Paul Norley

Paul Norley began his musical career at the age of eight, learning to play the cornet and tenor horn with the Devon-based Totnes Band before enlisting in the Army in 1982. Following training with the Band of The Junior Leaders Regiment, he joined the Regimental Band of The First Royal Tank Regiment in Germany, a period during which he also served with 5 Armoured Field Ambulance in the first Gulf War. In 1994, Paul was posted to The Band of The Royal Lancers, having previously enjoyed two years as musical director to the Hungerford Town Band. By 1996, he was selected for the Bandmasters course at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, graduating in 1998 with prizes for performance and composition, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music, and a Licentiate Royal School of Music Diploma.

In January 2000, Paul took up the position of Bandmaster of the Band of The Light Division, during which time he studied with the University of Salford and the Open University to earn a Masters Degree in Classical Studies and various diplomas in brass band adjudication and conducting. He was commissioned as Captain in 2006 to become the Director of Music of The Band of The Royal Irish Regiment, followed by his 2008 appointment as Director of Music of The Band of The Kings Division and Musical Director to the National Youth Marching Band. By September 2010, he was promoted to Major and appointed Officer Commanding Training Development Team at Kneller Hall, acting as the Chief Examiner and Testing Standards Authority for all musicians in the British Army.

A further move in 2013 saw him become Director of Music of The Brigade of Gurkhas before returning to Kneller Hall in 2016 as Staff Officer Plans for the Corps of Army Music. In 2019, he reached a career pinnacle as Director of Music of The Band of The Coldstream Guards, eventually retiring to civilian life in Devon from this prestigious appointment in 2021. Today, Paul remains in high demand at contests across the UK and overseas, frequently undertaking specialized workshops and masterclasses for both bands and conductors.