IAIN McKNIGHT
Iain McKnight was born in Reading in 1985, and moved to St. Austell, Cornwall in 1989, aged four. He commenced Cornet lessons at St. Austell Band in 1996 at the age of 11, and moved to Tuba the following year. In August 1997 he joined the St. Austell Youth Band on Eb Bass (and latterly Percussion, before transferring to BBb Bass in July 1998), and was invited to join the Championship section St. Austell Town Band in February 1999. He joined the Cornwall Youth Brass Band later that year, and, under the guidance of the band’s then Senior Tutor, Chris North, became interested in composing and arranging, having his first arrangement premiered by CYBB in April 2000. During his time in Cornwall, Iain was also a member of the Cornwall Youth Orchestra, Carrick Wind Orchestra, City of Truro Wind Orchestra and the Fascinating Rhythm Dance Orchestra, all of which presented him with outlets for his compositions and arrangements, and provided invaluable guidance and experience. He has also been lucky enough to be involved in many local and national competitions as a performer, including three appearances at the Royal Festival Hall in London, aswell as concert tours of Austria, Belgium, Strasbourg and the Black Forest.
In 2001, he was the winner of the under-18 category of the National Association of Brass Band Conductors’ Composition Contest, and in 2002 he won the J. F. Wills Memorial Cup for Brass Band arranging, in a contest organised by the Cornwall Brass Band Association. In May of that year, he was commissioned to write a ‘song of welcome’ for the visit to Cornwall of H. M. Queen Elizabeth II in her Golden Jubilee year. The composition, Dynargh Kernow – Welcome to Cornwall, was performed in Her Majesty’s presence at the National Trust’s Trellisick Gardens, near Truro, by an all-Cornish string, percussion and vocal ensemble, conducted by John Harries, head of the Cornwall Music Service. By way of his composing and arranging successes, he was signed by Stockport based Jagrins Music Publications in 2003. In 2005, Iain was also delighted to receive the Elgar Howarth Composition Shield from the University of Salford, which was awarded to him for his attainment in the field of Compositional studies during the preceding academic year.
Following his education in St. Austell, Iain studied for A-levels in, amongst others, Music and Music Technology at Truro College, receiving the qualifications in June 2003, and accepted the offer to study at the University of Salford. He commenced his studies in September 2003, and is set to complete the BA (Hons) Music degree course, and graduate, in July 2006 Iain was invited to join the East Yorkshire Motor Services Band in September 2003, and has performed with the band on many occasions, most notably twice at the National Brass Band Championships Finals at the Royal Albert Hall in London. He has since moved to the famous Leyland Band, where he is enjoying working with some of the finest musicians on the Brass Band ‘scene’, including conductors Russell Gray and Frank Renton.
Iain is constantly busy as composer, arranger and performer, and is lucky enough to have music regularly performed by some of the country’s top bands.
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