About Us
About Ringwood & Burley Band
The Ringwood Band were founded in 1879 and have been in existence ever since. The Burley Band started at a later date and continued until 1970 when the two bands amalgamated to form the present organisation (Ringwood & Burley Band). The band is well known in the New Forest/Wessex area and is a member of the Wessex Brass band Association.
Although it does take part in contests, the Ringwood & Burley Band is primarily a concert band playing an average of 20 engagements per year. The band has played before our late Queen, the late Queen Mother and Princess Anne. It has undertaken several overseas tours visiting Ringwood’s twin town in Normandy Pont Audemer, Mosbach in Germany where they gave a concert at the local Agricultural Show and also taking part in the Anniversary of the Liberation of Jersey celebrations was a highlight.
In 1999 the band enjoyed a mini tour of Lancashire and Yorkshire and were privileged to take part in the famous Northern ‘Whit Friday Marches” as seen on the film “Brassed Off”. They will be taking part in the Marches again at the first opportunity.
As well as playing the liners off at the quay-side, Cunard have invited the band on three occasions in recent years to give concerts on board the QE2. The band also played for 350 guests on the occasion of the liners 30th anniversary celebrations.
We are known as a concert band and have achieved many successes in past years at contests, winning the Third Section in the Wessex Championships in 2004.
Our Musical Director
Our Musical Director is Tony Waller FTCL
Tony studied trumpet at Trinity College of Music, London, before embarking on a very successful career as a freelance trumpet player. Over the years he has toured extensively with artistes such as Gene Pitney – 7 UK tours – Michel LeGrand, Alison Moyet and Jack Jones as well as working for P&O cruises as theatre trumpet player. Tony has also taught brass at many of the countries top schools, including Westminster Cathedral, Winchester, Bryanston and Sherborne. Tony was thrilled to be appointed lead trumpet with the Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra in 2017, after ‘depping’ for a few years. He was also a regular member of the Joe Loss Orchestra for many years.
Referred to as a ‘crossover’ player, Tony is equally happy playing music from the classical repertoire, and for many years was an extra and ‘dep’ with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. He now works for the education side of the B.S.O.
Tony was a member of the London Palladium orchestra which performed for the 2016/17 award winning production of ‘Cinderella’, starring Paul O’Grady and Julian Clary. He now runs his own band, specialising in music from the 1920’s and 30′ called ‘Tony Waller and his Prohibition Jazz’, as well as playing tuba in Canzona Brass Quintet.
”As well as studying trumpet at Music College, I also studied conducting during years three and four with Bernard Keefe. Since 2022, I have semi-retired from performing (who wants to drive on the M25 at 1am?!) and when asked last year if I would consider taking on the position as conductor of Ringwood and Burley, a smile came to my face. It was 50 years ago that I was a young soprano cornet player in the band, under the late Don Marlow, and thought, well it is pay back time!
I am looking forward to spending many happy years with Ringwood and Burley Brass Band.”