Army Major to conduct Michelmersh Silver Band’s Poppy Appeal Concert
There will be a treat in store for concert-goers In the United Reformed Church on Remembrance Day this year as Michelmersh Band performs ‘For The Fallen’ - its annual concert supporting the RBL Poppy Appeal. The concert will be the debut performance for the band’s newly-appointed Musical Director, Major Dave Barringer.
Born in Rotherham, South Yorkshire in 1973, Dave joined the Army in 1989 and attended the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall before joining the Coldstream Guards Band and touring all over the world with them. He represented Great Britain at the inaugural European Conductor of the Year competition in 2000.
On promotion to Warrant Officer Class One in July 2003, he took up the position of Bandmaster to the Light Division Band touring all over Europe before being commissioned in the Rank of Captain and appointed as Director of Music, Royal Signals in 2009, where he served until taking up his current post at Army Headquarters in Andover on promotion to Major in 2012.
Dave has continued to pursue his interest in Brass Bands throughout his career, forming the British Army Brass Band in 2007. The band received rave reviews resulting in the Army subsequently forming three professional Brass Bands. He has conducted amongst others, the Flowers Band and the SWT Woodfalls Band, and became Musical Director of Michelmersh Silver Band in the summer of this year.
As a serving Army Officer, Major Barringer’s presence lends an added poignancy to the ‘For the Fallen’ concert programme which will include readings and musical tributes to mark the anniversaries of the Battle of Britain, VE and VJ Day, along with a special centenary year tribute to the work of Women’s Institute members during the two World Wars.