Johnstone Band’s musical director has won The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain’s (NYBBGB) conductor competition.
Joshua Parkhill triumphed last Saturday (January 13) in Tidworth, England, in the final of the contest which was sponsored by The Garrick Charitable Trust and hosted by the NYBBGB’s partner The Royal Corps of Army Music.
After a “wonderful morning of music”, the judging panel had the tough job of deciding between their four finalists, and, after some deliberation, announced Joshua as the overall winner.
Dr Robert Childs, NYBBGB Artistic Director and chair of the jury of judges, said: “All four finalists were strong and demonstrated elegance and great communication skills.
“Joshua had clearly done thorough research of the score and not only guided the band through a very efficient and musical interpretation of Peter Graham’s Shine As The Light, but he also gave the band great insight into the deeper meaning of this work based on its religious text.”
As the overall winner of the competition, Joshua took home a cash prize of £750 and one year’s membership of the Brass Band Conductors Association.
Excitingly, he will also get to work as assistant conductor to Professor David King on the youth band’s 2024 Summer course at Stonyhurst College, and conduct a work at The NYBBGB's Summer concert in Blackburn Cathedral.
Joshua, 23, said he was "thrilled to have won" and that “it was great to work with such high- quality musicians from both the youth band and British Army on Peter Graham's fabulous piece ‘Shine as the Light’.”
"I'm looking forward to working with the youth band again and being mentored by Professor David King at the 2024 summer course,” he added.
“My thanks also goes to the adjudicators for their helpful feedback and constructive comments which will help me continue to improve my brass band conducting skills.”
Joshua was announced as the new musical director of Johnstone Band earlier this month.
Originally from Ayrshire, he began playing brass through the Salvation Army and their Young People’s YP Band.
He is a recent First Class graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where he collected multiple awards, including the Governor’s Recital Prize for Brass.
Joshua is also tje musical director of Brass Sounds Inverclyde and is resident Conductor at the UNISON Kinneil Band, which is based in Bo'ness.
When not playing or conducting he is passionate about widening access and participation to music through his work with Live Music Now Scotland and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
In a social media post, a spokesperson for Johnstone Band, said: “Congratulations to our conductor Joshua Parkhill on winning The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain young conductor competition.
“What a star.”
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