Whitburn Band is delighted to announce the appointment of Chris Shanks as Associate Conductor.
Chris, a Besson Euphonium artist and Whitburn’s Principal Euphonium player, has already started in his new role as he helps to prepare the band for the forthcoming British Open championships, where Whitburn will be conducted by Michael Fowles.
Chris has experience of conducting many bands across the UK. Highlights include working as the Resident Musical Director with the EverReady Band, a partnership which has seen many successful concert projects. He is also the visiting Musical Director of the Lochgelly Band, with Chris leading the band to victory at the Northern Counties contest earlier this year.
He is a former Resident Conductor of Unison Kinneil and former Musical Director of Langholm Town Band.
Chris is a product of the Salvation Army music scene, having started his playing career on tenor horn there at the age of six before moving to euphonium at the age of 14.
He then studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now known as the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) on euphonium under Dr David Thornton and Anthony Swainson, and conducting under the late Nigel Boddice MBE.
Chris has been a member of Whitburn Band for ten years, having previously performed with Cooperative Funeralcare, Kirkintilloch, Barrhead Burgh and Kirkintilloch Kelvin Bands respectively.
He won the Best Euphonium prize at the Scottish Brass Band Championships in 2022 and 2023, as Whitburn won both contests, and was also on the Principal Euphonium chair in 2023 when Whitburn won the Grand Shield.
Within the Salvation Army, Chris has been the Principal Euphonium of Bellshill Band since 2006 as well as being the Divisional Youth Bandmaster.
He has featured as a guest soloist around the UK and Ireland, and has toured all over Europe and USA with Salvation Army groups. Chris is also the Principal Euphonium of the renowned Household Troops Band.
As an adjudicator, he has judged at the Scottish Concert Band Festival and earlier this year was named as one of the new trainee members of the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators. Chris is also a talented arranger, and penned the band’s signature hymn tune Whitburn in 2020.
Chris said: “I feel very humbled and honoured to take on this role with Whitburn Band. I am excited to be given this new opportunity to work with such a fine group of musicians and look forward to working hard in what is a busy second half of the year.”
Charlie Farren, Whitburn Band Chairman, said: “We are delighted that Chris has taken up the position of Associate Conductor of the band, and we are now looking forward to working with him on a number of exciting projects.”
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