Musical Director - Alan Seymour

Meet the Conductor

Brass Band Career

I took over from as conductor of Wetherby Silver Band from Gary Hallas in July 2009. Previously I have conducted bands in the north east of England including Dunston Silver Band, Hetton Silver, Ryhope Colliery, Silkworth Colliery and Spennymoor and in all have over twenty years conducting experience.

I have played in brass bands since the age of ten starting off on euphonium and latterly playing bass, with occasional spells on trombone. I have played in most bands in the north east at one time or another and have competed in all sections from championship down to fourth section. I was a founder member of Houghton Youth Band under Tom Gibson from 1974 to 81. I was also a founder member in the Burma Band (7LI) where I had had much fun and some escapades, some which cannot be mentioned on a family site.

I recently qualified as a teacher of ICT and now teach at Hipperholme and Lightcliffe School Calderdale.

I derive much pleasure from conducting a band. I love a varied programme that is enjoyable to both play and listen to and must admit the arrangements have improved considerably over the last few years making playing and listening much more enjoyable. Although I take music seriously it is also important that the band are happy and have fun at the same time.

As mentioned I have had some funny moments in banding here are a selection. It happened in the band............

Small Jacket

I was in a pub waiting for for soon to be wife to finish her band practice at Ryhope Colliery. The band came in very despondent as they had a contest in 2 weeks with no conductor, no programme and several players missing. As i was a in a mellow mood after a few drinks I kindly offered to take the band. Unfortunately had never conducted a band in my life. It was only when the wife thanked me the next morning for what I was doing did reality kick in.

Anyway we worked hard and I called in a few favours to get band up to full strength. We had an excellent soloist and I picked a programme to suit the band. As it was an entertainments contest there were marks for deportment. I said to the band although we might not score as well as we could for the music side we could pick up some easy marks for deportment as we had just bought smart new uniforms. We practised for ages marching on stage etc. I then realised that I had nothing to wear. I remembered when I was a 17 year old club organist I had a cream jacket. With a carnation and snazzy bow tie I was the business although the jacket was a tight fit.

On the day of the contest we were drawn 6th. Word had got around about my debut and the bar flies decided that my debut was not to be missed. Therefore when band 6 was announced and please welcome their conductor the was a tremendous ovation as I walked on the stage to a packed hall and a very confused bar man and virtually deserted bar. They weren't there to support me they just expected a car crash. The band were all standing in their new uniforms as I made my entrance. As I took the stand the drummer gave a double tap and the band sat down as one smart as carrots. So far so good.

The basses were given the signal to raise their instruments and then the rest of the band. This was going so well. I raised my arms gave a bar in and then........disaster. As the band hit their first note my jacket ripped at the arm - I had not tested it with arms raised. By the end of the programme the arm of the jacket was hanging off. My shirt had come out due to my over zealous conducting style. Nick Childs the deportment judge said on the remarks Mr conductor you might think you have a sexy body but you want to see yourself from the back!! Oh dear I looked like Wurzel Gummidge.

The band played brilliantly beating Westoe by 16 points and Felling by 8 points. They came 3rd for music but 4th overall because of my wardrobe malfunction. No band, no programme, no conductor two weeks previously. Does anyone remember this brave performance.............No!!! However if I had a pound every time some wag says "does your jacket fit this time", I would be a very rich man.

Where is my Mouthpiece

I was playing for the 7LI Burma Band at Shrewsbury Flower show and we were last on to do our retreat parade. We were lined up for ages waiting for the horse artillery to finish their display and we were in small groups having a chat. Anyway as the horse display drew to a close we were ordered to form up. That's when I realised I had a problem...........NO MOUTHPIECE. It must have fallen out but where?

I looked where I had been standing and there I saw it. Right in the middle of some horse muck. However this was runny horse muck and when i picked it out it was like a manure ice cream cone. The bass drum was about to go. Colonel Bogey without a euphonium part or clean it as best as i could and play? I scooped out the poo cleaned it on my jacket and played for the whole program. The lads next to me were nearly sick. After I finished I came off with a horrible taste in my mouth and straw between my teeth. The things I did for queen and country!!

Is That The Queen Mother?

On one of our many TA camps in Shrewsbury we were due to play for the queen mother at 3 in the afternoon. Confined to camp for the afternoon and the NAFFI shut my mate Martin Humphrey and myself decided to pop to the off licence before the curfew to get some cans. We set off in our Bermuda shorts and Hawaiian shirts on our beer mission.

The guardhouse were practising for the Queen Mother as we left and there were loads of barriers out for the expected crowds on the road approaching the barracks. We walked and walked till we found an shop and loaded up with 2 carrier bags each full of beer. As we neared the barracks we heard crowds cheering all with little Union Jacks in their hand. We knew it wasn't the Queen Mother we weren't due to play for hours yet - or was it?. As we crossed over to the gatehouse we saw a car in the distance. The captain of the guard nearly had a fit. GET ROUND THE CORNER LEFT RIGHT LEFT RIGHT. We just got round out of sight when the queen mother swung round in her car. I am sure I heard her say "There's Alan and Martin they must have been to get some refreshments " but I could be wrong. Later in the morning there was beer squirting all over from all the shaking it got - but I am still a royalist.

A beer and a Schnapps ?

Whilst away in Germany with Ryhope band we decided to have a few beers in Cologne. There were ten of us in a group and the round was 10 bier und 10 apfel schnapps. As I was the only one with any idea of German I ordered each time. Any way by about 8 rounds one of my mates said he would like to order. I explained what to say and off he went and came back with the beer but no schnapps chaser. He said she said ten minutes to make them which we found strange. Then all became clear as the 10 biggest apple pies with cream came out. Just what you want when on the lash.... NOT!!! I went to the bar for the rest of the holiday after that.