The Players

Meet The Team

• Musical Director
• Front Row Cornets
• Back Row Cornets
• Horns & Flugel
• Baritones & Euphoniums
• Trombones
• Basses
• Percussion
• Band Management

Conductor

Neil Samuel

Neil Samuel was born into a Salvation Army family and at the age of 7 years old was given a tenor horn to learn. After a few frustrating months Neil was given the chance to learn the trombone instead, an offer he snapped up straight away. At the of 16 years old Neil was invited to study at the world famous Chethams School Of Music.

Whilst there Neil had the opportunity to study with Rob Burtenshaw and Chris Houlding. Neil was also the lead trombone player with the award winning Big Band led by Goff Richards and bass trombone in the symphony orchestra. Neils first taste of playing in a contesting band was with the BT band (Championship Section) from Stockport, who were conducted by Alan Lawton at the time. From there he moved on to Besses O’th Barn (conducted by Derek Broadbent).

His first solo trombone chair came next with a move to Wingates where he was once again reunited with Alan Lawton. One year later Neil was invited to become the principal trombone of the Leyland Band, with who he qualified for the National Finals with 3 years on the run, gained a prize winning position at the Nationals playing the test piece ‘Albion’, and won the 2003 ‘All England Masters Championships’.

After Leyland, Neil moved to the Fairey FP (Music) Band, a position he relinquished in February 2004. During his time as a player Neil peformed with some of the countires leading bands on a regular basis such as Brighouse and Rastrick, Carlton Main Frickley, Fodens, and the GUS Band.

From 2001 - 2005 Neil was also the Principal Trombone player with the ‘Young Ambassadors Brass Band Of Great Britain’ with whom he apearred as a soloist on several tours to Europe and the USA and Canada.

In 2006 Neil formed the group 'Vivace Brass'. The bands first concert was held in Rainford Village Hall in order to raise funds for Rainford Bands trip to the National Finals. Vivace Brass is made up of players from Brighouse and Rastrick, Sovereign Brass, GUS Band, Jaguar (Coventry), Wire Brass, Hammonds, Redbridge, Wingates, Wantage, Campbelltown, Hepworth, Fodens, and Rainford.

Neil was appointed as the Musical Director of Rainford Band in May 2003.