Amersham Band is fortunate to benefit from the leadership of four Musical Directors, all of whom are professional musicians with considerable experience in performance, band leadership and teaching.
Amersham Band Director of Music – Paul Fisher
Paul Fisher was appointed as Musical Director of Amersham Band in 2009 and since then he has led and developed the band to improve the standard of playing. During his tenure the band has been promoted from the Fourth Section of the National Championships all the way to the Championship Section. The band has qualified for the National Finals on several occasions under Paul’s leadership and has held the title of the Southern Counties Entertainment Champions. He is a frequent guest conductor many other UK brass bands including Foden’s Band and Friary Brass Band and has been a guest conductor with RWCMD in Cardiff. He also conducted the award winning album of trumpeter Mike Lovatt in 2019.
As a trombonist, Paul studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, before embarking on a career which has been wide ranging in musical styles. He has worked with orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, and in the world of Pop, he has performed, toured, and recorded with many fantastic musicians, diverse in their musical output. Artists such as Madness, Jools Holland, Barry Manilow, Gloria Estefan, Frankie Valli, Johnny Mathis, The Temptations, Charlotte Church, Il Divo, and Alfie Boe. He has worked on many West End productions over the years, and spent a 4 year run playing lead trombone on The Rat Pack show.
Paul is has been the lead teacher in Brass for Hertfordshire Music Service for over 10 years and is also Principal Conductor of the Hertfordshire County Brass. He also works for Brass Bands England as one of five Youth Development Brass Specialists in the UK.
As a Music Teacher in the primary school sector, Paul teaches brass to over 250 children every week on the wider opportunities scheme. This is a great opportunity to see first-hand the joy that music can bring, encouraging children to play brass instruments and bringing on the next generation of brass players. Paul runs a 35 strong brass group called ‘BRASS ATTACK’ which consists of 7-11 year olds, many of whom have been introduced to brass through the classroom scheme.
Paul has written the BAND-TIME teaching method for Conn Selmar and is looking forward to seeing many more hundreds of children be enthused and inspired through the power of performance.
You can reach Paul via his website www.paulfishermusic.info
Amersham Concert Brass Musical Director – Malcolm Peach
Malcolm Peach was born in Ruislip and took his first musical steps on euphonium and trombone with Hillingdon music service. A firm love of music was soon evident and Malcolm could generally be found through his teenage years listening to, or playing music of one kind or another. He completed his music degree at the University of Salford’s renowned Band Course under tutorage from Nick Childs, Andy Duncan, David King and Peter Graham. During his undergraduate studies Malcolm switched to first study tuba and also had his first experiences in conducting. Malcolm discovered a passion for music education and completed his postgraduate studies training as a music specialist secondary school teacher.
Since graduating Malcolm has worked as a brass and classroom music teacher, presently working for Hertfordshire Music Service. As a tuba player he is a proud member of Amersham Brass Band, also enjoying frequent orchestral outings and chamber brass groups in and around London. Malcolm has a broad taste in music, appreciating quality performances in all styles. He particularly enjoys Early Music, the works of J.S. Bach, late Romantic orchestral repertoire, and modern Big Bands.
Amersham Community Brass Musical Director – Ash Horton
Ash Horton graduated as a trombonist from The Royal Northern College of Music in 1994.
He has performed with many orchestras and bands, and played in many different styles and genres from classical to Jazz. Orchestras include The John Wilson Orchestra, The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, The Hallé Orchestra, The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, John Dankworth Big Band, Michel Legrand Big band, Syd Lawrence Orchestra and Clare Teal’s Mini Big Band. He has performed in many West End and touring shows including 42nd Street, West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, Chicago, Fosse, Singing in the Rain, Sinatra at the London Palladium, From Here to Eternity to name a few.
Ash has been a member of the BBC Big Band from 2007 where he has had the privilege to perform and record with numerous leading British and world class jazz artists including Mark Nightingale, Jiggs Wigham, Sammy Nestico and Bill Watrous.
Ash is also a visiting tutor at Birmingham Conservatoire where he works with students on the Jazz course.
He works closely teaching and coaching Brass Roots, the beginner group of Amersham Brass Band and has taught for Hertfordshire Music Service since 2013.
Ash is currently the Musical Director of Amersham Community Band and enjoys passing on his wealth of knowledge and experience to all age groups.
Brass Blast and Brass Roots Musical Director – Deirdre Waller-Box
Deirdre started her musical journey in Dunedin, New Zealand where she studied trombone at the University of Otago. While in NZ, Deirdre had the opportunity to travel extensively playing in many different ensembles from jazz, concert and brass bands to orchestras and everything in between.
Since moving to the UK to further her travel adventures, Deirdre has led music departments in a number of primary schools as well as developing and leading successful whole class brass projects in Camden. Alongside her work as a Youth Development Brass Specialist for Brass Bands England, Deirdre conducts a number of youth bands for the Camden Music Service and is also MD of the London Metropolitan Brass Community Band.
Deirdre is excited to bring her wealth of experience in brass education to the young musicians in Amersham’s Brass Blast and Brass Roots bands.