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BASBWE Salutes Outstanding Service !

Q A

&

with retiring Director of Music of the Royal
Marines, Lieutenant Colonel Nick Grace
by WINDS Editor: Bruce Hicks

It seems like a good place to start, “tell me how did
you get to your present rank ” ?

I joined the Royal Marines Band Service in April 1982 as a Euphonium Bandmasters’ Course. This incorporated a considerable amount of
and Cello player straight from school at the age of 17 years old. After 2 conducting, again with Malcolm as our tutor. Here I experienced not
years and 8 months training, which included military training as well only conducting the symphonic wind band, but also the orchestra.
as our instrumental training on both instruments, I joined the Royal With further promotion, I was selected for promotion to Director of
Band Plymouth in January 1985. I was fortunate to move to the Royal Music in 1999 and began 2-years studying conducting and composition
Marines Band in Portsmouth that provided the band for the Royal at the London College of Music. The excellent Patrick Bailey was my
Yacht Britannia where I was able to travel and enjoy seeing the world. conducting tutor and Martin Ellerby was my tutor in composition. This
After moves to London, Scotland and then Deal in Kent for a couple was where I met and worked the composer Nigel Clarke and Clarinetist
of promotional courses, I returned to Portsmouth and joined HMS Linda Merrick, who is now the Vice-Principal of the Royal Northern
Illustrious as the Volunteer Band Instructor on-board for 18-months. College of Music. After successful graduation with a 1-1 B Mus First
It was at this time that I got selected for commissioned rank that Class Honours degree, I returned to the Royal Marines as a Director of
allowed me to study conducting and composition at the London College Music in the rank of Captain. Through promotion I eventually became
of Music. My first Director of Music appointment was with the Royal the Principal Director of Music Royal Marines in 2009 in the rank of
Marines at the Commando Training Centre in Devon and then after a Lieutenant Colonel.
couple of jobs in Headquarters, I became the Director of Music at the
Royal School of Music in Portsmouth prior to leading the Royal Marines What has been some highlights of your career ?
Band Portsmouth, know as the ‘Royal Band’ which was the band that
had provided the Royal Yacht Band previously. It was from there that There have been so many highlights throughout my 35-year career in
I was selected for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and appointed the the Royal Marines from my first performance in full ceremonial uniform
Principal Director of Music Royal Marines in March 2009. as a Euphonium player, through to conducting the International massed
bands at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, it is difficult to choose
What were your expectations as a conductor leading just a few. Obviously conducting in the Royal Albert Hall is always a
one of the worlds premier service ensembles ? highlight and I’ve been fortunate to have played and conducted in the
venue over many years, especially for the annual Mountbatten Festival
My expectation was one of excitement, anticipation and a real privilege of Music. Then there would be conducting the stage band for Her
to work with very high quality young musicians. What has made my job Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee in the grounds of Windsor Castle in 2012 and
easier has been their enthusiasm and commitment to keep improving then conducting the 65-piece stage orchestra for ITV’s BAFTA winning
their individual and collective performances. live event ‘HM Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebration’ at Windsor in 2016
supporting fellow artists such as: Gary Barlow, Imelda Staunton,
How long have you been conducting and what has Beverley Knight, Alfie Boe, Katherine Jenkins, Kyle Minogue, Andrea
been your career pathway in the Royal Marines? Bocelli and Dame Shirley Bassey. Perhaps the most challenging was
conducting the film score, composed by Simon Dobson, for the world
I began conducting in 1994 when I attended the Royal Marines M1 première performance of the acclaimed restored silent film The Battles
Course, which is a 12-week academic music course that I had to pass of Coronel and Falkland Islands at the 2014 London Film Festival. The
before gaining promotion to Sergeant. Our conducting tutor on the M1’s following year I conducted the Royal Marines Bands at the opening
course was Malcolm Binney who provided an excellent introduction ceremony of the 2015 Rugby World Cup at Twickenham. However,
to conducting where I was able to learn and understand the basics of the consistent highlight for me has been working with the talented
conducting both in rehearsal and performance. I thoroughly enjoyed musicians and buglers of the Royal Marines Band Service who are the
the experience and decided to undertake the 12-month Royal Marines most committed, dedicated and enthusiastic musicians you could ever
wish to work with.
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