WREXHAM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Russell Gray – Conductor

Russell has been a professional soloist for the last 15 years, establishing himself as one of the worlds leading exponents in the art of cornet playing. Russell keeps a busy diary of engagements including Gala performances, Recitals, Masterclasses, and educational workshops. This regularily takes him to most of the European countries, America, Japan, and Australia.

Russell's other "passion" is conducting. In the last few years, he has become one of the most successful brass band conductors on the scene, being awarded the coveted title of "4barsrest.com conductor of the year" in 2002.

Russell was born near Glasgow in Scotland in 1968, and an early interest in music saw him pick up his fathers trumpet by the age of 9. Within a few years he had won many national solo prizes including the under 17 solo championship of Great Britain by the time he was 12.

Russell moved to Yorkshire to study music and soon after joined the world famous Black Dyke Mills Band where he stayed for two years. He then moved to the Leyland band sitting next to his teacher on assistant principal cornet.

Russell left University with a distinction in performance and soon was on the look out for his first principal cornet chair. The Britannia Building Society band gave Russell his first break in 1990 and in 1991 Russell moved back to the Leyland band on principal cornet, leading them through a successfull period, which resulted in the band obtaining the World ranking number one.

Quickly establishing himself as a soloist of some distinction, Russell's diary began filling up with solo concerts all over the World. In 1999 Russell and his wife Mareika went on a World tour for six months performing over 100 engagments visiting Australia, New Zealand, North America, Canada, and England finishing just before Christmas of that year.

Russell's conducting career started when he was appointed resident conductor of the Stavanger Band in Norway in 1998. Russell moved back to England in 2001 to take over as Principal Conductor of the Ransome Band. Along with many successful tours and concerts with the band, the highlight was obtaining a second place at the National Championships in the Royal Albert Hall in 2000. In 2002, the Fodens Richardson Band approached Russell to conduct them and within the first year had obtained three 1st prizes and two 2nd placings in five contests, taking them to the World ranking number one.

2005 was one of Russell's most productive years, winning six out of eight competitions culminating with the National Brass Band Championships on Great Britain with his new Band "Leyland".

Since 2003 Russell has been freelancing as a conductor and player, and this has continued to take him around the world. At home, Russell teaches at the Salford University, the Royal Northern College of Music and is a "Besson" endorsed artist.

March 2006

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