Emma Walton Becomes Musical Director of the Training Band

Ever since she was old enough to play an instrument, young musician, Emma Walton wanted to conduct a band. Now, at the age of 17, she has her chance, having picked up the baton at Derbyshire’s Shirland Welfare Training Band as Musical Director.

Emma, who has played the cornet and flugel horn at Shirland for over 11 years, now has around 20 up-and-coming musicians under her wing and loves every minute of it.

Coming from a banding family, Emma first played an instrument when she was eight years old, her inspiration coming from her granddad and her dad, Dave, who plays baritone horn at Shirland band. Brother, Dan, 15, also plays principal cornet for Shirland.

“I have always wanted to conduct the band and really enjoyed conducting Christmas carols for fun at band parties”, says Emma.”

A former Shirland junior herself, she takes up the baton from outgoing musical director Peter Rhodes, who said, “Emma has proved herself to be a highly accomplished brass player and is now keen to use her experience to help the youngsters. She has always shown an interest in conducting and we know she will do very well”.

The training band, which takes junior school age players and helps them develop into confident young musicians, was formed in 1998, primarily to enable the then children of the adult band to play brass music as a group. Now, with many of those original youngsters playing in the senior band, the junior band goes from strength to strength.

The junior band is always on the lookout for young players and invites any school aged children with a basic knowledge of music and a brass instrument to come along. Extra tuition is available and the experience that the band provides superbly complements the tuition the youngsters receive at school.