CHAT - A Conversation with the Royal Marines Band Service
Clinic Synopsis:
The Midwest Clinic Chat Rooms provide an arena where teachers will learn from and dialogue with expert practitioners. These brief ‘chats’ allow directors a forum for collaboration in a relaxed, intimate environment. The Chat Rooms have limited seating so attendance is granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Lt Col Huw Williams
- Biographical Information
Huw Williams joined the Royal Marines Band Service in Deal, Kent at age 17, where he studied the cornet with Prof. Sydney Rose for two years. He was awarded the Prince’s Badge for best musician under training before being posted to the Plymouth band in 1996. In the years that followed the band performed all over the world, often embarked in HM Ships. An extended deployment in HMS Illustrious took in many of the Mediterranean ports, through Suez and the Red Sea on the way to the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and finally Australia.In 2002 Huw was drafted to the Royal Marines School of Music in Portsmouth as cornet instructor. Selected Bandmaster in 2006 and soon commissioned, he was promoted Captain in 2010 and appointed Director of Music of the Band of HM Royal Marines, Commando Training Centre, where he served as OC Rear Party for UK Medical Group and Joint Force Support on Operation Herrick 14.From 2011-2013 he studied orchestral conducting under David Jones at the Royal Welsh College of Music, gaining his Master of Arts degree and Fellowship of the Royal Schools of Music. Between 2013 and 2023 he served as Director of Music CTCRM Band, SO3 Bands, Director of Music Plymouth Band and Director of Music Training and SO1 Band, overseeing commitments, policy, plans, media, personnel, and massed bands events. He was appointed Commanding Officer RMBS and Principal Director of Music in October 2023. Father of two and keen marathon runner, Huw lives in Emsworth, on the Hampshire-Sussex border.
Maj Steve Green - Biographical Information
Born in Norwich, Norfolk, Steve began learning the euphonium at the age of 6 and entered the Royal Marines School of Music in September 1994 in Deal, Kent. Training saw him move with the School of Music to its present location in Portsmouth joining the RM Band Portsmouth in 2007. During this period, he was fortunate to be involved in several major national engagements and enjoyed trips to Canada, Australia, Russia and Poland. 2001 saw a change of scenery for him with his first draft to the BRNC Band in Dartmouth during which time he was selected to represent the Royal Marines as part of the multi-national NATO Band based in Naples, Italy. On his return from Italy, Steve enjoyed time in RM Bands of Portsmouth, the CTCRM and BRNC. In 2008 he completed his BMus(Hons), was promoted to Sergeant and selected to attend the Bandmasters Course for which he received a Silver Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians. Periods as the Volunteer Band Instructor at HMS Nelson and as the Warrant Officer Coordinator of HQ Band Service followed before he was selected for commission in January 2013 and promoted to Captain. A short spell as the Assistant Director and Public Relations Officer of the RN’s South Coast Proms 2013 preceded the onset of further studies as he began working towards a master’s degree in orchestral conducting at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama under the tutorage of David Jones. On completion of
these studies, he took up his first Director of Music position at the Commando
Training Centre Royal Marines for two years before moving back to Portsmouth to
take on the role of Assistant Director of Music Training at the School of
Music. A period as Director of Music to the RM Band Scotland followed during
which time he was selected for promotion to Major. This promotion resulted in a
move back to Portsmouth initially as the Adjutant, Royal Marines Band Service
and more recently as SO2 Bands, managing financial budgets and overseeing
policy within HQBSRM. Appointed as the new Director of Music Training at the
Royal Marines School of Music in October 2023, Steve lives in Lee on Solent,
Hampshire, with his wife and two children.
Warrant Officer 1 (WO1) Mike Robinson - Biographical Information
Mike joined the Royal Marines Band Service as a Bass Player in September 1990 at Deal, Kent straight from school in his hometown of Hartlepool. Playing tuba before he joined, he then began the task of also learning double bass and bass guitar which he still enjoys playing regularly. On completion of training, he moved to his first band, Commander-in-Chief Fleet Band based at RAF Northolt, and he enjoyed a brief period there before they disbanded in 1994. This brought a move to HMS Raleigh, which included spending 7 Months on-board HMS Illustrious in 1997 on Exercise Ocean Wave. This was a Global trip which included the hand back of Hong Kong and further travel stopping at many foreign ports. A move to the Scotland band then came around where he also enjoyed a memorable trip to Australia for a Fleet review and a tour of Italy on the MV Minerva. A first period as an instructor at the Royal Marines School of Music (RMSoM), assisting young recruits through their training, passing on experience in both musical and military fields. Promotion followed before attending the Warrant Officer Bandmasters course in 2010. On promotion to Warrant Officer, he was given the task as the Supply Officer (Music) within the Headquarters, a task which included the purchase of all musical equipment for the entire RMBS. Moving back to Scotland as the Bandmaster in April 2015, this included a two-month tour of the USA and Canada before subsequently returning to RMSoM as the Chief Instructor. A short period as Bandmaster with the RM Band Portsmouth before success at the Royal Marines Warrant Officer Class 1 selection board saw him take up various appointments before being selected to become the Corps Bandmaster in October 2023. He lives near Portsmouth and relishes spending time with his lovely wife, Claire, and their daughter Georgia. He is a keen golfer, despite his enthusiasm being higher than his ability but always enjoys the chance to get out in the open air.
Colour Sergeant Nick West - Biographical Information
CSgt West joined the Royal Marines Band Service in 2003 as a Euphonium and Cello player, moving to serve in Plymouth Band on completion of training in 2006. After 3 years he returned to the Royal Marines School of Music to change instrument categories to be a Solo Trombonist. He has since served in RM Bands; Collingwood, Portsmouth and Commando Training Centre. Nick also attended the 12 month Bandmasters Course in 2015, studying conducting, composition & arranging alongside harmony, history and aural. On completion of this course Nick moved to the Royal Marines School of Music as the Trombone & Academic Instructor. In 2022 Nick joined Headquarters as Chief Librarian, responsible for all sheet music for the Royal Marines. He is also part of the production team for Massed Bands events, responsible for the front of house sound at events such as the Mountbatten Festival of Music.As well as these roles, Nick also teaches on the various promotion courses offered by the Higher Training Department as well as continuing to perform as the Lead Trombone of the Royal Marines Oceanaires Big Band.Outside the Royal Marines Nick is in demand as a freelance trombonist, having worked with many acclaimed artists and ensembles such as: Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Gordon Campbell Big Band, Q the Music, Simon Bates Big Band, John Miller Orchestra, Savoy Collective, Katherine Jenkins, Elaine Delmar, Pete Neighbour, Alfie Boe, Joss Stone, Beverley Knight, Lesley Garrett and Philip Browne. Nick composes and arranges music for a variety of ensembles from concert band and orchestra to Big Band and Brass Band. Many of these works have been commissioned and performed by the Royal Marines Band Service as well as artists such as Pixie Lott. Nick is the proud recipient of multiple music awards such as; Silver and Bronze medals from the Worshipful Company of Musicians and a Global Music award for writing and recording collaboration project during the Covid 19 pandemic.
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