WADHURST
BRASS BAND
MUSICAL DIRECTORS
ROBIN HARE GGSM (Lond)
Robin is an award-winning Musical Director with nearly five decades of experience in directing choirs, conducting bands and orchestras and as an MD in musical theatre both in the UK and abroad.
Robin studied at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, his principal instrument being the classical guitar. He also studied voice, conducting and double-bass. During 1973/74, while still at the GSM&D, he joined the music staff at Tonbridge School, where he had been a pupil, as a part-time guitar teacher.
Born in Venezuela, Robin returned there after college and established himself in the musical community in the capital, Caracas. He was the choir director of St Mary’s pro-cathedral for a number of years and performed as guest conductor with the Orquesta Municipal de Caracas and the Filarmónica de Venezuela.
Robin was actively involved with the Caracas Choral Society and the Playhouse Theatre Group, directing numerous musical productions including Carousel, Jesus Christ Superstar, Oliver! and Hair. He also taught guitar in a number of schools.
In 1988, Robin returned to England with his young family and worked as a leadership/management coach in the financial sector until his early retirement, in 2011. Since then, he has been fully engaged in music, turning his hand once again to musical theatre, working with a number of dramatic societies as well as conducting various choirs, bands and orchestras.
He was MD for the 2017 Tunbridge Wells Operatic and Dramatic Society’s production of My Fair Lady, which won a NODA award and of their 2018 production of Hello Dolly!. He worked with the Stonegate Amateur Dramatic Society as MD for Oliver! and Fiddler on the Roof, which also won a NODA award. He was MD of Jesus Christ Superstar once again with the then (2010) All Kinds of Fish Productions, Dartford.
Robin currently plays double bass in the jazz ensemble Café Society, performing regularly in London, Kent and East Sussex. He coaches the Saddlers Saxophone Quartet and has been guest MD for the Bells Yew Green Big Swing Band, the West Kent Concert Band, the Bodiam Concert Band, the Uckfiled Community Orchestra and most recently he was engaged as conductor of the West Kent Big Band. Robin also formed the village choir in Ticehurst which he ran for five years. Lately, he was choir director of the Etchingham Singers.
MAX WALKER
Max is a new addition to the conducting scene, proudly starting his career here, with the Wadhurst Brass Band in early 2025.
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Max started his musical career at the age of 8 as a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral where he learnt the ins and outs of performance, sight-reading, composition and theory to very high standards. He performed on BBC Radio 3 multiple times, made recordings, travelled the world on tours and performed in front of the now King and Queen consort at the Archbishop of Canterbury’s enthronement in March 2013.
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Max’s choristership lead to him being awarded a music scholarship to Eastbourne College where he studied music for GCSE and A level. His time at Eastbourne gave him countless opportunities to continue performing, playing bass guitar in the school jazz band and in the staff band, singing bass in the chapel and chamber choirs, being a leading figure in the singer-songwriting group, and playing in the pit band for school musicals. He was also able to continue evolving his writing abilities and general musical knowledge which lead to a place at Newcastle University.
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Whilst at University during the Covid-19 pandemic, Max would spend his time researching all different styles of music from all over the world. One of the most interesting and useful modules he chose to study at university was conducting, where he learnt to conduct primarily orchestral and choral music. He majored in composition and minored in performance and was awarded a 2:1 upon graduation.
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Since graduating, Max has travelled to Asia, spending a lot of time in India where he indulged in Indian classical music and even played with a few ensembles on tablas and trying his luck at the sitar! Since his return to the UK, Max continues performing on a regular basis with choirs, the West Kent Big Band, and of course as deputy conductor of the Wadhurst Brass band. Max has also recently applied to study a masters in orchestral conducting at the Royal College of Music which he is very hopeful for and naturally, we wish him the best of luck!