Littleborough Brass Band Welcomes New Musical Director: Max Stannard

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Max Stannard as the new Musical Director of Littleborough Brass Band. With an impressive track record as a performer, conductor, and composer, Max brings a wealth of experience and a passion for developing musicians. We are excited to welcome him as he leads the band into its next chapter and our progression into the 3rd Section in 2026.

Max began his brass band journey on trombone with Smithills School Senior Brass Band, winning multiple national and international titles, including the ‘2005 WMC Championship’ in Kerkrade. His playing career has taken him across the USA twice and to world-famous venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall and Symphony Hall. He has played with numerous bands including Flixton, Freckleton, Derwent Brass, and Pemberton Old Wigan DW Band.

A graduate of Lancaster University with a first-class degree in Music, specialising in conducting. Max gained valuable experience leading the university’s brass and wind bands, conducting the Lancaster Community Music Centre’s String and Symphony Orchestra. He served as the Music Society President and founded the UniBrass Championships in 2011. He has since gone on to serve as a trustee of both the UniBrass Foundation and Brass Bands England.

Alongside conducting, Max is an award-winning composer and arranger, with hundreds of publications performed across Europe. His composition ‘Into the Future’ won Brass Fest UK’s Anthem Competition and was recorded by the Cory Band, while his arrangement of ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ won ‘Best New Composition or Arrangement’ at the Red Admiral Entertainment Contest.

Max has conducted a number of North West bands, including Friezland and Blackpool Brass. During his second tenure at Friezland, the band enjoyed multiple contest successes, including ‘Most Entertaining Programme’ at the Red Admiral Contest. More recently, he has conducted the CC Concert Band and the Besses Boys Training Band.

We are thrilled to welcome Max to this new role and look forward to an exciting future under his leadership

Photo Credits - Daniel Taylor