgomery, Jiggs Whigham, Don Rader, Don Lusher, Kenny Baker, Eric Delaney, Phil Woods and many more.

In 1997 he was awarded the Master of Arts Degree from Liverpool University and in July 2005 was awarded a PhD at the same University. The subject of his thesis is 'Trumpet Mouthpiece Design - An In-Depth Study'. At the 2000 International Association of Jazz Educators in New Orleans Ian Darrington was awarded the Humanitarian Award for Jazz Education the first non-USA musician to receive the award. In September 2000 the Rotary Club awarded Ian a Community and Vocational Award in recognition of services within the community of Wigan. In October 2001 Ian was awarded the MBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.