 Presenter,
Compere and ConductorJohn Maines was born in
Warrington, England. After initial lessons from his
father, his early musical career started as a tenor horn
player with the Prescot Cables Band. After a move to
trombone he joined the Wigan Boys Club and Cammell Laird
band in Birkenhead, Cheshire. As a young player he
became the North of England Junior Solo Champion and was
invited to play for the National Youth Brass Band of
Great Britain. A move to Cornwall saw John as principal
trombone with St.Austell and Bodmin bands where he
quickly made his mark with a succession of competition
victories at solo competitions throughout the South
West. It was at this time that he gained the title of
Champion Trombone Player of Great Britain on three
successive occasions. One of only two players ever to
achieve a hat-trick in this event.
After playing solo trombone with the Stanshawe
(Bristol) and Fairey Engineering bands with whom he also
held the post of principal trombone with Harry
Mortimer’s Men o’ Brass, he became principal trombone
with the Black Dyke Mills Band. With this famous band he
won many major British titles and a hat trick of
European Championships. He also toured such countries as
Holland, Switzerland, Spain and Japan.
Since 1979 he has been a music tutor for the National
Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and is a Council
member of the same organisation.
John travels extensively in Europe taking him to such
places as Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg and Denmark where
he has taken part in various musical activities
including the direction of the National Youth Band of
Denmark. John’s academic work saw him graduate from
Sheffield University with a BA (Hons) Degree.
John is in demand as a conductor in the UK directing
many of our finest bands, as well as undertaking the
role of Master of Ceremonies at many of the country’s
prestigious events such as The National Youth Band
Championships, The Great Northern Brass Arts Festival,
The Harry Mortimer Centenary Concert and acting as
compere for many of the world’s finest bands such as
Black Dyke, Fairey’s, Grimethorpe Colliery, Fodens,
Brighouse & Rastrick, Wingates, Leyland and Cory.
John was for a time the Musical Director of the world
famous Versatile Brass group with whom he travelled
extensively.
John is a writer for various music publications, and
has taken part in many recordings for CD, Radio and
Television. In addition to his everyday banding
activities John was for many years the presenter of the
long running BBC weekly band programme "GMR Brass” and
in 1999 received the Manchester Music Makers award for
his contribution to music broadcasting in the Greater
Manchester area.
As well as his role as the in-house producer for
Doyen Recordings John is also the presenter of World of
Brass Radio on
www.worldofbrass.com, an internet based programme of
news, chat and of course brass music.
In 2010 a move to Cornwall saw John delighted to
accept the position of Musical Director of the Mount
Charles Band.
For more information:
www.johnmaines.com
|
.jpg "Click To Enlarge")
