NEW ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR APPOINTED

We are delighted to announce that John Hanchett, Bandmaster of the Portsmouth Citadel Band, has been appointed the new Associate Conductor of The Solent Fellowship Band.

John was born in Grantham, Lincolnshire in 1978 to Salvationist parents. He started his musical education at Grantham Citadel learning to play the cornet at the age of seven. John moved to Portsmouth in 1997 to join The Royal Marines Band Service as a euphonium player and cellist. After three years of study at The Royal Marines School of Music, John was drafted to the Portsmouth Band (The Royal Band). Following medical discharge from the Royal Marines in 2002 John started a new career as a peripatetic teacher for Southampton Music Service. Besides teaching in a number of schools John conducts several school, area and city wind ensembles and brass bands. In 2004 John gained a LRSM Diploma on Euphonium.