Colin Batt
Colin Batt’s first experience of Brass Bands began at the age of 5 when he was sent next door but one to have a lesson with Norman Ashcroft the celebrated principal cornet of the Fairey band. This went badly so he followed his father and grandfather and took up the trombone. His first band was at Earby in Yorkshire and he also played for Colne Orchestra. At Ermysted’s Grammar school, Skipton he played in the Orchestra and Brass Band. In his last summer at school he was principal with the East Riding Youth Orchestra, but only because they were desperate. (very, as Skipton was then in the West Riding!)
Colin worked his way south as principal trombone with Derby Borough Band , Pressed Steel Fisher (now City of Birmingham Band) and The Medway Band where he was chairman. Surprising how many desperate bands he managed to find!
Moving to Tenterden in 1995 he joined Cranbrook and tried to hide on 2nd trombone but has had to step up from time to time as again there was nobody else.
When his employers, Marley Plumbing and Drainage foolishly retired him he took a Music Technology BSc at the University of Kent where he attained a first and followed that with an MSc in Computer Science. The result of all this can be seen at www.psybersonic.com.
Colin now spends his time arranging for various ensembles and developing music related software hoping someone will be desperate enough to use any of it.