Patrick Bailey, Music Director
Patrick Bailey held the conducting scholarship to the Royal College of Music where he worked as assistant conductor to, amongst others, Sir Andrew Davis and Diego Masson. Whilst there, he won the August Manns Conducting Prize and the Worshipful Company of Musicians' Silver Medal. He also won scholarships to continue his studies at the Britten-Pears School as assistant to Oliver Knussen and at the Dartington International Summer School.
Patrick Bailey held the conducting scholarship to the Royal College of Music where he worked as assistant conductor to, amongst others, Sir Andrew Davis and Diego Masson. Whilst there, he won the August Manns Conducting Prize and the Worshipful Company of Musicians' Silver Medal. He also won scholarships to continue his studies at the Britten-Pears School as assistant to Oliver Knussen and at the Dartington International Summer School.
He has conducted concerts with the English Sinfonia, ViVA, Sinfonia 21, New Music Players, Britten-Pears Orchestra and many others at festivals all over the country including Aldeburgh, Brighton, Bath and York and in London (including Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall and Barbican). A regular conductor with The Opera Group, one of the country's leading professional touring opera companies, he has conducted Bernstein's Candide, Shostakovitch's The Nose, Peter Maxwell Davies' The Martyrdom of St. Magnus, Walton's The Bear and the premiere of Edward Rushton's The Young Man With the Carnation at the Almeida Opera. He has also conducted opera for the Norfolk and Norwich Festival, Dartington Festival, Solaris Music Theatre and the London College of Music. With the New Music Players, Patrick has made recordings and broadcasts for BBC Radio and conducted several scores to silent film. He has also given concerts in France, Germany, Italy, Dubai, India and the USA.
He teaches at the Royal College of Music and is Head of Conducting at the London College of Music & Media where he directs the Sinfonietta. He is the Music Director of the British Police Symphony Orchestra, City University Symphony Orchestra, the Hertfordshire Schools Symphony Orchestra and, from 2004, the Thursford Christmas Spectacular.
Patrick Bailey
Music Director
John Morgan
Trumpet
Kevin England
Oboe
Roger Barker
Horn
Helen Creedy
'Cello
Kate Brookes
Bassoon
Kevin England, Oboe
Kevin, Principal oboe of the BPSO for the last twelve years, grew up in Bexleyheath, Kent. The son of a police officer completed his early musical studies at the Bexley Music Centre, Sidcup, before concentrating on the oboe under Anthony Camden (then principal of the LSO) at the Guildhall School of Music.
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Kevin, Principal oboe of the BPSO for the last twelve years, grew up in Bexleyheath, Kent. The son of a police officer completed his early musical studies at the Bexley Music Centre, Sidcup, before concentrating on the oboe under Anthony Camden (then principal of the LSO) at the Guildhall School of Music.
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From 1979-83 he continued his advanced studies with Michael Dobson at the Royal Academy of Music. On leaving college, Kevin freelanced with many orchestras across the country including the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and Ulster Orchestra.
He has appeared as soloist with the BPSO previously in performances of the Richard Strauss oboe concerto and Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante for wind.
He has appeared as soloist with the BPSO previously in performances of the Richard Strauss oboe concerto and Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante for wind.
Kevin has served in the Metropolitan Police for nearly twenty years, works within the Public Order Branch at New Scotland Yard. He still finds time to play regularly in two orchestras and is the proud father of six children
Orchestra Biographies
John Morgan, Trumpet
John is a serving officer with Dyfed-Powys Police and is currently employed as a Police Trainer at their headquarters in Carmarthen.
He was born in Carmarthen some 48 years ago and began playing the cornet with the Llanelli Salvation Army band when he was only 11 years of age.
John is a serving officer with Dyfed-Powys Police and is currently employed as a Police Trainer at their headquarters in Carmarthen.
He was born in Carmarthen some 48 years ago and began playing the cornet with the Llanelli Salvation Army band when he was only 11 years of age.
