The Emsworth Marching Band was formed in 1986 by Kenneth Mann to enable local young musicians to improve their musical ability and to enjoy being part of a team. During the early years the band took part in marching displays at fetes, carnivals and parades. The Band was directed and taught by personnel from The Royal Marines Band Service who gave up their own time to teach the band discipline and standards. This led to the band taking part in the National Youth Championships at the Royal Albert Hall on several occasions and becoming Supreme Champions in 1990. After achieving such an accolade it was decided that the band would develop its musical ability concentrating on concert work and a more demanding repertoire.
In September 2014 Kenneth Mann decided to retire from the band but his legacy remains. The band continues to go from strength to strength under the enthusiastic leadership of the Musical Director Russ Young, a serving member in the Royal Marine Band service. It remains a amateur wind band encouraging local musicians to stretch their potential by playing a challenging and entertaining repertoire. At Emsworth Concert Band we believe that music making has to be enjoyable.
In March 2023 the Band entered the Chichester Festival of Music, Dance and Speech where we were awarded an Outstanding in the Wind band Open class, came 1st in our class and won the Mayor's Cup for the best performance in the Orchestras, Bands and Percussion classes.
In September 1995, Russ joined the Royal Marines Band at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, Devon where he was appointed Principal Cornet, a position he held for more than ten years. During this time the BRNC band undertook numerous international engagements, with highlights including San Diego, Oregon, Naples, Cyprus and Finland. Russ was promoted to Band Corporal in 2001 and, in 2002 was deployed as part of a Breathing Apparatus Rescue Team based in Runcorn, Cheshire during Operation Fresco.
In September 2005, Russ attended the M1 Music Course passing with distinction, and was promoted to Band Sergeant in April 2006. In April 2007, he undertook the twelve-month Warrant Officer Bandmaster Course, studying conducting with Malcolm Binney and composition with Paul Patterson. He successfully gained the LRSM Diploma in Music Direction (Wind Band) and the AMusTCL Diploma in Musical Theory, Criticism and Literature.
Following the Bandmaster Course, Russ joined RM Band Portsmouth where he was fortunate to perform in Canada and at venues across Europe, as well as travelling to Japan as part of a Brass Quintet. In April 2009, he was promoted to Colour Sergeant and subsequently to Warrant Officer, taking on the role of the RM Band Service Engagements Co-ordinator at Headquarters. In this position, he was responsible for organising and planning the programme of engagements for all Royal Marines Bands. Also in 2009, Russ
completed a First Class Honours Degree in Music.
In January 2011, Russ was appointed Bandmaster of RM Band Scotland, followed in 2013 by his appointment as Bandmaster of RM Band Collingwood. During his time with Collingwood, the band enjoyed a successful tour of Switzerland.
In 2015, Russ was appointed Chief Instructor at the Royal Marines School of Music, where he was responsible for delivering the Bandmaster’s Course with Dr. Liz Le Grove. From 2017 to 2019, he returned to Headquarters as Supply Officer Band Service. He subsequently spent six years at HMS SULTAN in Gosport as a Divisional Officer, providing care and welfare to Phase 2 and Phase 3 Marine Engineers, before returning to Headquarters Band Service Royal Marines in 2025 to once again take up the role of Supply Officer Band Service.
Alongside his conducting career, Russ is a keen composer and has been privileged to have a number of his works performed at the Mountbatten Festival of Music and the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.
Throughout his career, Russ has maintained strong links with the civilian brass and wind band movements, performing and conducting with a number of ensembles across the South of England. He is honoured and delighted to have been appointed Musical Director of Emsworth Concert Band and looks forward to building on the band’s achievements and enjoying a successful and rewarding tenure.