New Associate Conductor Appointed

The Solent Area Fellowship Band (Bandmaster Chris Kennett) has announced that John Hanchett has been appointed as associate conductor.

Hanchett serves as the Bandmaster at Portsmouth Citadel. Born in Grantham, Lincolnshire in 1978 to Salvationist parents, he began his musical career at Grantham Citadel, starting on the cornet at the age of seven. He moved to Portsmouth in 1997 to join The Royal Marines Band Service as a euphonium player and cellist. After three years of study at The Royal Marines School of Music, Hanchett was attached to the Portsmouth Band (The Royal Band). Following a medical discharge from the Royal Marines in 2002, he began a new career as a peripatetic teacher for the Southampton Music Service.

In addition to teaching at several schools, Hanchett conducts several school, area and city wind ensembles and brass bands. In 2004, he gained an LRSM Diploma in Euphonium.