Conductors
Conductors
The responsibility for the musical output rests largely with the two conductors:
Kate’s
interest
in
music
began
with
clarinet
lessons
whilst
at
primary
school
in
Northamptonshire,
where
she
later
played
in
local
wind
bands
and
the
Kettering
Symphony
Orchestra.
She
was
also
involved
in
music
education,
working
for
the
Northamptonshire
Music
Schools.
Since
moving
to
Kent,
Kate
has
played
with
several
local
wind
bands
and
has
been
involved
in
a
number
of
chamber
groups
performing
at
local
venues
including
the
Gulbenkian
and
Marlowe
theatres
in
Canterbury.
Kate
also
teaches
clarinet,
piano
and
music
theory
to
both
children
and
adults.
She
recently
completed
her
BMus
(Hons)
at
Canterbury
Christ
Church
University,
studying
clarinet
with
world-renowned
clarinettist,
David Campbell; and conducting and orchestration with Dr Paul Edlin.
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
Kate Robinson - Conductor, Training Band
© Sandwich Concert Band 2021
The Sandwich Concert Band
In
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
Benedict Preece - Conductor, Concert Band 2015 -
After a short break, Benedict returned in April 2015 as conductor for the Concert Band.
.
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 - 2015
Benedict Preece - Conductor, Concert Band 2012 - 2014
Benedict
Preece
is
principally
a
conductor,
passionate
about
working
with
both
singers
and
instrumentalists.
He
is
currently
Music
Director
of
Caritas
Chamber
Choir,
East
Bridge
Chorale
and
Sandwich
Concert
Band
and
has
recently
been
appointed
Genesis
Sixteen Conducting Scholar 2017/18.
He
began
his
career
as
a
Chorister
of
Canterbury
Cathedral
and
continues
to
sing
in
the
choir
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,
Benedict
studied
with
Dr.
David
Flood
and
both
organ
and
composition
with
Neil
Wright.
A
keen
composer,
many
of
his
choral
works
are
performed
by
Caritas
and
choirs
from
Sweden,
the
Netherlands
and
the
USA
with
whom
he
has
developed
strong
links.
Benedict
has
developed
his
orchestral
conducting
technique with Stephen Portman (a former student of Monteux and Szell) and on Peter Stark’s renowned courses.
He
maintains
a
busy
schedule
with
all
his
ensembles.
Caritas
Chamber
Choir
is
regularly
engaged
to
deputise
for
Canterbury
Cathedral
Choir
in
holiday
times,
singing
25
services
as
well
as
13
concerts,
raising
funds
for
a
variety
of
charities.
Recent
performances
have
taken
place
in
Lille
Cathedral,
the
Netherlands,
and
in
October
he
has
been
invited
to
conduct
in
Madrid,
followed
by
a
tour
to
Sweden
(with
Hagamotettkör)
in
the
Spring.
However,
before
this,
he
will
direct
the
first
Caritas
International
Young
Composer
Competition
final
at
the
Colyer
Ferguson
Hall.
There
are
significant
prizes
to
support
young
talent,
which
attracted
entries
from
three
continents.
The
renowned
US
composer,
David
Conte,
will
adjudicate
the
final
in
July.
In
the
next
year,
Benedict
will
also
direct
exciting collaborations with Canterbury’s Festival Chamber Orchestra and Kent Sinfonia.
