Our Conductor:
Richard Powell GRSM, LRAM, ARCM
While a student at the Royal Army School of Music, Richard won the Cousins Memorial Prize.
Richard attended the Royal Academy of Music (1984-88) studying trumpet with Sydney Ellison, Ray Allen and James Watson, piano with Fiona Cameron and conducting with Denise Ham and Colin Metters. He was principal trumpet in the Academy's Symphony Orchestra, the Sinfonia and the chamber orchestra.
As Associate Director of Music at Pangbourne College, Richard is responsible for the teaching of all brass instruments and the running of the college bands, and is also a member of the Scots Guards Association Pipe Band.
Band Members:
Robin, Tuba Player
As mentioned in the about the band section Goring had a First Division Brass Band but ceased to exist after the First World War.
In 1977 the Concert Band was established again and set up as a Community Organisation, open to players of all ages and levels of proficiency.
Robin was one of a number of people to benefit from the band starting up again and their first president (and the first Freeman of Goring) was Lucy Woodward, who supported the band tirelessly during the early years.
Robin joined the band in early 1981, at the invitation of Derek Benbow, to play E♭ Bass in sucession to Terry Hookway, the original bass player. Robin had no previous experience but a few lessons from Jim Brewer, a lifelong brass player, set Robin on what he hopes was the right road.
The band's first conductor, George Jones, was a woodwind enthusiast who gave lessons to young players on Saturday mornings at a token fee. George retired to the South Coast shortly after Robin started playing the Bass (Robin believes the 2 events were not connected)! George was suceeded by Derek Benbow, followed by Jim Brewer, Peter Singer, Peter Hopkins and Andrew McBirnie.
Simon, Trumpet Player
Simon Larter plays the trumpet. In term time he is a teacher of English and drama and an Assistant House Master at Pangbourne College.
In the past Simon has been a wine waiter, worked in a psychiatric unit and a morgue, won a playwriting competition, sold advertising and run a public relations company.
Well travelled, he has concluded that home is where your friends are. Playing in the band is his escape from institutional life, and also a very relaxed way to meet wonderful people that are endlessly surprising about what they do.