Graduate Daniel McLaughlin named winner of the HM Award
Daniel McLaughlin being presented with the award by David Read MBE
Thu, 22 Sep 2016 14:30:00 BST
2016 Music graduate Daniel McLaughlin has been presented with the HM Award by the Harry Mortimer Trust. The award was made up of £500 and a commemorative certificate.
The Trust and Award were set up after the musician and conductor, Harry Mortimer, passed away and left a considerable amount of money to help promote brass band music and in particular young brass players. Harry Mortimer was born in Yorkshire and as Principal Cornet for the Luton Red Cross Band and Fodens he played his way to several national wins, as well as playing trumpet for the Halle Orchestra, Liverpool Philharmonic and the BBC Northern Orchestra. For 22 Years from 1942 he was supervisor for Brass and Military band broadcasts at the BBC, also becoming conductor for some of the best brass bands, gaining eighteen wins in the British Open and National Championships, a post war record. In his retirement Harry took full responsibility for the organising and administration of the British Open Contest in Manchester and was awarded the OBE and CBE for his services to the brass band movement, as well as being the President of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain. The trustees who selected Daniel McLaughlin for this award were David Read MBE, Dr Robert Childs, James Scott, Keith Hollinshead, Elgar Howarth, Frank Hodges, and Martin Mortimer.
Daniel said “It's such an honour to be presented with the Harry Mortimer Award. Thanks must go to Phillip McCann for the nomination, and the award feels even more special as Harry Mortimer and my grandfather were in contact back in the 1960s. So you could say it's come full circle!”
Before coming to the University of Huddersfield Daniel started his career at age 10 as second trombone with Dearham Brass Band before progressing to Carlton Main, where he competed at the British Open, National Finals and Brass in Concert. Daniel graduated in 2016 with a First Class BMus degree, also winning the Rodwell Prize for Piano. While at the University he started brass band conducting under the direction of Phillip McCann, and played first trombone in the University Brass Band and University Orchestra. The award was presented to Daniel by David Read at the conclusion of the British Open Competition where Daniel was competing as part of Grimethorpe Colliey Band, where he holds the position of Second Trombone.
He said “This was my third successive British Open as a player, and it's always a great day of music making. This was a particularly memorable day for me as, not only did I receive the Harry Mortimer Award, but it was my first contest performance with the Grimethorpe Colliery Band. It really is a great privilege to hold a seat in this prestigious band, and I am very grateful to everyone who has supported me along the way."
"I'll remember my three years at Huddersfield as a fantastic musical journey. Thanks must go to Phillip McCann and Jonathan Beatty for being so influential and encouraging. I've gained so much from the whole experience, but I still have a lot to learn, and this award is a great springboard as I start my postgraduate studies at Royal Northern College of Music.”
Daniel proposes to put his award towards purchasing a new trombone.
Find out more about the HM Trust and Grimethorpe Band.
