All of us at NCBF are incredibly saddened by the passing of Steve Legge.
Steve was a trustee for NCBF for the last eight years, where his contribution to both the charity and music education in the West Country was considerable. He was a fantastic musician and skilled educator, inspiring countless young people during his career. He will be greatly missed.
We offer our condolences to Steve's husband Des and his loved ones.
Des would like to express his personal thanks to all those from the musical community who have commented on his Facebook page. He is overwhelmed by the numerous stories of Steve's impact on the individuals and ensembles he has worked with. It means an awful lot to Des to know that Steve will be so sorely missed by his musical family.
Steven Legge (B. Music / PGCE / PGCAP)
3rd September 1969 - 30th March 2024
Steven cut his cloth as an educator for 10 years, working for the Gwent Music Service as a peripatetic brass tutor and 14 years with Gloucestershire Music holding the positions of Head of Brass and Head of Instrumental and Vocal Tuition.
He re-founded the Gloucestershire Youth Brass Band and Youth Choir who were both recognised with national awards. Steven led the Gloucestershire Youth Wind Orchestra with over 10 appearances at Music for Youth and the National Concert Band Festival. For many years, Steven was a Trustee for the National Concert Band Festival where he represented the organisation throughout the Southwest of England and Wales.
He lectured for five years the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama developing their teaching skills classes at undergraduate and postgraduate level. He was invited to tutor for the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Great Britain and the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and was trombone tutor for many years at the RWCMD Junior College.
Since 2007, Steven made 34 trips to Lithuania supporting music tuition for young people through writing educational material, leading staff development sessions, adjudicating and conducting. Steven had a passion for researching how students learn. His research led to the publication of Music Marvels and fellowships from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust and Finzi Trust.
After 14 years with Gloucestershire, he was offered the position as Senior Lecturer in Classical and Jazz Music Enrichment at the University of the West of England, a position he enjoyed immensely until his enforced retirement in December 2023.
His professional playing career included work with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Royal Shakespeare Company, QE2 Big Band, the Remix Contemporary Music Group (Porto) and a variety of show and theatre engagements. Steven was principal trombone for the Sunlife Band and Tredegar Brass Band and performed regularly with both classical and jazz ensembles. He was a featured soloist at the 2017 Lithuanian National Brass Band Championships and the 2018 Swedish National Brass Band Championships.
Steven adjudicated for brass band festivals in the UK, Lithuanian National Brass Band Championships, Swedish National Brass Band Championships, National Concert Band Festival and the South Korean Schools Music Festival. As a conductor, Steven worked in Spain with La Agrupacion Musical and with a variety of community brass and wind bands. In 2017 he conducted the Lithuanian Youth Brass Band at the European Brass Band Championships. Steven was a regular contributor to magazines including Brass Band World, British Trombone Society, Sinfini Music and The British Bandsman.
His professional playing career included work with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the Royal Shakespeare Company, QE2 Big Band, the Remix Contemporary Music Group (Porto) and a variety of show and theatre engagements. Steven was principal trombone for the Sunlife Band and Tredegar Brass Band and performed regularly with both classical and jazz ensembles. He was a featured soloist at the 2017 Lithuanian National Brass Band Championships and the 2018 Swedish National Brass Band Championships.
Steven adjudicated for brass band festivals in the UK, Lithuanian National Brass Band Championships, Swedish National Brass Band Championships, National Concert Band Festival and the South Korean Schools Music Festival. As a conductor, Steven worked in Spain with La Agrupacion Musical and with a variety of community brass and wind bands. In 2017 he conducted the Lithuanian Youth Brass Band at the European Brass Band Championships. Steven was a regular contributor to magazines including Brass Band World, British Trombone Society, Sinfini Music and The British Bandsman.