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Lieutenant-Colonel Bryan E. P. Briggs-Watson WkhM; MSM; ARCM; L(Mus)TCL; FVCM(Hons) has performed with the Boston Sinfonia for the past six years as a rank and file double bassist. Following an extremely interesting, responsible and sometimes quite hectic musical life, he relishes his current position, with the orchestra. The challenging programmes of music the orchestra presents, is a great joy to him, and enables him to keep up his playing ability, which he says "is all the more difficult as one, gets older. He is now 76 years of age.
Since enlisting as a junior musician in 1947, he had a long and distinguished career of some 30 years with the Highland and Lowland brigades of the Scottish Division and 18 years with the Royal Guard of Oman, as a conductor, brass instrumentalist, double bassist, arranger, teacher and administrator. Together with his Royal College of Music and Licentiateship (Teacher) of Trinity College diplomas, he holds a Fellowship, with Honours, in composition from the Victoria College of Music, London. He studied conducting for 3 years under Maurice Miles (late Northern Sinfonia and Royal College of Music.)
In 1947, at the age of 14 years, he started his service as a Junior Musician with the Highland Light Infantry, and upon the regiment's amalgamation in 1959, with the Royal Highland Fusiliers. Following a 3 year long course at the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, he graduated as Bandmaster (today's equivalent carries a Bachelor of Arts Degree). In September 1971, he was appointed Bandmaster of the Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment). In 1976, following a most demanding musical inspection by an Inspectorate from the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, the fact that he was successful is evidenced by the band being classified as 'outstanding', the highest grade possible.
In 1977, following some 30 years of British Army service, he was commissioned, in the rank of major, to the Royal Guard of Oman. He formed the Royal Mounted Band from scratch (and later the Sovereign's Escort) from young men who could neither read nor write English, had no knowledge of music or western musical instruments and were unable to ride horses! Within one year, the mounted band paraded and played before H.M. Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, and the nation, with a fully balanced compliment of 53 musicians which included 8 cavalry trumpeters and 2 drum horses.
As his next assignment in 1984, at the command of His Majesty the Sultan, he was tasked with forming the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra and following a 4 month period in the Bub'al Khali (the Empty Quarter) selecting suitable young men, he assumed the appointment of Principal, in the rank of Lieutenant - Colonel, of a unique comprehensive boarding orchestral school. Later, upon appointment to a senior staff administrative position within the Headquarters of the Royal Guard of Oman, he handed the 127 piece Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra, which by then, included 27 young Omani ladies! over to his successor. The orchestra recently performed in the Lincoln Centre, USA, The Koncerthalle, Berlin and made their British debut at the Barbican Centre on 9th March 2009 under Sir Colin Davies
.From little seeds big trees grow!
Colonel Briggs-Watson is a very experienced teacher, orchestrator/arranger, conductor, and performer. He has much knowledge in massed bands displays and public concerts in many countries of the world. His long experience in Oman, living and working in a Muslim country gave him a great understanding of the world of Islam, its culture and language.
He was awarded The Sultan's Distinguished Service Order, the Order of the Royal Emblem, the Special Services Medal of the Royal Guard and Military Long Service Medals in recognition of his service and dedication in the service of the Sultanate. On leaving, he was gifted with his sword.
Whilst in the British Army he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM), for services during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, the first to be awarded in his regiment for 40 years! He was awarded the Long Service medal, the United Nations Peace Force Medal (Cyprus) and the General Service Campaign medal with two clasps - Canal Zone and Arabian Peninsular.
He is extremely innovative and has the unique ability of infusing his enthusiasm to the musicians with whom he worked. Much of his work in Oman involved the encouragement of and dedication to young people, many of whom regarded him both as a mentor and father figure. He has a kind, warm nature and infectious sense of humour which together with his musicianship and Arabic linguistic abilities have proven to be a great asset in extracting the greatest amount of work and effort from his students in the shortest amount of time available.
In retirement, he spends much of his time cruising the Norfolk Broads in his newly built canal boat "Andante" and has a permanent mooring at Wroxham. He is often invited to speak at various Clubs and organisations.
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