His musical talent was soon recognised and as a consequence a few years later, he was selected to attend the Welsh College Of Music and Drama (then based at Cardiff Castle), as a part time student where he studied under Colin Casson (BBC Welsh Orchestra) and William Lang (London Symphony Orchestra).
John was a founder member of the BPSO and has been their principal trumpet since 1989. He is also principal trumpeter with the Welsh Philharmonic Orchestra and performs with the National Sinfonia Of Wales, The Welsh Chamber Orchestra and freelances with other orchestras in England and Wales. John is also musical director of The Myrddin Chorale, a Carmarthen based mixed choir, The Merlin Youth Theatre, Carmarthen Symphonic Wind Band and The BPSO Brass Ensemble.
He is currently employed as the BPSO Orchestral Secretary and is married to the orchestra's librarian, Lynne.
John was a founder member of the BPSO and has been their principal trumpet since 1989. He is also principal trumpeter with the Welsh Philharmonic Orchestra and performs with the National Sinfonia Of Wales, The Welsh Chamber Orchestra and freelances with other orchestras in England and Wales. John is also musical director of The Myrddin Chorale, a Carmarthen based mixed choir, The Merlin Youth Theatre, Carmarthen Symphonic Wind Band and The BPSO Brass Ensemble.
He is currently employed as the BPSO Orchestral Secretary and is married to the orchestra's librarian, Lynne.
Roger Barker, Horn
Roger was born to a musical family spanning two generations and from a very early age was taking part in musical performances as a chorister, before studying the violin and horn as his years reached double figures. He soon became a member of his school orchestra and subsequently a horn player with the Staffordshire County Youth Orchestra, where he was principal for over 4 years. He soon began performing with various other orchestras, operatic companies and choral societies.
On leaving school he was faced with the difficult decision of either seeking to pursue his musical interests professionally or follow a more conventional career path. Having briefly attended the Royal Academy of Music he perhaps wisely chose the latter and served as a police officer with Staffordshire Police for 32 years, whilst simultaneously teaching horn and performing both professionally, and just for fun, throughout his police career.
Roger was born to a musical family spanning two generations and from a very early age was taking part in musical performances as a chorister, before studying the violin and horn as his years reached double figures. He soon became a member of his school orchestra and subsequently a horn player with the Staffordshire County Youth Orchestra, where he was principal for over 4 years. He soon began performing with various other orchestras, operatic companies and choral societies.
On leaving school he was faced with the difficult decision of either seeking to pursue his musical interests professionally or follow a more conventional career path. Having briefly attended the Royal Academy of Music he perhaps wisely chose the latter and served as a police officer with Staffordshire Police for 32 years, whilst simultaneously teaching horn and performing both professionally, and just for fun, throughout his police career.
He is married to Mary, a professional violin player and teacher, who for many years lead the BPSO second violins, and has 2 sons who appear to have inherited their musical genes.
Following retirement from the police service as a Chief Inspector in charge of The Administration of Justice, 7 years ago, Roger took up a post as a brass instrument peripatetic teacher in Staffordshire and continues to perform with a wide range of orchestras. He has been principal horn with the British Police Symphony Orchestra since its formation and also performs regularly with a number of other orchestras and groups including The British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, The Midlands Classical Orchestra, The Buxton Festival Orchestra and The North Staffordshire Symphony Orchestra. He has played regularly with The Stafford Sinfonia for over 30 years with whom he has performed all of Mozart's' Horn Concerto's, 2 by Haydn, The Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings by Britten and the 1st Horn Concerto by Richard Stauss.
Throughout the 1990's Roger served the BPSO on its Management Committee and acted as assistant secretary, programme editor and concert organiser. During this time Roger organised 24 weekend rehearsal and 15 concerts in his native Staffordshire at venues such as Lichfield Cathedral (6), J.C.B. Rocester (3), Victoria Hall Hanley (2) and Hilton Hall, Staffordshire raising £40,000 pounds for local charities and the BPSO and securing sponsorship from The Police Mutual Assurance Society based in Lichfield, J.C.B. at Rocester, Tarmac of Hilton and British Telecom.
