Musical Director

Jim Davies

Jim Davies was born in the small village of Ynyshir, in the Rhondda Valley of South Wales.

He began playing the cornet at the age of nine and went on to win dozens of prestigious solo awards, including Champion Soloist of Wales at the age of 15.

During his illustrious career, Jim has made numerous TV and radio appearances, later winning the much-coveted Granada TV Best Soloist award twice. He has been featured as guest artist at both the European and National Brass Band championships, and has also performed in all the major concert halls of the British Isles. He has undertaken concert tours all over Europe and North America, and has even toured Russia on behalf of the Welsh Arts Council.

Jim spent 30 years as one of the finest principal cornet players in Britain, firstly with Cory Band in South Wales and then with the Brighouse and Rastrick Band in West Yorkshire. During his time with Cory, the band won many prizes, including the European Championship and four National Championship titles. More National success followed at Brighouse and he released his solo CD Evergreen, accompanied by the band.

He has been in demand as a conductor since the age of 22, when he took over the top section Markham Band. He later conducted the South Wales bands of Ynyshir, Tongwynlais, Mid-Rhondda and Tredegar to contest success. He even won the Section 2 National Finals with Ammanford Town from the dreaded No.1 draw, as well as the famous Joshua Tetleys Contest with Point of Ayr Colliery.

On moving to Yorkshire, Jim enjoyed three years as Musical Director of Carlton Main Frickley Colliery and Wingates bands. More recently, he has been responsible for the resurgence of the EYMS Brass Band in Hull, the Yorkshire Imperial Band and Kippax Band.

He has a Masters Degree in Advanced Musicology and teaches music with his, wife, Rhiannon, at the prestigious Ackworth School, West Yorkshire. He is proud to have spent his career steeped in the British brass band tradition and now also brings all of his experience to the adjudicators' box. For many years a popular instrumental and band adjudicator at the National Eisteddfod and Welsh brass band contests, Jim has also judged the London and Midlands Area qualifying rounds, Pontin's Finals and the Brass in Concert Entertainment Contest in Spennymoor.