Roger Webster

Infobox musical artist
Name = Roger Webster


Birth_name = Roger Barry Webster
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Born = birth date and age|1960|12|16
flagicon|England Doncaster, England
Died =
Instrument = Cornet
Trumpet
Flugelhorn
Genre = Brass Band, Classical
Occupation = Composer, pedagogue, trumpeter, cornetist, psychologist
Years_active = 1988–present
Label = Doyen, Polyphonic, World of Brass
Associated_acts = Grimethorpe Colliery Band
URL = [http://www.rogerwebster.co.uk Official Website]
Notable_instruments =

Roger Webster (born 1960) is an English cornetist and psychologist. He has been acclaimed as one of the world's best ever cornetists [ [http://www.trumpetguild.org/2002conference/bios.html Reference as one of the world's greatest] ] . He also teaches performance at the Royal Northern College of Music as well as a weekly lecture on psychology (specialising in Cognitive Intervention Therapy a version of CBT). Webster has played with some of the world's best brass bands and is currently the principal cornet with Grimethorpe Colliery Band. He is also the joint owner, with his wife, of Webster's Eco-Lube, a firm that manufactures musical instrument lubricants.

Biography

Webster was born in 1960 in Doncaster, England, to Muriel and Dennis Webster. He was raised in Brierley. His first instrument was piano which he began playing at the age of 6. Four years later he began playing his current instrument the cornet. The piano was gradually pushed aside as he progressed with the cornet at Grimethorpe Colliery Junior Band. Before becoming a professional musician, he worked down the coal mines and prior to that as a Laboratory technician. Brass Band World Magazine - Issue 111 - pages 5-8 (Information on previous jobs, Queen Victoria's cornet & some further biographical details)] However, it wasn't until 1988 that he began to turn his hobby into a job. In this year he was invited to join Black Dyke, one of the world's greatest brass bands, as principal cornet. He stayed here for 5 years before deciding to pursue a solo career. He did however contest during his solo period with CWS Glasgow band, arguably the top band in Scotland. Webster continues to play on occasions with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2000 he was once again invited to join Black Dyke Band, and accepted saying it felt as though he had "seven years off for personal development". [ [http://www.hampshirepoliceband.co.uk/webster.htm Great deal of biographical information] ] It was during this time that he received a Master's Degree in Music at the University of Leeds, and completed most of his PhD in psychology [ [http://www.rogerwebster.co.uk/bio.htm It confirms here he is a Doctor] ] The stay once again lasted five years with him leaving rather suddenly in December 2005. Within days he joined Grimethorpe Colliery Band after his brother, the band manager [ [http://www.4barsrest.com/reviews/concerts/con330.asp Information about Terry Webster (Webster's brother) being Grimethorpe's manager] ] , invited him to join, as the principal cornet had left only as few days previously. In his first contest for Grimethorpe they came first beating his former band by one point whilst also picking up the best soloist award [ [http://www.grimethorpeband.com/main_latest_news.htm News from Grimethorpe (bottom of the page is first contest result)] ] Webster worked for Besson whilst they were situated near London, and continues to work for them following their take-over by Buffet Crampon [ [http://www.tubanews.com/articles/contentid-268.html Reference for work with Buffet Crampon] ] .

Queen Victoria cornet

Webster owns a very old Besson cornet, one that was originally presented to Alexander Owen in 1875 by Queen Victoria. It is specially engraved, and has the Royal crest on the bell. The reason why the Queen presented such a gift is unknown; however, it was presented during the time when Brass music was the pop music of the day. Alexander's daughter gave it to a friend who in turn presented it to Derek Garside after a charity concert in 1961. Roger received the cornet from Garside in 2002, after Garside decided it was time to pass it on to "the present day cornet king". Webster still has it to this day.

Websters Eco-Lube

s. [ [http://www.rogerwebster.co.uk/ecolube.htm] [http://www.euphonium.net/articles/Valveoil/ecolube.html] Eco-Lube information]

Discography

Webster has appeared as soloist on well over 20 CDs, excluding his own [ [http://www.4barsrest.com/shopping/results.asp?criteria=roger+webster&offset=0 Some of the many CDs that Webster appears on] ] .
His personal solo CDs are:

Bibliography

*On Classical Favourites for Trumpet Webster arranged all the pieces, to the dismay of critics. [ [http://www.dehaske.com/index.php?task=shop&stask=det&id=12852 Classical Favourites for Trumpet information] ] .
*On Trumpet Through the Ages he performs on the backing CD [ [http://www.dehaske.com/index.php?task=shop&stask=det&id=14245 Trumpet Through the Ages information] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.rogerwebster.co.uk/ Official site]
* [http://www.grimethorpeband.com/ Grimethorpe Band's Official website]
* [http://www.besson.com/ Besson's Official website]