Following retirement from the police service as a Chief Inspector in charge of The Administration of Justice, 7 years ago, Roger took up a post as a brass instrument peripatetic teacher in Staffordshire and continues to perform with a wide range of orchestras. He has been principal horn with the British Police Symphony Orchestra since its formation and also performs regularly with a number of other orchestras and groups including The British Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, The Midlands Classical Orchestra, The Buxton Festival Orchestra and The North Staffordshire Symphony Orchestra. He has played regularly with The Stafford Sinfonia for over 30 years with whom he has performed all of Mozart's' Horn Concerto's, 2 by Haydn, The Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings by Britten and the 1st Horn Concerto by Richard Stauss.
Throughout the 1990's Roger served the BPSO on its Management Committee and acted as assistant secretary, programme editor and concert organiser. During this time Roger organised 24 weekend rehearsal and 15 concerts in his native Staffordshire at venues such as Lichfield Cathedral (6), J.C.B. Rocester (3), Victoria Hall Hanley (2) and Hilton Hall, Staffordshire raising £40,000 pounds for local charities and the BPSO and securing sponsorship from The Police Mutual Assurance Society based in Lichfield, J.C.B. at Rocester, Tarmac of Hilton and British Telecom.
Helen Creedy, 'Cello
Helen joined the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary after graduating with an MA (Hons) in Music & Drama from the University of Glasgow and was immediately posted to Penzance, prompting her mother to ask why she seemed to end up living so far away from her home town of Bristol.
Following a couple of interesting (and very sociable) years in Penzance where the beaches and surf are particularly spectacular, Helen was posted to Exeter where she has lived ever since.
Helen joined the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary after graduating with an MA (Hons) in Music & Drama from the University of Glasgow and was immediately posted to Penzance, prompting her mother to ask why she seemed to end up living so far away from her home town of Bristol.
Following a couple of interesting (and very sociable) years in Penzance where the beaches and surf are particularly spectacular, Helen was posted to Exeter where she has lived ever since.
It was while she was working as a PC in Exeter that she was invited to join the BPSO (or the Police National Orchestra as it was originally known). Having forgotten more than she had learned about playing the cello, she retrieved said instrument from where it had been gathering dust in the corner of the dining room and found a brave teacher to start an intensive refresher course of lessons.
In subsequent years she has worked at many police stations in Devon and been promoted first to Sergeant and then Inspector before returning to Heavitree Road station in Exeter where she is currently Sector Inspector for the East of the city.
Within the BPSO she took on the unenviable task of Rehearsal Manager in which she tries to organise accommodation for over 60 people, arrange a suitable venue for the actual rehearsal and manage the needs of an entire orchestra. This can vary from ensuring members have somewhere to sleep (even though they have forgotten to advise her that they actually require a room) to locating and returning various items of lost property.
Finally, after nearly 16 years as a member of the BPSO she is pleased to say that she enjoys the music, camaraderie and excitement of performing as much now as she did when she made the journey to Birmingham to the very first rehearsal.
In subsequent years she has worked at many police stations in Devon and been promoted first to Sergeant and then Inspector before returning to Heavitree Road station in Exeter where she is currently Sector Inspector for the East of the city.
Within the BPSO she took on the unenviable task of Rehearsal Manager in which she tries to organise accommodation for over 60 people, arrange a suitable venue for the actual rehearsal and manage the needs of an entire orchestra. This can vary from ensuring members have somewhere to sleep (even though they have forgotten to advise her that they actually require a room) to locating and returning various items of lost property.
Finally, after nearly 16 years as a member of the BPSO she is pleased to say that she enjoys the music, camaraderie and excitement of performing as much now as she did when she made the journey to Birmingham to the very first rehearsal.
Kate Brookes, Bassoon
Biog awaits.
Biog awaits.
