The Percussion Section

Now for something different...

BANG, CRASH, BOOM, DONG, TING.

Just some of the sounds you will here coming from the back of the band played by a group of energetic and lively bunch!

A brass band has a very wide range of genres in which it can play. So the percussion section has to be "ready for all eventualities". From the traditional snare and bass of a march to the full Timpani, Tam tam, Tubular Bell filled extravaganza of an orchestral score!

Steve Reily - Percussionist and Drummer

Our resident animal, Steve is 48 years of age and started his playing life in 1983 at Gleed Boys School in Spalding. He joined the band in January 2018 and has remained with the band ever since.

Steve has a degree in Art, but for most of his working life, He has been a professional drummer and music teacher. He currently teaches at Clifton Community School and plays Bass Guitar for a professional tribute band. Steve also enjoys running and DIY.

Russ AcArthur - Percussionist

Russ McArthur is a percussionist and drummer studying in his final year at Leeds Conservatoire.

Born in Southeast London, Russ began Percussion lessons at the age of 13.  Throughout his time in secondary school, he took part in many ensembles covering a variety of genres. Russ also played a number of solo piano gigs at this time, in bars and restaurants around his hometown.

In 2023, Russ worked with the Royal Academy of Music's Percussion department, performing at their St Mark's venue in Paddington. Additionally, he has played with the English National Ballet and London Musical Theatre Orchestra in a number of shows including The Nutcracker, Les Misérables and West Side Story.

Since joining Leeds Conservatoire, he has played in the orchestra, wind orchestra and jazz orchestra projects, which work closely with the orchestras of Opera North and Manchester Camerata. Furthermore, he is a part of many Student Union ensembles covering a variety of disciplines. Russ has had the pleasure of working with a variety of ensembles across the Yorkshire area, including the Airedale and Scarborough Symphony Orchestras.  He has also formed his own Percussion Trio with other students from Leeds Conservatoire which have performed at international government forums as well as Leeds Light Night, the UK’s largest arts and light festival. Russ has played in rehearsals with the BBC Concert Orchestra in addition to performing in musical productions of '9 to 5 The Musical', ‘Songs from a New World’ and ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’. Most recently, Russ joined Street Orchestra Live for their tour of Lincolnshire and London, performing in schools, care homes and town centres in an effort to bring live music to those that may not have access to it.

Russ has achieved a Grade 8 Distinction and has been awarded the Alan Hawkshaw Scholarship during his time at the Conservatoire. He is a confident sight reader and player across all percussion disciplines and genres from Classical to Musical Theatre and Popular.

After originally helping out as a dep, Russ has stuck around in Rockingham.