Conductors
Conductors
The responsibility for the musical output rests largely with the two conductors:
© Sandwich Concert Band 2024
The Sandwich Concert Band
Jake
Convery
was
born
in
Congleton,
Cheshire
in
1993
and
was
educated
at
their
local
comprehensive
school
before a move to the south coast facilitated a need to pursue A Levels at Brockenhurst College in the New Forest.
Throughout
their
childhood,
youth
and
into
adulthood,
Jake
played
in
a
number
of
amateur
wind
and
brass
bands
as
well
as
amateur
orchestras
as
a
trombonist
and
tubist.
The
highlight
of
their
band
career
was
coming
in
3rd
place
at
the North West area competition with the Cooperative Funeralcare Band (North-West).
Jake
then
moved
abroad
to
teach
music
and
languages
for
a
number
of
years,
with
stints
in
the
UK
whilst
working
semi-professionally
as
an
organist
and
choir
director
for
a
number
of
churches
in
London.
Upon
their
fulltime
return
to
the
UK
in
2022,
they
enrolled
as
an
undergraduate
student
of
Music
at
Canterbury
Christ
Church
University
as
a
first
study
organist
and
with
a
second
study
in
harpsichord.
Jake
also
directs
the
university
music
society’s
early
music ensemble and is the organ scholar to the chapel at CCCU.
.
Jake Convery - Conductor, Concert Band 2023 -
Kate Robinson - Conductor, Training Band 2004 -
Simon
began
learning
the
flute
from
age
8
and
shortly
after
joined
his
local
town
band
where
he
moved
up
through
the
sections
to
eventually
become
assistant
conductor.
He
was
13
when
he
first
conducted
in
a
concert
and
then
began
taking
on
more
responsibility;
conducting
the
band
for
rehearsals
and
summer
fete
engagements.
Simon
then
read
Chemistry
at
Liverpool
University
and
successfully
auditioned
to
conduct
the
University
Wind
Orchestra
for
two
years,
which
included
a
concert
in
the
Metropolitan
Cathedral.
He
then
spent
a
year
in
Harlow,
Essex
where
he
joined
Harlow
Town
Band
playing
on
a
first
flute
desk
and
conducting
the
band
in
warm-ups
and
sectional
rehearsals.
In
2003,
along
with
Jules
Prosser,
he
co-founded
the
Pfizer
Wind
Orchestra
and
continued
with
them
when
they
reformed as the Sandwich Concert Band.
Simon
has
attended
several
conducting
courses
including
the
international
Canford
Summer
School
of
Music
where
he
received
tuition
from
wind
band
experts
and
conductors
Tim
Reynish
and
Mark
Heron
and
was
selected
to
conduct
the
Symphonic
Wind
Band
in
the
end-of-course
concert.
He
was
also
successful
in
gaining
a
place
on
a
short conducting course held at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
Simon Gayton - Conductor, Concert Band until 2011
I
n
January
2012
Simon
relocated
to
Yorkshire
to
take
up
a
new
job
in
Leeds.
We
were
very
sorry
to
see
him
go.
He
gave
so
much
to
the
band
over
the
years,
in
terms
of
time,
energy
and
commitment;
and
we
all
wished
him,
his
wife,
Gillian,
and
son,
Oliver
all
the
best
in
their
new
life
‘up
north’.
Following
his
final
concert,
he
was
presented
with
a
caricture
drawn
by
David
Clare
(right)
and
a
rendition
of
Ilkley
Moor
Bah
Tat
by
the
brass
section.
The
band
is
continuing
to
play,
and
Simon
joined
us
as
guest
conductor
at
our
2012
summer barbecue.
Click to enlarge
Ben Lunn - Conductor, Concert Band 2014 - 2015
Sandwich
Concert
Band
in
Setember
2014
were
pleased
to
announce
the
engagement
of
their new conductor for the Concert Band:
Ben
Lunn
is
a
composer
and
conductor
based
in
Ramsgate.
He
studied
composition
at
the
Royal
Welsh
College
of
Music
and
Drama,
and
was
taught
composition
by
Peter
Reynolds
and
taught
conducting
by
Dr.
John
Traill.
Ben
graduated
in
July
2014
with
1st
Class
Honours and the Composition Prize.
Ben has conducted a variety of groups from orchestra and choir to chamber ensembles.
Other
interests
outside
of
music
include,
reading
literature
and
poetry
and
a
keen
interest
in art.
Our first rehearsal with Ben was on 10th September after the summer break.
In
March
2015
,
Ben
conducted
his
last
concert
with
us
as
he
resigned
to
pursue
other
musical
ventures.
We
wish
him well for the future and thank him for his dedication and time over the past months.
Previous Conductors 2011 - 2022
Benedict Preece - Conductor, Concert Band 2012 - 2014, 2015 - 2022
Benedict
Preece
is
principally
a
conductor,
passionate
about
working
with
both
singers
and
instrumentalists.
While
directing
Sandwich
Concert
Band,
he
maintained
a
very
busy
schedule
as
Musical
Director
also
of
both
Caritas
Chamber
Choir
and
East
Bridge
Chorale,
and
as
Head
of
Chapel
Music,
Keyboard
and
Organist
at
The
Duke
of
York’s
Royal
Military
School.
He
has
also
directed
collaborations
with
Canterbury’s
Festival
Chamber
Orchestra
and
Kent
Sinfonia,
and
with
Caritas
has
released
recordings
to
critical
acclaim.
A
keen
composer,
his
choral
works
are
regularly
performed
on
both
sides
of
the
Atlantic,
and
often
featured on Caritas recordings.
Benedict
began
his
career
as
a
Chorister
of
Canterbury
Cathedral,
continuing
to
sing
for
many
years
after
as
a
Deputy
Tenor
Lay
Clerk.
At
Trinity
College
of
Music,
London,
he
specialised
in
horn
and
natural
horn
under
tutelage
of
Roger
Montgomery
and
subsequently
with
Anthony
Halstead.
As
an
organist,
he
studied
with
Dr.
David
Flood
and
both
organ
and
composition
with
Neil
Wright.
Benedict
developed
his
orchestral
conducting
with
Stephen
Portman
(a
former
student
of
Monteux
and
Szell)
and
with
Peter
Stark.
He
was
appointed
Genesis
Sixteen
Conducting
Scholar
2017-2018
and
studied
with,
amongst
others, Eamonn Dougan and Harry Christophers.
In
December
2022,
Benedict
directed
us
for
the
last
time
at
our
Christmas
Concert,
having
led,
encouraged
and
challenged
the
band
for
10
years,
with
precision
and
dedication.
We
wish
him
the
very
best
with
his
considerable
schedule of musical pursuits.
