Alan Gout- Artistic Director
Alan Gout, artistic director, has lead a very varied musical life. Despite
reading music at Oxford his first musical employment was playing in a pub
jazz trio....more
Wilf Gibson - Violin
has wide violinistic experience not only from his symphonic work with, amongst others, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and the London Symphony orchestras but also through his founder membership of the Electric Light Orchestra. He is one of our most sought after studio players.
Arnold Bibby - Clarinet, Soprano &Tenor Saxophones, travelled the world as Regimental Band Sergeant Major with the Scots Guards. He has played on the Orient Express, for the supper dancing at London’s Ritz Hotel and was in the band for the QE2’s final voyage to Dubai in November 2008. He has also been an extra in several films including Octopussy.
David Land - Trumpet lives in rural Norfolk whence he pursues his career as a busy backing musician. Having been on the road in the U.S.A. with Jack Jones he recently recorded with Leo Sayer in Prague. He has played with many bands including the Pasadena Roof Orchestra.
John Elliott -Sousaphone/Bass Saxophone is a man of many parts: busy freelance tuba player 
and instrument collector (he can play them too), widely-read polymath and cruciverbalist. He has just published The One-Stop Didgeridoo Book. Web Page
David Chandler - Trombone has guested with the band but steps in since the retirement of the illustrious Peter Hodge after the BSSB Christmas Ball at the Corn Exchange, Brighton. Even during his succesful career in the Royal Opera Orchestra Dave fronted his own band just round the corner at that justly famous meeting place for the great and good of British jazz; Sunday evening at The Lamb & Flag.
Peter Ripper - Clarinet, Bass Clarinet & Alto Saxophone having been with the BBC Radio Orchestra, is also much in demand for theatre, symphonic, jazz and recording work; it’s his bass saxophone on some of the Harry Potter films. He founded and conducts the Maidenhead Concert band and is saxophone tutor at Eton College.
David Tosh - Drums was a regular at the National Theatre, has played on Inspector Morse soundtracks, appeared with the RPO Pops orchestra and works for Glyndbourne Touring Opera. Having been thrust in to the limelight he discovered a new career as a drummer with the Royal Opera House Dance Band for the popular series of Tea Dances in the Floral Hall.
Max Britain -
Guitar/Banjo had made several guest appearances with the band before taking over after Alec Coburn’s sad death in 2008. ‘Humph’, Jamie Cullum, Marian Montgomery, Vic Damone, John Williams: these are just a few of the artists he has worked with. There are now 120 boys at Eton College learning the guitar and Max is in charge.
Herbie Flowers - Double bass is the ultimate name without a face, the session musician par excellence who has recorded with nearly everybody: David Bowie, David Essex, Elton John, John Williams and Sky, not forgetting Henry Mancini for his Pink Panther soundtracks. Herbie was on the original of Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds and tours the world with today’s version.
Tony Summers - Percussion read chemistry at Oriel College, Oxford and, having retired from a succesful scientific and business career, is now free to pursue his passion for music. He does many of the bands arrangements and his Concertino for Flute and Strings has recently received its first performance.
Philip Hopkins - Drums, notwithstanding the fact that he read English at Worcester College, Oxford, still became a professional musician, and a drummer to boot. He is an expert theatre player appearing regularly at The Globe and National Theatres. His harmonica playing is pretty good too.
Links
Palm Court Strings
Denise Winter Photography
Wilfred Gibson Interview