Musical Director Sue Mills began conducting the Gloucester Excelsior Band around 1999. Born in Malmesbury, Wiltshire and describing herself as a 'moonraker', she moved to Bishops Cleeve in 1963.

She started playing tenor horn at Charlton Kings Junior School at the age of eleven. Sue then moved on to Pate's Grammar School where she had to play the French horn as "girls don't play the trombone". Also whilst at Pate's at the tender age of 14 she started conducting. She extended her musical knowledge further by taking and passing the ALCM (Associate of the London College of Music) examinations.

In the meantime Sue became a very accomplished trombone player, but has little time to play as in addition to Gloucester Excelsior Band she also conducts Cheltenham Youth Brass, The Band of the Gloucestershire Constabulary and the Wind Bands at Cheltenham College where she is Head of Brass.

Sue's other love(s) are her pets: Poppy a twelve year old dog of mixed ancestry(!) Charlie the Cat, Minnie, Lily and Truffle the Chickens, and Humphrey the Tortoise.

Gloucester Excelsior Band is very lucky to have Sue who can and does, when needed, play any of the band instruments, often conducting at the same time. In the last ten years or so the repertoire of the band under Sue's leadership has become varied and interesting both for players and audience alike.

 

                              

            Poppy                                                                                      Charlie