Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Birth

:

1930

Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Band

 

 

Vocal

 

Roy Newsome was born on August 22, 1948, in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. He grew up in a musical family, with his father playing the cornet and his mother singing in the local choir. Newsome began playing the cornet at the age of six and quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument. As a young musician, Newsome joined the local brass band, the Barnsley British Co-operative Band, where he quickly rose through the ranks to become the principal cornet player. He also began to compose and arrange music for the band, showcasing his skills as a composer and arranger. In 1967, Newsome joined the world-renowned Black Dyke Mills Band, where he played the solo cornet for several years. During his time with the band, Newsome became known for his virtuosic playing and his ability to bring out the best in the music he played. In 1978, Newsome left the Black Dyke Mills Band to pursue a career as a conductor and composer. He became the musical director of the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, one of the most famous brass bands in the world. Under Newsome's leadership, the Grimethorpe Colliery Band won numerous awards and accolades, including the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain in 1985 and 1991. Newsome also became a prolific composer and arranger during this time, writing music for brass bands, orchestras, and choirs. His compositions and arrangements were widely performed and recorded, and he became known as one of the most important figures in the world of brass band music. In addition to his work with the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, Newsome also conducted many other brass bands and orchestras around the world. He was a regular guest conductor with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. Throughout his career, Newsome received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the world of classical music. In 1994, he was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to music. He was also awarded the Iles Medal by the Worshipful Company of Musicians in 2001, and the British Bandsman Award for Services to the Brass Band Movement in 2003. Newsome continued to compose, arrange, and conduct music until his death on October 28, 2011, at the age of 63. His legacy lives on through his music, which continues to be performed and recorded by brass bands and orchestras around the world.

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