Dan heralds from Stockport, South Manchester and began his playing life at the age of 5. Dan quickly found he had love and talent for cornet playing and guided by his father, quickly joined the Stockport Schools Brass Band, where he stayed for 11 years and enjoyed time as a FlugelHorn soloist, winning the young soloist award at the National Youth Brass Band Championships in 2009.

 

Later in life, Dan began his music degree at The University of Salford, where he also developed a long standing passion for conducting. During his time at University, Dan was given the opportunity to become a student conductor for his final year, giving him control of a third share of the University's Adelphi Band. During this time he received tutorage from many fine conductors including Michael Breaux of New York State University and Duncan Stubbs, late of the RAF Central Band.

 

As a player, Dan’s fondest memories come from his time at The Hammonds Band (Formerly Yorkshire Building Society Band). Whilst there, he enjoyed appearances at the regional championships in Yorkshire, qualifying for the National Finals in 2017, victory at the Grand Shield competition in 2018 and a resulting performance at the British Open Championships in Birmingham the same year.

 

“It is my ambition as Musical Director of UKP Band to continue the great work that has been done by previous conductors. This is a band full of experienced, hard-working and friendly musicians and I am proud to have been chosen to lead them into the next stage of our journey together.”