- What was your first experience with a brass band, when you think back?

I remember going to a concert with my mum to watch my Dad when he played with Brighouse and Rastrick. I was about 5 years old and the band had just signed a new principal cornet '96 a young man called Roger Webster! I remember my Dad played Carnival of Venice that night '96 it made a lasting impression on me.

The first band I played with was the City of Hull training band conducted by Dixon Laing. I was probably about 8 years old. We played March with a Beat, Sand Paper Ballet & Ceramic City. My sister Lisa was in the band too '96 we had great fun.

- Who is your favourite Euphonium Player next to your dad?

My Uncle Nicholas! Both were, and still are a huge influence on me. There are so many other euphonium players around the globe who I admire greatly, but I can still put a '91Childs Brothers'92 CD on today and be blown away.

- Was there ever another instrument you wanted to learn or did you always want to play the same instrument like your dad?

My parents encouraged me to play piano and I actually started on cornet, but I always wanted to play the euphonium. I'92ve never really looked back '96 I'92m a fan of the euphonium and if I was sent back in time I'92d make the same choice again!

- How can you keep being hungry to win contests after so many successful results?

I'92m not really hungry to win contests, I'92m hungry to play the best I can and be part of special performances. If that goes to plan, successful results are a bi-product. It is of course a glorious feeling to win, but music is so subjective, winning can not be the only motivation.

- How can you recover from a disappointing contesting result?

If you'92ve played as well as you can there is no point dwelling on a disappointing contest result '96 with different adjudicators you could have won! Its best just to let it go, celebrate the level of performance you'92ve achieved and move on. If the performance hasn'92t gone so well then of course it is very disappointing, especially after so much time and effort in rehearsals. However, there is nothing you can do about it! We are not robots, we are musicians, and the more chances you take to produce a special performance the more vulnerable you are to mistakes! My advice is to move on to the next challenge in the knowledge that one disappointing result doesn'92t make you a lesser player.

- This year was quite a sad year as many icons of the banding movement passed away. What are your personnel memories of James Watson, Maurice Murphy, Major Peter Parks, Geoff Richards and Roy Newsome? Did you know any of them personally?

I didn'92t really know Maurice Murphy, Goff Richards or Major Peter Parkes that well, although I had the pleasure of playing for the Major on several occasions. I remember in particular him conducting me on Le Roi d'Ys. He gave me so much time and space for the solo - quite remarkable musician.

The first National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain course I attended as an 11 year old Mr Newsome was the conductor. Even though I was sat at the bottom of the 2nd baritone line he made me feel special - it was a tremendous course and ignited my enthusiasm for brass bands. I played for Mr Newsome on 2nd baritone, 1st baritone, 2nd euphonium and finally principal euphonium. He was a great man and I knew no-one as passionate about brass bands.

James Watson probably left the biggest impression on me as a young musician. As a boy I watched him conduct Black Dyke, I listened to him play the trumpet, I attended many summer schools and youth band courses he directed, and was lucky enough to play for him at Black Dyke on several occasions. He could teach, motivate, inspire and be your best friend all at the same time! A tragic loss to music and education.

- What is your first experience of the Swiss Banding movement or of a Swiss band? Where, When, Who???

I'92m not really sure, I'92ve been to Switzerland so many times now! I remember attending the European in 2001 and being knocked out with the hospitality of the Swiss! However I think my first visit as a soloist was to play a concert with 13*s conducted by Geo Pierre Moren.

- What would you describe as your greatest banding moment?

Playing first baritone with the City of Hull (EYMS) Band at the 1996 National Championships of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall. It was the bands first time to compete in the championship section finals, I was 15 and it was my first time to play in the Royal Albert Hall, my Dad was conducting and my sister, mother, aunty and uncle were also playing in the band! The test piece was Robert Redhead'92s Isaiah 40 so I had to start the whole thing off! On paper we should have come last, but we gave our best performance and came 8th '96 it was like a win for us! That is my greatest banding moment and I imagine it always will be.

- After having taken the first steps in conduction, do you consider taking over the tradition of being a world famous euphonium player and then starting a conducting career?

I have much more I'92d like to do as a euphonium soloist first. When I have conducted I'92ve enjoyed it, and it'92s certainly something I'92m always studying whether playing a concert or listening to one. I can imagine I'92ll conduct more in the future, but for now playing is my priority.

- What are your plans for the future as a soloist? Where can people see you?

Well at the moment I'92m working on a new Concerto by Johan De Meij which I'92ll be premiering at the RNCM Festival of Brass. I'92m planning a series of recordings and a masterclass DVD which I'92m quite excited about, I'92m continuing to commission new repertoire and in this year I'92ll be playing in Portugal, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, USA and Wales! I don'92t think I'92m in Switzerland again any time soon, but things could change!