Ed McDermott joined the Royal Marines Band Service in 1967, playing flute and piccolo. He trained at the School of Music under Lt Col Paul Neville, and was a member of the Deal Band from 1971 to 1976. After a short period at CTCRM Lympstone, Ed moved to the Portsmouth Band. In 1977, he attended a summer school for flautists, receiving  a week’s one-to-one tuition from James Galway. He also attended a conducting course led by Sir Colin Davis. He performed on the Royal Yacht and on Royal Navy ships, returning to Deal as an Instructor from 1984 - 1987. He retired from the Service in 1994. He is active in military music, and conducts Portsmouth Light Orchestra. 

 

Ed sees the strengths of the band as a particularly good wind section, percussion and the bass end! The challenge we face, Ed says, is to increase public awareness of the concert band. “Many people think we just play marches, but there’s a range of lighter music which audiences appreciate. There are so many enjoyable modern works, which challenge the band.”

Musical Director

Edward McDermott

The Band leads Wiltshire Scouts' St George's Day Parade, Westbury

Queen Elizabeth II 90th Birthday concert in Abbey Gardens, Winchester