York Brass Instruments welcomes euphonium player John Starkes as new York artist!

John Starkes (left) and John Rogers (right)

Last week, managing director Paul Austin from Rosehill Instruments and John Rogers, York Sales Manager UK were delighted to welcome John Starkes, principal euphonium of Boscombe Salvation Army Band at the showroom of Rosehill Instruments in Beaconsfield. The visit took place in order for John Starkes to accept his new silver-plated York Eminence euphonium, having become the latest endorsee of York Brass instruments.

Paul Austin said: “Rosehill is delighted to support this excellent new product which is already proving enormously successful amongst players for its wonderful sound. With a well-equipped on-site workshop and generous stock holdings, Rosehill is able to offer a choice of instruments across the entire York range, all of which are inspected and carefully set up by our experienced technicians.”

When John Starkes started playing at the tender age of 4 years, it was pretty clear that playing the euphonium was all he ever wanted to do. At the age of 18, John joined the renowned Govan Citadel Band of the Salvation Army were under the guidance of John Bailie John further improved his craft and was given the opportunity to solo more afield around Britain and into Europe. On leaving Govan, John became a member of the Boscombe Citadel Band were he really started to learn his craft under the late Geoff Otter and former principle Graham Lawrence. John still resides as principle euphonium under the esteemed leadership and guidance of musical director Howard Evans. This period has seen John performing all over Britain on a regular basis. He has performed abroad in Sweden, North and South America and Canada and has been involved in no fewer than 20 CD,s and, as well as his role with the Boscombe SA Band, John was principle euphonium in the Egon Virtuosi Band, the Clarence Adoo Band and the Fuco Brass Band.

John is looking forward to using the York Eminence euphonium, the finest euphonium on the market today, to further enhance his playing and under the guidance of Howard Evans and the Boscombe SA Band he will have many opportunities to do so in the future starting with an already packed calendar.

John Rogers, York Sales Manager UK comments: 'We are very pleased that John has made the York Eminence euphonium his instrument of choice. Johns holds one of the highest profile positions in the Salvation Army in the Boscombe Salvation Army Band. York is very keen to increase the activity within this important market and therefore welcome the opportunity to strengthen links with both John and the Boscombe Salvation Army Band.'