Adjudicator Announcement
The adjudicator for the 99th West of England Bandmen’s Festival:
Melvin White
Melvin is no stranger to the West of England both as a conductor and adjudicator.
His musical career started with the Salvation Army and he studied at the Royal College of Music and the London College of Music.
Melvin’s initial conducting experiences were with choral groups and orchestras but a period as Assistant Conductor with the Hendon Band heightened his enthusiasm for Brass Bands.
During times when bands were regularly featured on TV and Radio, Melvin conducted on such programmes as Friday Night is Music Night, Among Your Souvenirs, Marching and Waltzing, Bandstand, Listen to the Band & The Best of Brass.
Melvin is one of the country’s busiest conductors, banding engagements having taken him to Europe, Scandinavia and Australia conducting some of the Worlds most successful bands including Cory, GUS, and Stavanger.
His work with brass bands in the West of England includes successful associations with Aldbourne, Woodfalls and St Austell amongst many others.
As an adjudicator he is a member of The Association of Bass Band Adjudicators, having officiated at the National Finals, numerous regional qualifying events and contests around the UK and abroad. Melvin is delighted to be adjudicating at the 2025 Bugle Contest, he has fond memories of conducting at the event on several occasions along with winning the Royal Trophy in 2013 with St Austell Town Band.
