Lieutenant Colonel N J Grace BMus (Hons) FLCM LRSM RM
Born in West Bromwich, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Grace joined the Royal Marines Band Service in 1982
playing Euphonium and Cello. On completion of training he was awarded the Prince's Badge for the best
all-round musician passing for duty that year. After joining his first band at Flag Officer
Plymouth, HMS Raleigh, Nick served seven years with the Band of the Commander-in-Chief Naval
Home Command at Eastney. This included serving in Her Majesty's Yatch Britannia incorporating a
circumnavigation of the world, a royal honeymoon cruise, and rescuing British and foreign nationals
from Aden in 1986.
He then joined the Band of the Commander-in-Chief Fleet at RAF Northholt in 1992 followed by a year at
the Royal Marines Band Scotland at Rosyth. Nick attended the Warrant Officer Bandmaster course at
Deal successfully completing the course gaining the Licentiate Royal Schools of Music diploma.
His draft to HMS Illustrious in 1996 as the Volunteer Band Instructor included the eight-month 'Ocean Wave'
voyage to the Middle East, South Korea, Japan, the Philippines and Australia in 1997.
After successfully passing the Admiralty Interview Board he was commissioned in January 1999
and promoted to Captain in January 2001. On his Director of Music Course Nick studied conducting
with Patrick Bailey and composition with Martin Ellerby at the London College of Music gaining a
'First Class' Bachelor of Music degree with Honours. During his time at college several of his
compositions, for piano and trumpet, were published for the LCM graded exam syllabus. Nick was
awarded the 'Henry Purcell' prize for composition, gained a Fellowship diploma in conducting and the
Silver Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians on graduation in 2001.
On completion of his studies at college Nick took up his first appointment as the Director of
Music to the Royal Marines Band at the Commando Training Centre, Lympstone in June 2001.
In October 2002 he took command of a Temporary Service Fire Station in Bristol during
Operation FRESCO. He then commanded the Royal Marines Band attached to the Primary Casualty
Receiving Facility on RFA Argus in their operational role as casualty handlers during Operation TELIC.
On his return from operations, Nick was appointed as the Band Service Staff Officer responsible for
tasking band engagements, promotions and drafting at the Director Royal Marines in June 2003.
Following his promotion to Major in June 2004 he was appointed as Staff Officer Band Service
at the Headquarters Band Service in Portsmouth and then appointed Director of Music Training
at the Royal Marines School of Music in July 2005. He took up his present appointment as the
Director of Music of HM Royal Marines Band Portsmouth in January 2007 and commanded the largest
ever deployment of the Royal Marines Band Service in its operational role as the Cyprus Reinforcement
Unit in April 2007.
In March 2009 Nick was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and took up his
new appointment as the Commandant of the Royal Marines School of Music and Principal
Director of Music Royal Marines.
Nick resides in Portsmouth with his wife Isobel and their son Ryan.
WO2 Bdmr Russell J Young BMus(Hons) LRSM AMusTCL RM
Russ started his musical career at the age of seven as a trumpet / cornet player in Ripon, North Yorkshire,
and has played with many Championship brass bands in the north of England.
After gaining A-level music at the Harrogate College of Arts and Technology he joined the Royal
Marines Band Service, Deal, in 1993. During his training, which he completed in 1995, Russ
achieved awards for the best cornet player and the Aural Cup.
In September of that year he joined the Royal Marines Band Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth,
Devon, where he became the Band's principal cornet player, a position held for over 10 years.
During that time the BRNC band had many engagements internationally, highlights being San Diego,
Oregon, Naples, Cyprus and Finland.
Russ was appointed to Band Corporal in 2001 and in September 2005 attended the M1 music course,
passing with distinction. He was promoted to Band Sergeant in April 2006
and completed the year long Warrant Officer Bandmaster course in April 2007, gaining a LRSM and AmusTCL.
Russ is extremely pleased to be the Assistant Conductor of Ocean Brass to
Lieutenant-Colonel Nick Grace, and looks forward to a successful future with the Band.
Leighton Rich M.B.E
With the formation of Ocean Brass in 1998 (see history) Leighton Rich
was appointed as the Band's first MD. At the time he was also the musical director of the
Hampshire County Youth Band, one of the premier youth bands in the country.
Under Leighton's directorship the Band immediately built a reputation for musical excellence.
Leighton's term of directorship culminated with the promotion of the Band to the First
National section and participation in the National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall (October 2000).
Unfortunately early in 2001 Leighton had to relinquish the position of MD
due to his commitments with the Hampshire Youth Band.
It was with great sadness that the Band learnt in October 2006 that after a number of
years Leighton had lost his valient fight against cancer. His loss has been felt around the world.