Melvin J. White (Musical Director, The Tilbury Band)
Melvin is a local boy, born in Chelmsford, with maternal family based in Grays. He has a Salvation Army background & studied at the Royal College of Music and the London College of Music.
He is one of banding’s most experienced conductors having directed many of the leading bands in the London Area but has also enjoyed success in the West of England, the Midlands and Wales. During times when bands were regularly featured on TV and Radio, Melvin conducted on such programmes as Friday Night is Music Night, Among Your Souvenirs, Marching and Waltzing, Bandstand, Listen to the Band & The Best of Brass.
He makes regular trips to Norway, working with bands in Haugesund and Stavanger, but also meets with Michelmersh Silver Band (nr. Romsey) and Thundersley Brass Band on a weekly basis. He is, however, also delighted to be conducting regular rehearsals with Tilbury for the first time in 37 years!
Gregory White (Bandmaster/Deputy MD)
Greg studied music at the Colchester Institute Centre for Music and Performing Arts where he was tutored in tenor trombone with Helen Vollam, piano with Francis Reneau and voice with Tarsha Cole. He became interested in conducting and studied under Christopher Phelps (himself a student of Herbert Von Karajan). Greg conducted both the Brass Band and Symphonic Wind Orchestra whilst at Colchester, working for two years as Student Leader of the Symphonic Wind Orchestra.
Leaving music college, Greg undertook teacher training at the Institute of Education, University of London. He kept his hand in working as a freelance teacher and conductor for Thurrock Music Services, conducting and organising their own Concert Band and Brass Ensembles as well as working as an Instructor and relief Conductor for the Romford Drum and Trumpet Corps. Greg is now Director of Music at Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School and is Musical Director of Thurrock Spectrum Brass and the Essex Yeomanry Band.