Director of Music

Major V L Yates BA (Mus) LRSM CAMUS

Major Vernon Yates enlisted into the Army in 1982, joining the Junior Leaders Regiment, The Royal Armoured Corps and on completion of training was posted to the Band of The Royal Hussars (PWO) based in Germany.  In 1985 he returned to the UK to attend the year long Pupils' Course at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall.  During his career with The Royal Hussars he performed in Cyprus, Sicily, and extensively throughout Europe.

In 1993 Major Yates attended the Band Sergeants' Course at Kneller Hall and was selected for Bandmaster training.  On graduation in 1996, he achieved prizes for Choral, Brass Band, Wind Band composition and arranging and was awarded a BA (Mus) from Kingston University.

In March 1997 Major Yates took up his first appointment as Bandmaster with the King's Division Normandy Band with whom he toured extensively throughout Europe, Cyprus, Canada, Greece, Bosnia and Northern Ireland.  In March 2001 Major Yates took up his second appointment as Bandmaster of the Band of the Scots Guards performing at State and Ceremonial occasions.

Major Yates was commissioned into the Corps of Army Music in January 2004 and after completing the Late Entry Officers’ Course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, was appointed Director of Music of The Royal Lancers Band stationed in Germany.  In 2006 he returned to the UK to take up his second appointment as Director of Music, the Band of The Royal Logistics Corps.  In 2008 he returned to Kneller Hall in a staff appointment as OC TDT responsible for CAMUS courses, Chief Examiner of Trade Employment Qualifications and Head of the Audition Board.  In December 2010 he had the honour to be appointed Director of Music, the Band of The Brigade of Gurkhas.

Assistant Director of Music

Captain Sewanta Purja Pun enlisted into the British Army in 1990.  After completing 6 months basic training at the Training Depot, Sek Kong, Hong Kong and 3 months basic clerical training, he joined the 1st Battalion 2^nd King Edward VII Own Goorkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles) which became 2^nd Gurkha Rifles in 1992. After a further four years as a military clerk in the 2^nd Gurkha Rifles, in 1994 he transferred to the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas on options for change.

In September 1994 at the age of 25 and having no prior knowledge of music, he began music lessons with the Band.  After 2 years of  internal training on the Alto Saxophone within the Gurkha Band, in 1997 he attended Foundation Course at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall.

On his return to the Band in 1998, he successfully passed his Service Funds Accounts Course and on promotion to Corporal, assumed the appointment of Band Accountant in 2001.  He was promoted to Sergeant in 2002.

In 2004, he was selected to attend the Student Bandmasters' Course at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, during which time he successfully completed his BMus (Hons) degree.  He was appointed Bandmaster of The Band of The Brigade of Gurkhas in September 2007.

On commissioning to Captain in January 2009, Captain Sewanta Purja Pun assumed the appointment of Assistant Director of Music The Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas.