David Thomas was appointed as the band’s Musical Director in April 2024, taking over the baton from Mike Woolas.
Whilst still at school in Hereford, David won the “Boosey & Hawkes” award for being the best brass player in the county. He then studied for his music degree, at the Royal College of Music, London. He studied trumpet with David Mason (who played the piccolo trumpet part on the Beatles’ “Penny Lane” track). After graduation he was Head of Performing Arts at a Herefordshire High School for over twenty years whilst also being an active freelance trumpet player, conductor of the local G & S Society, Principal Cornet with the local Salvation Army band, and then their Bandmaster. He was also conductor one of the Herefordshire County Orchestra’s, and after “retiring” from his full-time teaching post, took up peripatetic brass teaching and has been M.D. of Bromyard Symphonic Wind band for over 26 years. David has played under the batons of Sir Adrian Boult, Vernon Handley, and Charles Farncombe and worked with some famous musicians, including Thomas Round (D’Oyly Carte Opera), Donald Swann (of “Flanders and Swann”) and Wynne Evans (Mr Go Compare). He is relishing the new challenge of working as our M.D., and looks forward to future success for the band.