Lieutenant Colonel N J Grace BMus (Hons) FLCM LRSM RM
It is with sadness that Ocean Brass announces that Lt Col Nick Grace RM has
decided to step down from his position as their Musical Director.
Nick was appointed Musical Director in July 2004 and has been with the band
for almost six years. In that time his leadership and direction has allowed
the band to flourish and raise the standard of performance to the highest
level. His enthusiasm and motivation has been the key to the band's
development contributing to many successes including becoming West of
England Second Section Regional Champions in 2007, qualifying for
the National Finals and gaining promotion to the First Section.
His long and distinguished career in the Royal Marines reached its pinnacle
last year when he was promoted to Lt. Col. and appointed Principal
Director of Music, Royal Marine Band Service. His duties and responsibilities
in this post have meant that he has found it increasingly difficult to give
the necessary time to Ocean Brass so reluctantly he has decided to
relinquish his position as MD.
His association with the band will not end though and he will continue to
help the band wherever and whenever he can.
The band wish to take this opportunity to thank Nick for all his years of
service with the band and wish him well in his future career.
The band will now begin the hard task of finding a replacement for him.
2 April 2010.
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.