Musical Director

Martyn France

Martyn France took up his duties as the Musical Director of Staines Lammas Band on 6 September 2011; just three weeks later he made is debut appearance with the band at the Challenging Brass contest in Addlestone - which the band won!

Martyn enjoyed playing brass instruments since an early age; brought up in the Salvation Army, his grandfather, father and both his uncles were bandmasters!  He served as an E-Flat bass player in the army’s Hemel Hempstead band, where his father served as bandmaster for a remarkable 39 years.  Later, while living in Aberdeen he served for a year as President of the Northeast Scotland Brass Band Association, where his duties included the organisation of solo and quartet competitions as well as the local Scottish area finals of the national championships.

 During an earlier appointment as Musical Director of Watford Band Martyn’s aim was to make banding both fun yet challenging for a lower section band, a aspiration he says he will be following at Staines Lammas.  His choices of music generally are designed to be musically demanding but not overpowering.  Indeed, he tries to cater for all ages and to suit the diverse musical tastes of audiences.