Stowmarket Concert Band

If you are interested in joining the Band, please visit our membership page or training band page for more details. This page gives you some information about our main band - you can also read about the achievements of our training band here!

Mel Stammers has been conductor of the Band since 1998. A former player who left the Band in 1976, he pursued a career of music in the army before returning to lead the Band. During Mel's time with the Band, he has led tours to Germany through his contacts in North Germany.

Ian Harvey joined the band in 2008 after many years playing with Martlesham Brass where he had great success in training players. In September 2009 he begun the current SCB training band and along with wife Nina, has led them from one player up to a band of over 20 musicians.

The cornet section is headed by Melvyn Baker who was an original member of the band. He is joined on the front row by our previous flugal player Ben Stammers, Nina Harvey, Claire Jones, and when he's not at school, Alastair Mason.

Our 'back row' cornet section is headed by soprano cornet player Stephen Horrex, who is one of the newer members of the band. We also have Chloe Powell and Sophie Stammers on repiano, training band graduates Martin Fisher and Elliot Burdett on second cornet and Lee Clarke on third cornet.

Greg Wright is joined Tom Clarke make up our euphonium section. Dave Welham on 1st baritone is joined by Bryan Hilton on 2nd baritone who is another training band graduate.

Melanie Blanchard and Ian Harvey make up our solos horns and are joined by Annette Abbott and Malcolm Colquhoun who has joined us from the training band. We are also pleased to welcome back Kristian Leech to help us out on flugal now that Ben has joined the solos cornets.

The trombone section is one of the most constant in the band with around 50 years service between them! Richard Chapman on first trombone is longest serving member of the band and has also been seen doing a reasonable impression of a conductor recently in Mel's absence! He is joined by recently returned past player Roger Keeling and former conductor Barry Fuell on second trombone and bass trombones Polly Sinclair and Josh Fisher.

Our bass section is made up of Russell Sawyer playing alongside another training band graduate Heather Bexon. On BBb bass they are joined by Stephen Gillott and Keith Challis, who returned to play with the band for the 50th anniversary concert and is still here!