Ellers

Nigel Simmons hails from East Sussex in England. His musical life began with piano lessons at the age of 9 and later the tuba, aged 13, with Hastings Youth Band. Within four months, Nigel quickly progressed as a tuba player and joined the ranks of Sussex Brass, their senior band. Encouraged by this, Nigel took to composing and arranging music for brass band - a pastime which he continues to enjoy to this day. 1974 saw Nigel leave East Sussex for London to study at the Royal College of Music and in 1977 he returned home as a freelance semi-pro tuba player.  Nigel was also to return to Sussex Brass, although not as a tuba player, but as their Musical Director. Nigel enjoyed much success as a conductor with Sussex Brass and other local brass bands too. He achieved championship section status with Handcross Brass and later saw promotion into the first section with Uckfield Concert Brass.  In addition to his enjoyment of brass band's, Nigel is well known and highly regarded as a jazz tuba player and a music arranger for wind band and orchestra. For over ten years, and now residing in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, Nigel continues to be a key playing member of the Friary Brass Band - regarded by many as one of, if not the finest brass band in the South East of England.  His brass band arrangement of the hymn tune 'Ellers' is testament to his musicianship and dedication to the wider brass band community.