Harry Mortimer

Who was Harry Mortimer?

Harry Mortimer CBE was an English composer and conductor who specialised in brass band music. He is regarded as the world's best ever cornet player.

Born in Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, his father was conductor Fred Mortimer. Fred taught Harry and his brothers Rex and Alex to play the cornet, and also composition. Later he was taught by William Rimmer. In 1910 the family moved to Luton, where Harry became cornet soloist in the Luton Brass Band, and at the age of 14 years became conductor of the Luton Red Cross Junior Band. The Luton band was also conducted by Fred at this time, which raised their standard considerably. Under the conductor William Halliwell, the Band won the national championship in 1923 at Crystal Palace, the southernmost English Brass Band to do so. Their father then became conductor of the well-known Fodens Motor Works Band, meaning that the family moved to Sandbach, Cheshire. Naturally, his three sons played in this band too, Alex euphonium, Rex euphonium and Harry cornet.

All three sons became well-known conductors. In the 28 Championship section Finals held between 1930 and 1963, bands directed by one of the Mortimers became champion on 20 occasions. Father Fred won with the Foden's Motorworks Band seven times between 1930 and 1938, Harry nine times, Alex three times and Rex once. In addition, Harry led the Fairey Aviation Band to eight successes in the British Open Championship, in which brass bands from outside of Great Britain are occasionally invited to participate. As conductor of the Fairey Aviation Band, the Black Dyke Mills Band, Munn & Felton's, Bickershaw Colliery Band and the Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band, he celebrated numerous successes.