
The musical director of Morecambe Brass Band has landed a prestigious job with one of the most iconic military bands in the world.
Andrew W Porter is the new director of music for the Band of the Grenadier Guards.
The band dates back to the 17th century and regularly plays at major ceremonial events, including the Trooping of the Colour.
Andrew, who lives in Carnforth, will continue as musical director of Morecambe Brass Band, a role he was appointed to in 2019.
Mr Porter has led the Morecambe Band to the National Brass Band Championships Finals for the last three years, with the next finals coming up this September.
He was heavily involved in shaping musical plans for the funeral of Her Majesty the Queen in 2022, and also led his Army Brass Band during the funeral itself.
A spokesperson for Morecambe Brass Band said: "A huge congratulations to our musical director Andrew W Porter, who has just taken over the prestigious role as director of music for the Band of the Grenadier Guards.
"We are all very proud of him at Morecambe Brass Band and delighted as he will be continuing as our musical director."
He was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1980 and grew up in Carrickfergus, leaving as a teenager to study at the prestigious Chethams School of Music in Manchester, completing his A levels. He then attended the Royal Northern College of Music, completing a BA in musical performance.
During his studies he received many awards, reaching numerous prestigious concerto finals.
Andrew enlisted into the Army in January 2003 as a Euphonium player with The Band of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). In June 2007 Andrew was appointed as the Principal Euphonium of the British Army Brass Band.
He has also been WO1 Bandmaster of the Band of The King’s Division and bandmaster of the Band of the Irish Guards.
In June 2019 Andrew was appointed as Officer Commanding of the Band of the Price of Wales’ Division, one of the British Army’s three brass bands.