RINGWOOD and Burley Band has appointed a new deputy musical director.

Lloyd Rayner will assist the group's present musical director Steve Block and take the position of musical director when Steve leaves the band during the summer.

Having started his musical career with the Ringwood and Burley Band at the age sixteen Lloyd travelled a wide musical circuit, which involved playing at every level of music performance at some of the country’s top venues including the Royal Albert Hall.

He studied at Bournemouth University for a degree in music and combined this with teaching in nine local schools and elsewhere whilst playing trumpet in brass ensembles and swing and jazz bands.

At Bournemouth University he played in the orchestra and big band, he regularly plays for soul and swing bands in the local area and in his spare time enjoys cooking and spending time with his three children — all of whom are budding musicians.

He was a playing member of the Woodfalls Band for five years. During his time with Woodfalls the band became West of England Champions three times, culminating in attending the Royal Albert Hall Brass Band Championships of Great Britain and also won the National Butlins Entertainment Competition in 2013.

Lloyd has said he is delighted to be returning to the Ringwood and Burley Band where he hopes to help encourage, enthuse and inspire the future players of the band and wider world of music.

The Band’s summer season begins with their participation in the Fanfare for Spring Festival in Ringwood on May 16, followed by a concert in the Barrington Theatre Ferndown on May 24.

For more information go to ringwoodandburleyband.co.uk