Brendan started playing music at the age of 6 when the Director of Music for Haltwhistle Silver Prize Band taught him the cornet.  Between the ages of 8 -16 he continued playing within the bass band genre for Dunston Silver Band, Northumbria Police Band as well as Haltwhistle.  He was also an active member of the Northumberland County Orchestra from the age of 14.
 
When Brendan became 16 he discovered jazz and the trumpet and fell in love immediately.  He left brass banding and orchestras for over 10 years to pursue his passion and started studying his chosen music at Newcastle College.  Never being much of an academic in his early years Brendan chose practically based qualifications, starting with Btec in Jazz and Popular Music and finishing eventually with a Degree in Jazz.  During this time he has managed to share the stage with, and be taught by, some of the most prestigious musicians in the world including Sting, Mark Knopfler and James Birkett. 
 
More recently Brendan has written various scores for stage and screen.  Brendan was also brave (some might say stupid) enough to have part of his Masters degree marked on a concert given by Melbourne Town Band.

Brendan joined MTB in 2005 when he was appointed MD for the Training Band, but then moved on to become Director of Music for the main band.  Brendan’s passion for music is evident when you see him on stage he exudes enthusiasm and is barely containable when he conducts, yet he will still tell you that he regards jazz as his first love.