New Principal Euphonium For Hammonds

The Hammonds Band is delighted to announce Steven Walsh has become our new Principal Euphonium. Steven is no stranger the band having played alongside MD Morgan Griffiths when the band was known as Yorkshire Building Society Band.

Steven began to play the Euphonium at the age of 10 in the Linthwaite Band. In 1994 Steven began lessons at Huddersfield Music College with the Euphonium legend and former Hammonds Sauceworks Musical Director Geoffrey Whitham. Very soon Steven’s talents were recognised when he became the principal Euphonium of the Hepworth band at the age of 16. During the same period he made regular appearances with the James Shepherd Versatile Brass. At age of 18 Steven was asked to join the Leyland band under the charismatic direction of Richard Evans.

Steven has been principal Euphonium in some of England’s top brass bands, but regards his years with the Yorkshire Building Society Brass Band under his mentor, Professor David King, as his most successful. Recording numerous award winning CDs, winning the All England Masters, the British Open and representing England in the European Championships on 3 occasions, winning twice. He also performed in the Sydney Opera House as part of the YBS ‘Kings of Europe’ Tour in 2005.

In 2006 Steven completed his Masters in Musical Performance at Salford University. In 2007 Steven was awarded the Best Euphonium and overall brass winner of the European solo championships held in Birmingham, beating musicians from all over Europe. In 2009 Steven joined the Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band on Principal Euphonium and was awarded the ‘Best Soloist’ prize at the 2009 British Open Championships and also the Geoff Whitham ‘Best Euphonium’ prize in 2017 with the Desford band. He then went on to win the Yorkshire Area in 2010 and 2011 and was awarded with the ‘Best Instrumentalist’. The highlight of his tenure with the band was winning the National Brass Band Championships in 2010 and 2011. Since then Steven has held the position of principal Euphonium with the Leyland Band and Fairey Brass Band

Steven said on rejoining “It is a great pleasure to accept the position of Principal with the Hammonds Band. I have fond memories of being a member of the band under the guise of YBS. I hold Morgan Griffiths in the highest regard. He has always been my inspiration as a Euphonium soloist and it’s great to team up with him and the band once more. “

Morgan Griffiths said “it is wonderful to welcome Steven back to the Band. He is one of the finest Euphonium players around at the moment. He brings a wealth of experience and quality to an already very strong section. We can’t wait to get back in the bandroom and hear him.”

Hammonds Band would like thank Ash Higgins who moves to 2^ndEuphonium due to increased work commitments and Steve Gordon who steps down due to increased travelling commitments. We wish him good luck in the future.