The Kippax Band

Established 1814

2nd Section National Finalists 2007

The Solo Cornet Section

Nigel has been the principal cornet of The Kippax Band for over 12 years. Nigel is husband to Nicola (Cornet), and step-father to Heather (Cornet).

Nigel began his musical career at the age of eleven when he joined Sherburn Brass Band studying cornet under the tuition of Charles Lund, quickly rising through the ranks to take up position on the front bench. Moving to Sherburn High School the following year Nigel joined the very successful Sherburn High School Band under the leadership of Graham Walker. A television broadcast and record soon followed.

Nigel says: "Graham played an important part in channeling my musical talent in the right direction, a lot of what I do now and how I do it comes from Graham’s professional approach and attention to detail."

Now playing for two bands and with a string of soloist’s awards under his belt you might think that would be enough, but not for Nigel. He had already embarked on learning guitar and keyboards and by the age of eighteen was resident organist in the local working men’s club with his brother Graham on drums.

Not long afterwards, Nigel turned professional playing Trumpet Guitar & Keyboard’s in a three piece band playing local pubs & clubs. He has also played trumpet for Ian Wilkinson’s Oompah band and backed many well known artists.

Nigel still found time to continue his banding career and at the age of twenty three joined Rothwell Temperence on principal cornet, a position held for 5 years before a brief move to Jayess Queensbury, both in the Championship Section. During this time Nigel toured Norway and made several banding trips to the Isle of Man.

At this point, Nigel nearly gave up banding altogether, but while he was playing at the Easingwold March competition, Aileen Fairburn (then our secretary) asked if he would consider playing for Kippax. In his own words: “They took me to the pub, bought me a couple of beers and the rest as they say is history.”

HIGHLIGHTS

Meeting the Queen and Prince Philip with Sherburn High School Brass Band.

Playing in the Barbican Centre London with Rothwell Temperence.

Playing at Eurodisney.

Best thing ever: -

"Marrying my wife Nicola."

Nicola started playing Trumpet at the age of eleven with Corpus Christi School Band under the baton of Mr Eccles. Starting in the training band Nicola quickly progressed through the school's three bands to attain the position of Principal cornet with the senior band, a position she held until leaving school. The school band became very accomplished and toured in Southern Ireland once and Germany twice.

Now looking for a band to play with Nicola joined Kippax Band in 1976. In those days some people still looked on the brass band as being a male preserve, and Nicola was only the second female to play with the band. She started taking lessons from the band’s old Bandmaster Norman Morley and, once again starting at the bottom, worked her way through the ranks to Assistant Principal Cornet. Nicola has played beside several Principals before her husband Nigel took up the position.

Nigel says Nicola is a very accomplished player who doesn’t know how good she is: she can play something extremely difficult and not know how hard it is. It can be very disconcerting when Nicola takes her cornet out of the case, pitches a top C and goes up.

Her most special playing memories are being privileged to play at Norman Morley’s funeral and playing at Euro Disney, Paris.

Nicola is one of the longest serving playing members of Kippax Band, reaching 30 years in Nov 2006.

Bob is actually in his third spell with Kippax Band, having previously played from 1961-68 and 1975-86. He returned in 1997 and continues to strengthen the front line. Bob has also played with the Elland Silver and West Yorkshire Police bands.

Despite being the youngest player in the band, Natalie can already boast several years' playing experience and is a real asset to the back line. The Garforth Community College student has already passed her Associated Board Grade 5, along with Grade 4 Theory and Grade 1 Piano. In addition, she has won a number of solo prizes and has already performed as a soloist with the Kippax Band, giving pretty convincing renditions of one or two pieces made famous by her dad!

With such illustrious lineage, it was perhaps inevitable that at least one of the Morrison sisters would choose to follow her parents' musical hobby (Laura, however, is concentrating at the moment on beating Alan on the golf course!). Natalie rose through the ranks at the Gawthorpe Junior Band to become principal cornet, a position she held until July 2007. Having come along to Kippax with mum Anita for a few months to widen her experience, Natalie decided to make the move permanent and joined our cornet section.

Pontin's 2007 saw Natalie lift the award for "Youngest Player" in the 2nd Section, but her next prize was rather more substantial: in December 07 she received a Fame Academy Bursary Award of a brand new cornet, in recognition of her success and development to date.

Natalie has been a member of the National Childrens' Band of Great Britain since 2006 and is also an active member of the Yorkshire Youth Brass Band

Please see the vacancies page for details