Mike Wright (1st Baritone)

Mike joined the band in 2004, following an impressive line up of bands on various instruments including cornet, soprano, tenor horn and baritone.

These included stints within the youth section of the Cheshire Brass Band and the National Brass Band, then in adult life with the Port Sunlight Royal British Legion Band, Ipswich Town Band, City of Chester Band, Middleton Band, Besses o' th' Barn band (who played at the JJB stadium in Wigan during the Great Britain v Kiwis Rugby League Final on November 10th 2007 - a big band then!) and a deputising stint for the Manchester CWS Band before joining Whitchurch Band. Wow, this list surpasses that of our illustrious Principal Eb Bass player and Junior Head Tutor Les (Mr Les) Roberts, and that's saying something for a man of Mike's age! Talking of age, Mike quotes the late, great Spike Milligan when asked of his. "I was born at a very early age".

When you hear Mike practising Hoagy Charmichael's "Georgia On My Mind" whilst the rest of us are drinking tea and eating Barbara's yummy biscuits at break, it's hard to imagine that he took a 10 year break from playing before joining Whitchurch Band! And he still reckons he tries to get a few correct notes each week! This is from a man who has been given the reins of Assistant Musical Director from Simon Griffiths in his absence to lead the band!

Mike lives in the picturesque village of Marbury in Cheshire with his wife Chris, and when he is not blowing the baritone or waving the stick he finds the time to be a director and partner within a prominent optical filter and gas sensor company called Envin Scientific Ltd, proud sponsors of our recent successful concert at Whitchurch Civic Centre (see our news page).

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