MCBB Conductor

Gordon Ward, Music Director and Conductor

Gordon was born in Hull, Yorkshire, England and started learning the cornet at age six with his father. After graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester he was employed as a brass teacher and conductor of the Hull Youth Concert Band. He also attended the University of Hull and gained a post graduate certificate in education.

He was offered the position as Director of Music for the Salvation Army for Greater New York in 1980 and emigrated to the USA on New Year’s Eve of that year. His duties included overseeing the music programs in 30 centers around the New York area. He also developed summer music conservatories at the famous Star Lake Camp as well as assuming the directorship of the Greater New York Musicamp.

He was the conductor of the the GNY Youth Band and under his direction the band undertook tours throughout the USA, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Italy, Spain, Holland and the UK as well as producing several recordings with this group.

Gordon was appointed as a member of the New York Staff Band on arrival in the USA and served as principal cornet for over 25 years. During that time he gained a masters degree in trumpet performance and featured on numerous recordings and tours throughout the world. He was also privileged to have solos written for him by Brian Bowen, William Broughton, Stephen Bulla, David Catherwood, Terry Camsey and Peter Graham. He has had the opportunity to play with the New York Philharmonic, the New York Philharmonic Brass and the Canadian Brass and has been a guest conductor at summer music schools/camps through the USA, the UK, Argentina, Chile, Italy and Spain.

In 2019, after leaving New York, he moved to Michigan residing in Northville he was asked to become President of the Five Lakes Silver band and became a playing member of that band. He also joined the Royal Oak Salvation Army Band and Great Lakes Divisional band as principal cornet.

Gordon assumed the interim conductor position with the Motor City Brass Band in January 2022 and became the permanent Musical Director and conductor in June 2022. The band under his leadership has performed many successful concerts and has won the North American Brass Associations Second Section and the challenge section of the US Open Brass Band Championships.

Craig Strain, Music Director Emeritus

Craig Strain served as MCBB’s Music Director and Conductor from the band’s inception in 1996 through 2021. In 1996 when this fledgling band concluded its second rehearsal, one of the tuba players, a friend of Craig’s, invited him to rehearse the band. By the end of the session the affinity between the musicians and Craig was evident and he was asked to be the Music Director and Conductor. For 25 years, Craig played a vital role in the band’s growth. Craig’s understanding of the musical and technical capabilities of brass instruments and his experience as a brass performer, teacher, arranger, and conductor, established Motor City Brass Band as a cultural fixture in southeast Michigan and a champion for the growing brass band movement. In 2021, Craig was named Music Director Emeritus.