Garry

Garry Sleath was born in Leicestershire and studied Euphonium and Piano at the Birmingham School of Music. His playing career was spent with Birmingham School of Music, Jaguar Cars, The Ancient Order of Foresters and Enderby Brass Band, also being proud to have been a member of Harry Mortimer's famous 'Men-o-Brass'. Garry helped to re-form the Enderby Band in1976 and as MD took it from just five players to the brink of the Championship section in only 10 years, including a hat trick of wins as Northants and District Open Champions 1983.1984 and 1985. During his career he has conducted or played in every section at the National Finals and Garry has also guest conducted numerous bands in the Championship section including Newstead Welfare, Kibworth, Ratby, Forrestors and Nassington Brass.

Garry has been the Musical Director of The Wigston Band since 1998 and has taken the band to many major contests, where they have maintained high marks and on many occasions beaten bands from higher sections. Garry's determination was rewarded in 2006, when the band earned promotion back to the First Section, having won an invitation to represent the Midlands at the National Finals in Harrogate the previous year, and 2 successful years at the Area contest. Since promotion the band has continued to develop in the first section achieving creditable results in the 2007 and 2008 area contests.

Garry has spent his working life in education having been Musical Director of the Leicestershire Arts in Education Senior Concert and Training Bands for 12 years and taught as Head of Music in Leicestershire schools for 27 years. In 2001 he co-formed the Hinckley Area Performing Arts Centre and was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship by Rotary International in recognition of his services to music.

Under his guidance as Director of Music, John Cleveland College has established a national reputation with a variety of musical groups often sweeping the board in regional festivals and regularly appearing in the finals of the National Festival of Music for Youth. The college orchestra has appeared at the National Finals eight times in thirteen years,winning the Outstanding Award (a Midlands first) two years in a row in 2006 and 2007, an achievement rewarded with the ultimate honour of performing the finale of the Schools Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in November of 2007