Director of Music

CAPTAIN CRAIG HALLATT BA(Mus) LRSM ALCM CAMUS 

Captain Hallatt joined the Army in Sept 1985. He Trained at Junior Leaders Regiment Royal Armoured Corps at Bovington Camp, Dorset. On completion of this he was posted in September 1987 to Hohne and the Band of The Queen's Own Hussars.

In 1993 the amalgamation of Queen's Royal Irish Hussars and the Queen's Own Hussars meant the new regiment, the Queen's Royal Hussars, would be formed in Fallingbostel. Shortly after this 'Options for change' in 1994 saw him join the newly fashioned Cambrai Band of The Royal Tank Regiment also in Fallingbostel. During this time he visited many different countries and it was whilst serving with this band that he was selected to be a Student Bandmaster which subsequently in January 1997 he commenced the 3 year degree course at the Royal Military School of Music in Twickenham. 

On completion of the course he was assigned to be the Bandmaster of the Lowland Band of The Scottish Division in 2001. During this inaugural post he was based in Redford Barracks and completed tours of Northern Ireland, Switzerland and Germany. Operationally he was deployed on Op Telic in Kuwait and Iraq during which he worked with the Nuclear Biological Chemical Cell and Prisoner of War Tactical Questioning Team.

In 2004 he began the 5 month equestrian course in preparation for the post of Bandmaster of  The Life Guards. During his time with the Band he participated in many state and ceremonial engagements within London such as Trooping the Colour and The Lord Mayors Show.
 
In Jan 2007 he was commissioned to become the Staff Officer Recruiting for the Corps of Army Music, based at Headquarters Directorate Corps of Army Music. (Officer Commanding, Corps of Army Music Recruiting Team).

After two years at Staff he was appointed as Director of Music of the Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland in January 2009.

Captain Hallatt is married to Deborah, an IT project manager whom he met at the 2001 Edinburgh Tattoo and they have a young son called Aaron. Outside music his interests are military history, travel, any sport that involves a ball and watercolour painting.   

 

Bandmaster

Warrant Officers Class One Jeremy Ansell BMus(Hons)ALCM                                                                                                          

Warrant Officer Class One Ansell was born in Northampton in 1978. From the age of 11 he was a regular member of the orchestras, wind bands and jazz bands of the Northamptonshire County Music Service on a variety of instruments.

After completing his A-Level studies at the Northampton School for Boys and a brief spell working for the NHS he joined the Army as a percussionist in 1997.

On completion of Phase 1 training at Sir John Moore Barracks, Winchester, he spent eight months at the Royal Military School of Music, on the Foundation Course.

He joined The Band of the Prince of Wales's Division (Lucknow) as their only percussionist in October 1998.  He was heavily involved with the blues band, the jazz group and the big band.  He also sang with the band's male voice choir. During his time in the band he travelled extensively, including tours of Cyprus, Germany, Northern Ireland, The United States of America and Canada.

Working towards the Bandmasters' Course, in 2003 he gained a conducting diploma from the London College of Music. He went on to pass selection for a coveted place on the Bandmasters' Course and started in September 2005.       

On completing the three year course he was awarded prizes in band management and band direction and was subsequently appointed as Bandmaster of The Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland in August 2008. He has played hockey and golf for the Army and is married to Hannah.