Our first Director - Marie Fawbert Smith

Marie has been teaching brass music in the village of Shirland, Derbyshire, for over 40 years and is now on her second generation of brass players. She has an exceptional ability to teach young children and many of her students have gone on to enjoy professional careers. Five have become national champions of Great Britain .

Born into a brass family, Marie was first taught the cornet at the age of three by her father and has been connected with Shirland ever since. She became a professional trumpet player with the renowned Ivy Benson Band and, for a number of years, travelled the world playing music.

As a soloist and champion herself, she has continued to teach music in the area and, under her direction, the Shirland quartet has won the National Junior Quartet Championship of Great Britain on no less than six occasions.

Under Marie's direction, the band grew from strength to strength, progressing a long way in the several years following its formation and it is easy to see why. She is a perfectionist musician and conductor who is dedicated to her craft.

Having hung up her baton (metaphoricaly, that is, as she never used one!), Marie is to continue her association with the band. She is still teaching the younger members and will still stand in for Andrew whenever he is unavailable.

As she said at her final practice in May 2008, "You won't be getting rid of me that easily!".