A military musician who was part of the Army Orchestra which won two BAFTAs is the new Bandmaster (BM) for The Royal Signals (Northern) Band.
Warrant Officer Class 2 (BM) Chris Brown LRSM (Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music) conducting during The Royal Signals (Northern) Band’s rehearsal.
Warrant Officer Class 2 (BM) Chris Brown LRSM (Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music) will lead the Darlington-based Reserve band after transferring from service in the regular Army.
He brings a wealth of experience from an outstanding military music career, having served with both the Royal Marines Band Service and the British Army; including Bandmaster appointments with the Grenadier Guards, British Army Band Catterick and, most recently, the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Chris played violin in the Army Orchestra which scooped the coveted British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards for BBC broadcasts of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee performance and recording of the famous Paddington sketch, with Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and the King’s Coronation Concert performance at Party at the Palace.
He says of the Paddington sketch: “It was recorded at Abbey Road a few weeks prior, under complete secrecy, to be broadcast as a surprise to the nation.”
A career packed with highlights
Warrant Officer Class 2 (BM) Chris Brown LRSM conducting members of The Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland playing in Edinburgh Castle.
Numerous career highlights, including playing solo violin at Earls Court for five weeks for the Royal Tournament, and performing with music royalty such as Katy Perry, Nicole Scherzinger, Sam Ryder, Alicia Keys, George Ezra, Mabel, Celeste, Tom Jones, Ella Eyre and Lang-Lang, among many others.
Significant prestigious events such as Trooping the Colour, the National Act of Remembrance at the Cenotaph, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and Her Majesty the Queen’s state funeral were unforgettable landmarks.
My service has been the thing I am most proud of
Taking on his new position, Chris said: “I know some of the people in the band and its reputation, so I was delighted to be appointed Bandmaster with this terrific group.
“I’m keenly anticipating getting started and look forward to performing with them.
“My service has been the thing I am most proud of, and the thing which has made me who I am today.”
Dedicated to developing the next generation
Warrant Officer Class 2 (BM) Chris Brown LRSM conducting during The Royal Signals (Northern) Band’s rehearsal.
Chris, who in addition to being an accomplished violinist and percussionist, is a passionate advocate for developing and training upcoming musicians, returned to the military 2009 after a 16-year hiatus having first joined in 1990.
“Having already had an earlier military musical career in the Royal Marines Band Service, it made sense to re-enlist to the Army, when my musical skills were needed,” he said.
During his career, Chris has also served with the Royal Artillery Band, the Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra (now known as the Duchess of Sussex's String Orchestra), and as Training Quality Bandmaster at the Headquarters of the Royal Corps of Army Music.