Before being appointed as Musical Director at the start of 2020, Stephen was for a number of years the Orchestra’s 1st trombonist, but this is not his first conducting position.

Stephen received conducting lessons from Professor Peter Stark at the Royal College of Music and currently conducts the Luton Concert Band and also the Hitchin Community Brass Band. Previously he has conducted a wide range of musical societies – from string orchestras to big bands.

Steve was born in Farnborough, Hampshire and after initially studying piano, took up the violin whilst at primary school and then the clarinet at the age of 14. On leaving school, he was successful in gaining entry to the Royal Marines School of Music at Deal as a violinist and clarinet player and sang in the local Handelian Choral Society during his time there. He went on to serve in various Royal Marines Bands including a sea-going band where he saw service on the hospital ship SS Uganda during the Falklands War.

On leaving the RM Band Service after 14 years, Steve became a police officer in Gwent. Whilst in Newport, he was appointed leader of the Newport Concert Orchestra, of which he later became chairman and conductor, and also as conductor of Cwmbran Brass. Steve moved to Bletchley in 2014 and currently plays solo clarinet with the South Beds Concert Band. He is also the Musical Director of the Leighton-Linslade Concert Band. He was appointed Musical Director of the Luton Concert Orchestra in April 2016 and left at the end of 2019 due to work commitments.