Musical Director, City of Bradford Brass Band: Lee Skipsey
Lee started playing the cornet at the age of 7 at the Regent Hall Corps of the Salvation Army on London's Oxford Street. As for so many young musicians in the army, other instruments were always on hand to try out, and for Lee this was percussion.
Lee has performed as a percussionist all over the world, in some of the finest concert halls and with some of the world's most respected musicians. In 2002, Lee was invited to join the world famous Black Dyke Band; by 2004, he had become the band's Principal Percussionist, and in 2005 he became the band's Player of the Year. On the contest stage as a player, Lee's experience and success is vast, winning the European Championships, the Yorkshire Areas, the English Nationals, two British Opens, and three National Championships.
After working alongside Dr. Nicholas Childs and tutoring the National Youth and Children's bands of Great Britain with Bramwell Tovey, as well as other projects with Elgar Howarth, Phillip Wilby, and Sir Colin Davies, conducting was Lee's next ambition.
Lee became the Director of Music for the City of Bradford Brass Band Organisation in May 2010. The band had an ensemble of 12 players when Lee was introduced to the band, but it has since grown into a family of bands boasting dozens of musicians and several concerts a month. By 2015, he had taken the band from the Third Section to the Championship Section, which was followed by qualification for the National Championships at the Royal Albert Hall. He also took BD1 Brass, COBB's sister bamd, from the Fourth to the First Section.
On the contest stage as a conductor Lee has had no less than 46 podium finishes, winning two National Finals, three Yorskhire Areas, two Scottish Championships, the Senior Trophy and a host of other contests. Lee has conducted many of the best bands in the world and has travelled the world playing and conducting.
Lee recently accepted an invitation to return as the City of Bradford Brass Band's Musical Director.