DIRECTOR OF MUSIC

Greg Walker BA(Hons)

Born into a musical family, Greg has been surrounded by music from an early age, originally learning clarinet and piano from the age of 7, and later saxophone. At the age of 15 Greg took up lessons on drum kit, passing his Grade 8 within 6 months of lessons, and has since studied with John Roberts, Dan Priest, Ted Carrasco, and Craig Blundell. His love of everything music led to him furthering his studies at the University of Southampton where he majored and gained first class honours in percussion performance and orchestral conducting. 

 

Now a talented multi-instrumentalist, Greg teaches music both privately and for the award winning Hampshire Music Service, where he also works as an instrument repairer and World Music specialist. He works closely with the Hampshire County Youth Wind Ensemble and is also Director of the Hampshire Percussion Ensemble. His love and dedication to music education has led to him receiving teaching endorsements with some of the world’s most famous percussion companies, including Vic Firth, Roland UK, and D’addario. 

 

Alongside Thornden Community Wind Band Greg conducts and rehearses other local professional and amateur bands and ensembles, also holding the post of Director of Music with the Band of the Hampshire Constabulary and Principal Director of Music with the 14th Eastleigh Scout and Guide Band (“The Spitfires”).

 

Greg is also in great demand as a player, performing with a range of ensembles from small function bands and big bands to full orchestras, regularly playing with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and other professional ensembles. Performing takes Greg all around the country to a diverse range of venues, with recent performances at the Royal Albert Hall, National Indoor Arena, and the Isle of Wight Festival!  His versatility and reading ability leads to a lot of deputising work with various wind, brass, and military bands.

 

In his sparse spare time, Greg runs his own company “African Drumming Parties Ltd” and has been heavily involved in Scouting for the past 24 years, currently holding the post of Assistant Group Scout Leader with a scout group in Eastleigh. For his sins, Greg is a keen Southampton FC supporter and can be found playing the bass drum for the club’s band “Saints Brass” on match days.