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New President in Conwall |
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The Cornwall Youth Brass Band is delighted to announce that John Berryman ALCM, LTCL, has accepted their invitation to become their Honorary President in succession to the late W A Hunt. The Cornwall Youth Brass Band is the oldest County Youth Band in the country having been founded in 1955. John was a founder member of the Band and its first Principal Cornet, having been encouraged to join by Fred Roberts the Conductor of The Camborne Town Band where John was Principal Cornet. Fred Roberts was closely involved with Frank Moore in setting up the County Youth Band in conjunction with The Cornwall County Music Service, to whom the Band remain affiliated to this day.
Ever since he took up the cornet at the age of eight after being presented with it by his father in Camborne, John Berryman has been noted for the high quality of his music making as a cornet player, a conductor and as an educator and teacher. There are very few musicians in the Brass Band movement who have given so much pleasure to those lucky enough to come in contact with this respected Cornishman. The Cornwall Youth Brass Band is honoured that he so readily accepted the position as their President and look forward to his support and guidance.
His early career was forged as a player with the Camborne Town Band, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather and two uncles who were all members of the Band. By the age of 15 he had become their Principal Cornet and a member of The Cornwall Youth Brass Band and The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, where he became the Principal Cornet, a position he held for five years and nine courses. That led to him moving from home and joining the famous Munn and Felton's Band under the guidance of the great Stanley Boddington, where he was Assistant Principal Cornet to James Scott before taking over the Principal position after James left for Cammel Laird. At Munn and Felton’s he won three Nationals Finals in 1960, 1964 and 1966 as well as three highly regarded Quartet Championships of Great Britain in successive years.
In 1969 he embarked on the second part of his musical career when he took up conducting, first with The Bodmin Town Band and then with growing success with bands such as William Davis Construction Group in the Midlands and The Grimethorpe Colliery Band, before being appointed Musical Director at GUS in November 1985. During this period he also found time as a teacher and educator with the Northampton County Council to direct their County Youth Band to two Outstanding Performance Awards at the National Festival of Youth Music, as well as appearing at the Schools Proms. He has also become a well respected adjudicator who has judged at many local and National Contests. His contribution to the Movement was recognised with the Award of The Isles Medal by The Worshipful Company of Musicians at the 1987 British Open Championships and the 2004 All England Masters Dedicated Service Award.
Earlier this year John returned as Musical Director of The Virtuosi GUS Band with whom he has had such a long and distinguished association. |