Roger Webster

Roger Webster
Background information
Birth name Roger Barry Webster
Born (1960-12-16) 16 December 1960
Doncaster, England
Genres Brass Band, classical
Occupation(s) Composer, pedagogue, trumpeter, cornetist, psychologist
Instruments Cornet
trumpet
flugelhorn
Years active 1988–present
Labels Doyen, Polyphonic, World of Brass
Associated acts Grimethorpe Colliery Band
Website rogerwebster.co.uk

Roger Webster (born 1960) is an English cornetist and psychologist. He has been acclaimed as one of the world's best ever cornetists.[1] He also teaches performance at the Royal Northern College of Music as well as a weekly lecture on psychology (specialising in Cognitive Intervention Therapy a version of CBT). Webster has played with some of the world's best brass bands. He is also the joint owner, with his wife, of Webster's Eco-Lube, a firm that manufactures musical instrument lubricants.

Biography

Webster was born in 1960 in Doncaster, England. He was raised in Brierley. His first instrument was piano which he began playing at the age of 6. Four years later he began playing his current instrument the cornet. The piano was gradually pushed aside as he progressed with the cornet at Grimethorpe Colliery Junior Band. Before becoming a professional musician, he worked down the coal mines and prior to that as a Laboratory technician.[2] However, it wasn't until 1988 that he began to turn his hobby into a job. In this year he was invited to join Black Dyke, one of the world's greatest brass bands, as principal cornet. He stayed here for 5 years before deciding to pursue a solo career. He did however contest during his solo period with CWS Glasgow band, arguably the top band in Scotland. Webster continues to play on occasions with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2000 he was once again invited to join Black Dyke Band, and accepted saying it felt as though he had "seven years off for personal development".[3] It was during this time that he received a master's degree in Music at the University of Leeds, and went on to complete his PhD in psychology[4] The stay once again lasted five years with him leaving rather suddenly in December 2005. Within days he joined Grimethorpe Colliery Band after the band manager,[5] invited him to join, as the principal cornet had left only as few days previously. In his first contest for Grimethorpe they came first beating his former band by one point whilst also picking up the best soloist award[6] Roger left Grimethorpe in December 2008 along with several colleagues and is currently busy performing as a soloist and orchestral trumpeter (receiving great critical acclaim for his flugal playing in Mahler 3 and trumpet work in Gregson's Dream Song.). Webster worked for Besson whilst they were situated near London, and continues to work for them following their take-over by Buffet Crampon.[7] Roger rejoined Grimethorpe recently on Principal cornet in a bid to help Grimethorpe become as successful as their recent history, when Webster was last in the band[8] Roger has recently been awarded a Professorship at the RNCM. In 2012 Webster released his first solo CD in eight years, however, this CD was for the Charity Help For Heroes, and he was accompanied by The Guards' Brass Band .

Queen Victoria cornet

Webster owns a very old Besson cornet, one that was originally presented to Alexander Owen in 1875 by Queen Victoria. It is specially engraved, and has the Royal crest on the bell. The reason why the Queen presented such a gift is unknown; however, it was presented during the time when Brass music was the pop music of the day. Alexander's daughter gave it to a friend who in turn presented it to Derek Garside after a charity concert in 1961. Roger received the cornet from Garside in 2002, after Garside decided it was time to pass it on to "the present day cornet king". Webster still has it to this day.[2]

Websters Eco-Lube

Photo of Eco-Lube products

Websters Eco-Lube was set up in 2004 after Webster was becoming increasingly worried about the amount of lubricants with toxic labels on them. After four years of research, Webster and Dawn (the co-owner) found oil that was refined so it was good enough to be a lubricant, but also non-toxic. They are said to last longer than others, notably by Steven Mead, one of the world's finest euphonium players. The range of lubricants covers all brass instruments, as well as key oil and cork grease for woodwind instruments.[9] The sister company, Alliance Products produces and sells a large range of mouthpieces and cases for brass instruments. On its launch, the range was met with wide critical acclaim and continues to be one of the leading brands with an ever increasing demand. The mouthpieces are included in the professional range of instruments by Besson.

Discography

Webster has appeared as soloist on well over 20 CDs, excluding his own.[10]
His personal solo CDs are:

Date of Release Title Label
1994 Twilight Dreams Polyphonic
1995 Pieces Polyphonic
1997 Bandsman's Choice Polyphonic
1999 Webster's Choice Polyphonic
2004 Passport – A Musical Journey Doyen
2012 My Heroes Polyphonic

Bibliography

Date of Release Title Publishers
2005 Preparation, Practice & Performance[11] Fentone Music
2005 Classical Favourites for Trumpet Fentone Music
2006 Trumpet Through the Ages Fentone Music
2006 Preparation, Practice & Performance (German Edition) Fentone Music

References

External links

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