A HECTIC summer season is under way for Muller Cleobury Mortimer Band which is under the baton of a new conductor.

Roger Andrews applied for the prestigious position of musical director after seeing a feature in the Shuttle/Times & News and now has high hopes for the band.

He aims to forge closer links with other musical groups in Wyre Forest and perform more concerts in the area.

The 58-year-old, who was a prominent member of Hampshire Brass Quartet for 18 years before he moved to Kidderminster three years ago, said he hoped to develop the skills of the already talented musicians and take the band on to "bigger and better things".

Speaking from the Collingdale Hotel on Comberton Hill, which he owns, he said: "It's a good standard band and I'm hoping to develop it further."

He added: "For example, we're hoping to do a concert in the autumn with Stourport Choral Society, so we're trying to develop links with other local groups and to generally raise the profile of the band."

Mr Andrews added he had been a professional musician all his life as well as directing it.

He has previously scored pieces for bands, orchestras and theatre groups and won the Millennium Brass Band composing competition last October.

The tuba player also has 32 years experience of teaching music in Hampshire, where he spent 12 years as musical director of Basingstoke's Haymarket Theatre.

Since Mr Andrews took over as musical director four months ago, the band has performed at various venues and has a busy summer season coming up.

That will include performances at Broadwaters Park in Kidderminster on Sunday, July 10, as well as other dates at Ludlow Castle, Wolverhampton and Stourbridge.