Don Lloyd BMus(Hons)

Don was born and raised in Bournemouth, his earliest musical recollections are the piano lessons given to him by his Mum, his other main musical influence in his teenage years was the Bandmaster at Oakmead School for Boys, Courtney Bosanko. Don left school in June 1976, and the following September he joined the Royal Marines School of Music at Deal, as a Bassoonist. He passed out from training a term early in December 1978, and was posted to Staff Band as the Principal Bassoon. Don served with the Royal Marines Band Service for the next 32 years, rising to the rank of Warrant Officer (2) Bandmaster, concluding his career as the Chief Instructor Higher Training, at the Royal Marines School of Music, HMS NELSON. Whilst in the Royal Marines Band Service he served all over the world, the D-Day 60 celebrations and the closure of Hong Kong were just two of the highlights from a long a varied career.

Don passed the ATCL performers diploma in1997, gained his Associated Board Certificate of Teaching (CT ABRSM) in 2000, he was one of the first group of Royal Marine Musicians to graduate with BMus(Hons) through the association with Portsmouth University in 2001, he gained the LRSM (conducting diploma) with distinction at the end of the Bandmasters’ course in 2003.

Since leaving the Royal Marines Band Service Don has carved out a second career as a music teacher. In 2008 he applied for and was appointed as the teacher of music at the Bourne Community College, Southbourne, West Sussex. Don then undertook the Graduate Teacher Programme and completed this in June 2009. In September 2009 Don was appointed as Director of Learning Music at the Bourne Community College.

In February 2009 Don was appointed as the Director of Meridian Winds.