Ipswich Hospital Band Musical Director

Michael Waters

Born In Grimsby, N.E. Lincolnshire, his father’s employment took the family to Atherstone Warwickshire, where he began to learn the trumpet at the age of 9. Not content with just the trumpet, he went on to study several other instruments before discovering his true musical love, percussion. Wanting to be a professional musician, aged 16 he joined the British Army as a junior musician and after two years training at the Junior School of Music of the Queen’s Division in Hertfordshire, was posted to St Georges Band the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in Catterick, North Yorkshire. With the band he travelled extensively performing in Kenya, Norway, Cyprus, Egypt, Canada, USA, Switzerland, Holland and prestigious engagements in the UK.

In 1994 he was posted to the Band of the Parachute Regiment, again participating in state events worldwide including several royal garden parties at Buckingham Palace. Within the Band of the Parachute Regiment, he was leader and vocalist of the big band and the German Oompah band and conducted several smaller ensembles. Further musical and management courses at the Royal Military School of Music Kneller Hall resulted in promotion to the rank of Colour Sergeant.

After retiring from the army in 2005 he decided to move into education and taught percussion in several private schools in and around Ipswich, and for Thurrock Local Authority Music Service. In 2006 he was appointed by Suffolk County Music Service to the full-time post of Peripatetic Percussion Tutor, Conductor of West Suffolk youth Jazz Orchestra, West Suffolk Youth Orchestra and Suffolk Youth Wind band with which he has toured and conducted all over Europe and at home in a variety of venues.

He continues to play in a variety of orchestras, pit bands and musical groups and has often played with the British Concert Brass for the TV Times awards in London. Michael was appointed Musical Director of the Ipswich Hospital Band in September 2024.

Our previous Musical Directors, Band Masters & Assistants

2023 – 2024Lawrence KillianMusical Director
2022 – 2023Adrian BudgenMusical Director
2019 – 2022James SymingtonMusical Director
2015 – 2019Rachel ChesterMusical Director
2004 – 2014Peter GrayMusical Director
2004 – 2019Bernard WestrenAssistant Musical Director
2002 – 2004Brian StansmoreMusical Director
1993 – 2001John AldertonMusical Director
1990 – 1993Malcolm RobertsBand Master
1990John WeltonMusical Director
1988 – 2002Guy NicholsAssistant Conductor
1988 – 1990Maurice HoughDeputy Band Master
1988 – 1990Ian HalcrowBand Master
1980 – 1988Brian StansmoreBand Master
1979 – 1980Brian MurphyBand Master
1976 – 1988Phil WattsDeputy Band Master
1976 – 1979Dennis JuniperBand Master
1976 – 1979David ParkerMusical Director