John Boax on the Mortimer Medal and a life in banding | episode 2

On the weekend bands and audiences are descending on Birmingham for the 2023 British Open Championship, celebrations are in order for a prominent Scottish figure in the banding scene.

John Boax will be honoured with the Mortimer Medal by the Worshipful Company of Musicians for his work in fostering new generations of brass band players. It's alongside Gavin Higgins, who will receive the Iles Medal for his significant contribution to the brass band world.

John’s career in brass music education has taken him far and wide, enjoying contesting success with some of Scotland’s finest bands and working alongside the likes of Major Peter Parkes and Nigel Boddice MBE.

But it’s perhaps at grassroots level that John has enjoyed greatest satisfaction, nurturing generations of young performers, many of whom have gone on to enjoy glittering banding careers all over the world.

He’s enjoyed several decades of involvement with the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland, which remains very dear to his heart, and these days is known as an administrator in the Scottish banding scene, in his role as education officer with the Scottish Brass Band Association.

It all makes for a remarkable career in banding – but John says news of the medal came as a bit of a surprise…