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The Musical Director - Mel
Hopkin
LINK to Brian Long - Former Musical Director
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Click on photograph for an enlargement - taken at Kirton
Holme in June 2001 |
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Mel Hopkin was appointed Musical Director of the Band in September
1996. He is an experienced brass player, having first started to
play at the age of 8 years, and playing regularly since 1961. He
spent most of his playing time with the Royal British Legion Band
(Spalding) and, with them, has made a number of recordings and taken
part in many competitions. During his playing career he has
played most brass instruments (as long as they have valves!) - he
is currently a Euphonium and Bb Bass player.
He joined the Spalding Band playing 2nd Baritone and shortly progressed
to 1st Baritone. Soon afterwards he moved to Repiano Cornet
and then on to Soprano Cornet. It was not long before he moved
to Bb Cornet and he remained principal cornet of the Spalding Band
for many years. He was Musical Director of the Spalding Band in
the late 1970s until he left the area in 1981.
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He then joined the Horncastle Silver Band playing Solo Cornet.
At the same time he was a founder member of Welland Brass - made up of
members of many bands of the area. He returned to Spalding in 1984
and took up the Bass. He remained playing Bass until he was appointed
Musical Director at Holbeach.
He was appointed Musical Director of Spalding Youth Brass when they formed
in 1989 and trained them to become East Anglian Youth Band champions in
1993, 1994 and 1995. He also had considerable success with Spalding Youth
Brass in solo, duet and quartet contests.
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Mel Hopkin with Spalding Youth Brass in 1995 with the
cups won at the East Anglian Youth band Championship |
He followed his father Jack when he joined the Spalding Band. Mel's
own son, James, and daughter, Zoe, are both brass players. They
were both members of the Spalding Band and Spalding Youth Brass.
Mel's musical interests are wide; he was Musical Director of the Spalding
Grammar School Big Band for a number of
years and a playing member (on Euphonium and Bass) of the school's concert
band and brass ensemble; he is also an active committee member (and treasurer)
of South Holland Concerts (bringing
professional classical music to the area).
Mel also enjoys computing in his spare time and he created and maintains
this website.
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