Denzil Stephens composer / arranger

Born in Guernsey in the Channel Isles in 1929, Denzil Stephens’ Salvationist family was evacuated to Yorkshire in 1940 where his musical talent was nurtured. He was soon making a name for himself on the local solo contest circuit and joined the Black Dyke Mills Band at the age of just 15.

He remained with the band until he began his National Service with the RAF in 1950, helping the band to win its first post Second World War 'Area' victory in 1945, a further 'Yorkshire' title in 1947 and a hat-trick of National Championship victories at the Royal Albert Hall between 1947-49. He was also part of the Black Dyke quartet that won the prestigious British Open Quartet Championship three years in a row.

Denzil Stephens married Glenys in 1950 as began a successful and rewarding musical career with the Central Band of the RAF as a euphonium player. His professional skills were enhanced further by lessons with Dr Denis Wright, whilst he undertook the Band Sergeants Course and Bandmasters Course, winning the Silver Medal for the most Outstanding Student in 1956. His first post as a Musical Director was at RAF Bridgnorth, which was followed by becoming a Commissioned Officer in 1959. He left the RAF in 1978, as a Director of Music.

He returned to Yorkshire first taking Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (winning the Granada Band of the Year title in 1978), although he had begun conducting 'civilian' bands as far back as 1968 with the likes of City of Oxford, Rushden Temperance and Grimsby.

He had also conducted Cory Band at the Granada Band of the Year contest in 1977, and took on the role permannently when Major Arthur Kenney left.He led the band to multiple victories at the Yeovil Entertainment, Pontins, Wembley, Lansing Bagnall and Welsh Championship series and Regional Championships. The band was runner-up at the National and European Championships in 1979 and became European Champion for the first time in the band’s history the following year.

Following his time in Wales Denzil Stephens moved back to Cornwall, and having spent some years as Music Editor at Wright & Round, he set up his own publishing company, Sarnia Music, to specialise in his own extensive list of arrangements and compositions, and later a garden supply business in Newquay. Widowed in 2002 he returned to playing as a member of the South West Tuba Quartet and Bodmin Band as well as taking the baton with locals bands such as St Stythians, Mount Charles, Redruth, Soundhouse Brass, Tavistock and Lostwithiel, with whom he registered his final competitive success in 2009.