Then and Now: Grimethorpe's Euphonium and Baritone Legacy

2 days ago
8 min read

Updated: 5 hours ago

The Grimethorpe Colliery Band has a long history of having some of the very best euphonium and baritone players out there. In this blog post, I am going to introduce the band's current line up and also celebrate some of the players from the past who we as a section have been inspired by.

Alexa, Ed, Andy and me! 2026 Euphonium/baritone section.

I know I speak for the four of us when I say, these are positions we are incredibly grateful for and immensely proud to hold. I strive to be the best I can be as a player and I know comparing myself to any past players is a mistake but it is something I still find myself doing. It is something I struggle with sometimes, and perhaps, so do others.

Some of the past solo euphonium players are absolute legends to me and I hope this blog post helps celebrate the wealth of musical talent that has been on show in the past but also demonstrates how talent continues to be nurtured in this brilliant band.

The second half of this year and into 2027 is extremely exciting for the band. We have various performances of Brassed Off Live, our regular busy schedule of concerts plus contest performances at The British Open and National Finals. To win one of these contests would be amazing, a dream come true, but it will never happen without massive amounts of hard work.

Euphonium / Baritone Section Today

The current euphonium/baritone line up is an exciting mix of young talent and experienced players. Andy (2nd euphonium) knows what it takes to win the National Finals and is one of the strongest and most dedicated euphonium players out there today. He is also the band manager and his family have a long history with the band given that his father used to play cornet!

Ed (1st baritone) is a player who is quickly putting himself among the very best baritone players in the world. Technical brilliance and musical intelligence are his strengths and it has been a pleasure to watch Ed grow since he joined the band early in 2025.

Alexa (2nd baritone) is a young, talented player who has massive potential both as a band member and as a soloist in her own right and recently performed the Wilby Euphonium Concerto (not something I could have done at her age). We are very lucky as a band that Alexa agreed to join, not only for her musical skill but also as a role model to other female low brass players.

For me, I still feel that I have a long way to go to meet my own full potential, which becomes increasingly difficult with age and while I may have vast soloist experience and educational knowhow, my top level banding experience is still lower than most solo euphonium players in top bands. This being said, we make a fantastic team with an appetite to raise our standards to the levels achieved by those from the past. Every player in every section doesn't have to be perfect, we can support each other when needed and that is important.

Leading a section at this level is also something I have little experience of and I want to learn more all the time but my approach with anything is to lead by example. My wife and daughter might disagree but I am not someone who likes telling people what to do or how to do things, but this doesn't mean my expectations are any lower. At this level we all know the expectations but sometimes all it takes are tiny but constant positive steps forwards and this is something that this section does very well.

Quick Questions with the Musicians

Let's get to know each of us a little better. We all answered the same questions below.

1) What gear do you currently use?

Mark: Sterling Virtuoso, K&G 4D, Reunion Blues leather gig bag (falling apart)

Andy: Besson Prestige 2052, Randefalk 2 (3 if I have high quiet stuff!), Reunion Blues (in much better condition than Mark's!)

Ed: Besson Sovereign / Yamaha Neo, Yamaha 52C, Besson case

Alexa: Besson Sovereign, Wick 5BS, Bags Fusion EV3 case

2) What's your favourite food, film, and musician or band?

Alexa: Roast dinner, Top Gun, Sarah Willis

Ed: Chicken Pie, Hot Fuzz, Outkast

Andy: Cottage Pie, The Martian / Shawshank Redemption, Arctic Monkeys / Martha & The Muffins

Mark: Anything Thai, Independence Day, Limp Bizkit

3) If you could invite one famous person to a dinner party, who would it be?

Ed: Jay Kay

Andy: Sir David Attenborough

Alexa: Gordon Ramsey

Mark: James Hetfield from the band Metallica

4) What is your favourite thing to do when not practising your instrument?

Andy: Spending time with my daughter & dog

Alexa: Playing with/walking my dog

Mark: Play the guitar, go fishing, mountain bikes, family time (including my cat)

Ed: Watch sports (football, rugby and darts)

5) What's the best advice you'd give a young player hoping to play for a top band?

Mark: Practice everything you struggle with every day (maybe this is why I practice so much!)

Andy: Become band manager, or practice

Ed: Say yes to as many opportunities as you can and get your name out there

Alexa: Take every opportunity to play with people who are better than you

Past Legends

Next, lets jump into the past. For me there are four names from the past that stand out. Nicholas Childs, Michael Dodd, Robert Archer and Cliff Hopes. These are four players who I think were cornerstones in the success of the band. I don't/didn't know any of these players personally. Sadly Bob and Cliff are no longer alive but they were huge parts of Grimethorpe's history in every way, not just playing the baritone.

It would be easy to have Robert Childs name in that list, he premiered some epic concertos during his time with the band, but for me growing up, he was a player I associate more with Black Dyke. I was lucky enough to have Robert Childs conduct the Royal Welsh College of Music Brass Band when I was a student there, I bet he never expected I would be sitting where I am now! His brother Nick of course, is now the conductor of Black Dyke but was a member of Grimethorpe when they won the 1985 Granada Band of the Year.

