Jonathan Beatty was appointed Conductor of Unite the Union in April 2022. Jonathon took on the role on an interim basis in mid-January this year after being asked to conduct the band at the NEMBBA and Yorkshire area championship section contests. The band were very impressed with Jonathan’s approach to rehearsals and also his determination and drive to get the very best out of the band. This was evident very quickly at the NEMBBA contest in February, where the band was triumphant in winning the championship section and then went on to deliver a solid performance of Contest Music at the Yorkshire area, with the band achieving their best result since 2005, maintaining championship section status.

Following on from the successful achievement at the Yorkshire Area, the band have gone on to become Champions of the Senior Trophy at this years Spring Festival Contest in May in Blackpool, ensuring promotion to the Senior Cup in 2023.

 Jonathan Beatty is widely regarded as one of the leading musicians of his generation. He came to international prominence upon joining the Grimethorpe Colliery Band as Principal trombone at the age of 21.   His progression to conducting and teaching sees him using his ability to connect music with emotion to its full potential. His character, both on and off the podium, creates a warmth of expression and a unique musical perspective to interpretation.  Jonathan has worked as a professional musician for over 25 years.
During this time, he has played with many of the country’s major orchestras including the Orchestra of Opera North, the London Concert Orchestra, the Royal Northern Sinfonia, the Royal Ballet, the English National Ballet, the Liverpool Philharmonic and the English Northern Philharmonic. Jonathan's 15-year association with the Grimethorpe Colliery Band included winning many major contests. 

 Jonathan started his brass band conducting career in 2010 with the Dinnington Colliery Band (famous for the BBC TV show “A Band For Britain”), guiding them from the fourth section to the second, with great contest success, three national appearances and a UK top selling CD recording.  He went on to conduct the Hade Edge Band, receiving critical acclaim in concerts and success in contests. He then became the resident musical director of the Fairey band in Stockport in 2018, with much success with concerts around the country. Jonathan is also a popular guest conductor to many of the major brass bands in England. 

Jonathan has a passion for education and as well as his role in working with and developing lower-section bands, he is also the director of the Brass Band at the University of Huddersfield, which has a high reputation for brass playing. The University Band, for the last three years, has been the highest placed university band in the UniBrass Contest and Jonathan has led the band to two wins in 2013 and 2014 in the short history of the contest. In addition to being a Lecturer in Performance at the university, Jonathan is also currently a tutor in lower brass at Sheffield’s prestigious Birkdale School.  Jonathan is proud to boast that many of his pupils are holding positions as professional musicians and in the highest echelons of the banding world.