People in the Band

Aylesbury Community Concert Band is a true Community Band. Its members range in age from teenagers to the over 70s, and are drawn from all walks of life, including policemen, teachers, software engineers, accountants and more, not forgetting those still at school. They willingly give up their spare time every Wednesday evening and at other times for engagements, to make music together.

Squadron Leader Duncan Stubbs BA FRSM ARCM LGSM RAF

We are very fortunate to have Duncan Stubbs as our Director of Music. Duncan is a serving RAF officer who has recently been appointed Director of Music, Headquarters Music Services, where he has responsibility for all aspects of training, budgets, allocations and administration within the Royal Air Force Music Services.

Born in Stoke on Trent, Duncan Stubbs began playing bassoon at the age of 14, gaining early experience in local orchestras and shows. He studied music at York University specialising in performance. This was followed by a year's postgraduate study in Birmingham specialising in music education. During his time as a student he studied Bassoon with Michael Chapmann, Andrew Barnell and John Orford.

He joined the Royal Air Force in 1983 as a member of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force. His interest in conducting led to work with several Community Bands in the West London area and in his hometown of Stoke on Trent. Following studies with Colin Metter, Duncan was commissioned as Director of Music, Royal Air Force in March 1990.

He has served as Director of Music of both the Western Band of the Royal Air Force and the Band of the Royal Air Force College, during which time he achieved an unprecedented 6 consecutive wins in the Boosey and Hawkes RAF Inter-Band Competitions, as well as winning the much coveted Cassel Cup on four occasions. From 2000 he served as Director of Music of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force until he took up his current post in November 2006.

In addition to his service commitments Duncan regularly conducts civilian Wind bands, all of whom have achieved National status in the world of Wind Band Music, and is frequently called upon to coach junior bands. He often adjudicates at regional Wind Band festivals and he also enjoys arranging and composing. He continues to play bassoon, though preferably when no one else is listening.

When not performing music or being a doting father he can often be found giving his 'ears a rest' on top of the mountains in the Lake District

Alan Mossford

Our Director of Music until 2006 was Alan Mossford. In 1996, soon after he retired from the post of Director of Music of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force, Alan took up his baton again to conduct what was then named Aylesbury Town Band. His expertise has guided the huge improvement in the quality of the band over the past decade, culminating in the award of a Gold Medal at the NCBF Regional Festival in Northampton in 2006.

Born into a prominent musical family in Cheshire, England, Alan took his first formal cornet lesson at the age of seven, and after some ten years of playing in local bands and orchestras he joined the Royal Air Force Music Services in 1956. After serving with bands at home and abroad he entered the Royal Air Force School of Music as a student bandmaster in 1971, where he gained diplomas in Bandmastership and Conducting at the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music, London. Alan was awarded the Silver Medal of the Worshipful Company of Musicians in 1973, and was commissioned later that year

After successive appointments as Director of Music of different RAF bands, he was appointed as Director of Music of Central Band in 1987, where he appeared with the Band and with the Massed Bands of the Royal Air Force at state occasions, on overseas tours, at major national and international concert venues, on radio, television and in the recording studio.

Since retiring, Alan has been busy as a conductor, arranger and adjudicator, he is a member of the National Association of Brass Band Conductors, and of course, director of Aylesbury Community Concert Band. His involvement with the band hasn't ended entirely, however, as he plans to continue as a playing member, but he will now have more time to indulge his other passion: golf.