Whenever I think of Grimethorpe and the euphonium, Michael Dodd is the name that comes most to mind. When I was younger and used to go to the Birmingham Symphony Hall to watch the British Open, I would always watch Grimethorpe because Michael Dodd was (and still is) one of my favourite players. I also remember playing at the National Finals in London in 2007, Grimethorpe won (making it a double), playing the difficult test piece Music for Battle Creek and Michael won the best soloist prize. His tone is always so clear, effortless and lyrical.

I remember sitting in the hall waiting for the results and just wondering what it might feel like to win such an award. The band I played for, Staffordshire, came 18th out of 20 bands but I was happy with how I performed on the day. I have won some contests and some solo prizes over my time but nothing comes close to what it must feel like to win the Nationals or British Open.

It is funny because back in 2011, I was involved in an event in Birmingham, UK where Grimethorpe did a workshop and concert with the Birmingham Schools Brass Band who I was a tutor for. I had every opportunity to speak to Michael and any other members of the band but I didn't, which is actually a big regret of mine.

I was just star struck and nervous to approach anyone. If only I had Ed and Alexa's advice back then! But it is so silly because now I am playing for the band, I love it when people come and speak to me, I always support local players and lower section bands and there is no reason why any of the band back then wouldn't have done the same for me. Here is a recording of Michael playing Bravura. I wonder how many times I have listened to this!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbe5L635QPY

There have been some members whose playing I admire a lot and have gone on to new challenges after playing for Grimethorpe. Adam Bokaris (Black Dyke) who held the seat prior to me, Chris Roberston (Brighouse and Rastrick and That's Not Banding), Mike Cavanagh (Black Dyke), Michael Wells (Brisbane Excelsior), Rob Richardson (baritone) are just a few.

Students from the RNCM have often been valuable members of the band and the band have been conducted by some superb euphonium players in the past, such as Robert Childs and David Thornton. If you are a student at the RNCM or someone planning to do that in the future, please reach out. We would love to welcome you along to a rehearsal. The band room, more than ever, is a positive environment, safe and supporting of young talent.

Robert Childs played for and conducted Grimey!

There have also been some excellent pairings such as Robin Taylor and Adrian Nurney, Mike Kilroy and Simon Willis, Michael Dodd and Philippe Schwartz (who later became principal euphonium), Sarah Lenton and Nick Young (baritones) to name a few.

For me the most well known pairing from this section was Michael Dodd and Shaun Hudson, mainly because of their rendition of Another Fine Mess dressed up as Laurel and Hardy. Again, sadly, Shaun being an ex band member who is no longer with us.

The Very Early Days

The band is old and a lot of records are probably lost to time but despite being formed in 1917, the band didn't win a British Open until 1967. This is going back to a time where the solo prize could be a trophy, but could easily be a silver ashtray!

The superstar player from that era was euphonium player, David Moore. A product of the Grimethorpe Youth Band as were so many other top players, including the band's current principal cornet Hannah Plumridge. David was in that winning 1967 band and the one that won two years later in 1969 where the band performed Gilbert Vinter's Spectrum.

It was an honour to play the solo Varied Mood (an anagram of David Moore) a few times with Grimethorpe. The solo famously was written for David by Ray Woodfield. Here is a recording!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuI5SQGbNTM

The section for the 1969 British Open win consisted of David Moore, Gerald Foster, Tommy Dodd and Ron Smith. The band would then have to wait 15 years before winning it again.

For me the bands biggest stand out victory at The Open was in 1991, playing the brilliant Paganini Variations, where euphonium soloist Robin Taylor won the best soloist prize.

Robin Taylor is a player who I studied extensively when I prepared Brian Bowen's Euphonium Music for a performance at ITEC2025 in Spain. Robin's recording with Grimethorpe is fantastic and a recording I would urge all euphonium players to listen too.

Here is my performance of the work, with Athena Brass, a lot of my inspiration came from Grimethorpe's recording with Robin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdXa9RWiXFA

I am sure I am missing some past players of note, so if you have anything to add to this blog post please drop me a message and I will be sure to update it.

Future Success?

Back to the present day and I am really excited for what the future holds. Could this section ever be part of a 'double' Nationals victory or could we qualify for the Europeans?

The band have only won the National Finals four times, which is probably testament to just how challenging it is to qualify from the Yorkshire region. But this year the band did it after coming 2nd!

I don't think we will find future success by trying to copy the great players from the past but by finding our own way, trusting our abilities and the conductors that guide us and continuing to work hard, believing that anything is possible.

Here is the photo that was used for the AI cover photo above. This was taken right after coming off stage in a recent concert. If you see any of us at the British Open or any upcoming concerts, come and say hi and please do share your own favourite Grimethorpe euphonium and baritone players in the comments!

Brassed Off!

Before finishing this post, there is one euphonium player who I cannot forget. The owner of probably the only famous movie quote featuring the word "euphonium". Thanks Jim Carter!