About WNJYO

Robert Galliard’s musical career began as a boy treble and singing has always been his first love; however, he was drawn into the role of conductor whilst at college and initially conducted and sang in small choirs. With his promotion to Head of Music at a school in Hertfordshire he took over the school band and quickly built it into an outfit that undertook three UK tours.

After his appointment as Director of Music at the newly-formed Springwood High School in 1980 he built up the department quickly and formed a school band of fourteen players from the pupils that he inherited. Two years later the band, having doubled in size, undertook its first tour; another 25 tours followed extending to Northern Europe.

The progress of the band was recognized when it was invited to perform in the National Festival of Music for Youth in 1988; this involved a performance on the stage of the Royal Festival Hall on London’s South Bank, with a programme that included the Springwood March, composed by the conductor. The band continued to flourish, reaching a peak of seventy players with further performances on the South Bank and on national television in the UK and France!

Robert retired from teaching in 2009 but was soon back in the musical fold returning to the West Norfolk Music Centre, which he had helped to found in 1980, where he now conducts the band and orchestra. He took over as conductor of the WNJYO orchestra in September 2012 and was delighted when the quality of their playing resulted in an invitation for them to perform at the National Festival of Music for Youth in 2014, as well as the following year.

Robert’s other musical interests involve singing with King’s Lynn Minster Choir, marking A level music exams plus a revived interest in composition. Outside music he enjoys cycling, walking, gardening, reading and supporting King’s Lynn Town!