Musical Director.
Graham O'Connor
Graham was born in Dodworth, Barnsley in 1948 and started
playing the cornet in the local village band at the age of
seven.
At the tender age of thirteen he joined the world famous
Grimethorpe Colliery Band, and then progressed under the guidance
of Mr George Thompson to become assistant Solo cornet.
He kept an association with Grimethorpe for the next twenty years. During that period Graham had a spell with Brodsworth Colliery Band as principal cornet and simultaneously started conducting the Brodsworth Junior Band.
In 1977 Graham became Musical Director with Andrews Heat For Fire and in 1980 gained success at the Pontins Grand Shield Contest.
1981 saw Graham taking the reins at the Rockingham Band as Musical Director and the same year won the 2nd section area championships,the subsequent London National Finals the Pontins Contest the C.I.S.W.O Area Contest and the C.I.S.W.O Finals contest at Blackpool, a record that has not been equalled since.
IN 1988 Graham was appointed Musical Director of Dodworth Band and achieved numerous successes in both the contest arena and on the concert platform.
Graham has conducted numerous bands over the years including Stocksbridge Engineering Steels Band, The Cory Band,British Telecom Band, Marple Band, E.Y.M.S Band, Fishburn Band and The Ransome Band. Graham's ability as an adjudicator and band trainer is well known and his success rate has put him in demand with bands all over Europe.
Some of Graham's successes
With Hatfield
With others
