Don came from a Salvation Army family. His father played cornet, trombone and later baritone in the S.A. band, his mother was the songster-leader and his maternal grandfather played the tuba. One of his earliest memories was watching his grandfather practice on the stairs of his little two up two down house - he was entranced with the lovely echo and full sound the tuba made in that confined space. There were always instruments in the house and Don experimented on most of them finally settling on the trombone at the age of six, although he played drums at school.
Don's father always took him to any Brass Bands that were playing near Peterborough and he quickly became enraptured with the Brass Band sound and fascinated by the fierce competitions. A good source of information about what is happening in the Brass Band World today is the weekly magazine called The British Bandsman . This magazine was founded in 1887 and avidly read in the Lusher household when Don was a boy. There has always been mutual respect between The Salvation Army and The Brass Band fraternity.
One of the highlights of his career came in 1975, when the organisers of the National Bands Contest and Geoffrey Brand of R. Smith decided decided to commission Gordon Langford to write a serious work for Trombone and Brass Band to be given its first performance at the Gala Concert of The National Bands Contest following the finals.
Don was chosen to perform the work with The Cory Band, the winners of the previous year's contest. Don's only regret was that his parents, who would be been so proud, had both passed away. They were delighted with Don's success in other fields but for him to play at The Royal Albert Hall at the Gala Concert as a soloist would have put the icing on the cake! Since then Gordon Langford's "Rhapsody for Trombone" published by Chandos Music, has become a popular addition to the trombone repertoire and is performed all over the world.
The National Brass Bands Contest is organised by British Bandsman and Kapitol Promotions Ltd and The National Contesting Council. In October 2002, Don was delighted that the Don Lusher Big Band was asked to play at the National Brass Band's Championship Gala Concert at the Royal Albert Hall. This was the first time that a Big Band had been asked to play at the Gala Concert. Tony Fisher, the virtuoso trumpet player, who is the lead trumpet in Don's band, played two solo pieces accompanied by the big band to tremendous applause.
Don often plays with Wind Bands and also gives open rehearsals and Master Classes for young Wind Bands and Brass Bands. In 1999, he played at Cambridge with Wardle High School Brass Band who were guests at The All England Masters Brass Band Festival. Philip Biggs is the administrator of The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and organises The All England Masters Brass Band Festival and the Brass Arts Festival, which is held during The National Brass Band Championship week.
Don was professor of trombone at the Royal Marines School of Music at Portsmouth, where he coached their Big Band and teaches trombone students. In 1999 he was the soloist with The Royal Marines Bands in Margate and Plymouth and also at The Mountbatten Festival of Music at the Royal Albert Hall. What an occasion that is with the Massed Bands of Her Majesty's Royal Marines!
Don often played with Salvation Army Bands as a charity to help the Army's many causes. This is something he really loved doing as it was like coming home. In 1999, he recorded his new composition "Aspects of Life" with the Amsterdam Staff Band of the Salvation Army, conducted by Don Jenkins. CD Number 99.7ASB
Don wrote several pieces for Brass Band:
All "manuscript only" pieces may be obtained by request from Don Lusher.
Links John Maines
