Photograph courtesy of www.illuminessence.co.uk
Matt Earl has been involved with the Cheltenham Silver Band for 21 years and considers the band an extension to his family and holds the band closely to his heart.
Matt started playing Tenor Horn with the training band in 1987 but soon moved onto cornet (there is an embarrassing reason for the change, that he might share over a pint!). After a short break to concentrate on school, Matt came back to the band and has since played every instrument in the band with the exception of trombone (and he still hasn't found one he can play!)
Whilst maintaining a playing relationship with the band, Matt also moved around to other bands to further his playing career; joining bands in the locality, Wales and Somerset experiencing performing in the Championship, First and Second section. Following a relocation to the Forest of Dean, Matt joined Drybrook (latterly AW Parker Drybrook) Band as Solo Cornet, and shared the triumph of taking the band to the National Finals for the first time in 26 years and was also elected Deputy Musical Director until he left the band in 2005. More recently Matt has decided to sell his cornet to play Bb Bass and percussion.
Matt began his conducting career with Sharpness and District Silver Band during the late 1990's and also became Deputy MD at Cheltenham Silver at the same time. Having found a new love within banding Matt attended courses and studied conducting in both the classical and brass arena.
With no "official" musical training, Matt continues to develop his musical ability, has taught himself to play the guitar, the piano, he has started to arrange and compose his own music and even confesses to have read some very dull music theory books! Matt considers music to be the most exciting and emotional art form and is often known to mount his soap box at a rehearsal to talk about passion and "painting pictures with music" and often uses analogies that even Ozzy Osbourne couldn't imagine!
Taking banding home with him, Matt married the band's Flugel player, Hayley in July 2007, therefore subjecting her to permanent suffering! As a hobby Matt works as a Facilities Manager for the Stroud and Swindon Building Society and has recently become an associate member of the British Institute of Facilities Management.
Matt started playing Tenor Horn with the training band in 1987 but soon moved onto cornet (there is an embarrassing reason for the change, that he might share over a pint!). After a short break to concentrate on school, Matt came back to the band and has since played every instrument in the band with the exception of trombone (and he still hasn't found one he can play!)
Whilst maintaining a playing relationship with the band, Matt also moved around to other bands to further his playing career; joining bands in the locality, Wales and Somerset experiencing performing in the Championship, First and Second section. Following a relocation to the Forest of Dean, Matt joined Drybrook (latterly AW Parker Drybrook) Band as Solo Cornet, and shared the triumph of taking the band to the National Finals for the first time in 26 years and was also elected Deputy Musical Director until he left the band in 2005. More recently Matt has decided to sell his cornet to play Bb Bass and percussion.
Matt began his conducting career with Sharpness and District Silver Band during the late 1990's and also became Deputy MD at Cheltenham Silver at the same time. Having found a new love within banding Matt attended courses and studied conducting in both the classical and brass arena.
With no "official" musical training, Matt continues to develop his musical ability, has taught himself to play the guitar, the piano, he has started to arrange and compose his own music and even confesses to have read some very dull music theory books! Matt considers music to be the most exciting and emotional art form and is often known to mount his soap box at a rehearsal to talk about passion and "painting pictures with music" and often uses analogies that even Ozzy Osbourne couldn't imagine!
Taking banding home with him, Matt married the band's Flugel player, Hayley in July 2007, therefore subjecting her to permanent suffering! As a hobby Matt works as a Facilities Manager for the Stroud and Swindon Building Society and has recently become an associate member of the British Institute of Facilities Management.