Conductors
Oliver Wilson
Oliver has played the Baritone horn in the National Methodist Youth Brass Band since 1995, playing as a soloist with the band on many occasions. During the North East England tour of 2008, he also began conducting the band. Oliver has held an administrative and leadership role in the band since 1997 and is currently the NMYBBs Vice-Chairman.
As a player, Oliver has performed with a wide variety of ensembles both traditional and modern. A keen brass band enthusiast, he has performed with many bands across the country, ranging from Championship to 4th Section, working with some of the brass band movement’s top conductors in the process. He is currently the Solo Baritone of the Langley Band, a 1st section band in the West Midlands. He has also performed live on BBC television, as part of the New Generation Arts Festival, performing in a world premiere performance with members and staff of the Birmingham Conservatoire
A Primary School Teacher in Handsworth, Birmingham, Oliver has been heavily involved in the Sing Up project to introduce children to singing, acting as a “Singing Champion”. He has introduced a number of children to music in his role and his students have even performed with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in Birmingham’s Symphony Hall. Oliver has taught brass players for many years, including members of the current NMYBB, and continues to teach privately when time allows. He is a former Musical Director of the Nottingham and Derby Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades Brass Band.
Oliver is an enthusiastic conductor who seeks to encourage and develop young people’s musical abilities and experiences. Oliver is married to a former band member, Sarah and together they have a young son, Jack.
Peter Strawson
Peter joined the band as a member of the percussion section in 1994 and in 2004 began a music degree at Salford University. Shortly after he joined the Lancashire based Leyland Band, with whom he enjoyed recordings for BBC Radio 2′s ‘Listen to the Band’ program, tours to Norway and Switzerland and competing in all major brass band competitions. These included the Europeans Brass Band Championships, the British Open and the National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall where, in 2005, he had the honour of being part of the winning band.
In the final year of his degree Peter majored in both performance and conducting studies and was recipient of the ‘Goff Richards Performance Award’, as well as achieving a 1st in his conducting studies under the tutorship of Dr Howard Evans and Professor David King. Having completed a PGCE in Music with Specialist Instrumental Teaching at Manchester Metropolitan University, Peter currently works as a peripatetic Music Teacher in Bradford and Rochdale and has been a part of Black Dyke Band’s percussion team since November 2010.
Some of his most fond memories with the band over the years include trips to America and Jamaica, partaking in Easter People celebrations, touring all over the UK, a recent tour to the Channel Islands and more recently being part of the bands conducting team, with whom he hopes to continue to develop as a musician in this new role.
