Major MP Dowrick BA(Hons) MA MMus(Comp) Dist (RNCM) PRNCM LRSM Royal Marines

Mick Dowrick joined the Royal Marines Band Service in September 1980 and trained as a bassoonist at the Royal Marines School of Music in Deal, Kent.

Whilst there, he was awarded the Junior Musicians Trophy for musical advancement. On completion of training he was drafted to the Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command Band at Royal Marines Eastney and was fortunate to be selected for Royal Duties onboard HMY Britannia during which time he toured the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Far East and the Antipodes. 1987 heralded a move to the Band of HM Royal Marines Commandos, the two years spent here included two trips to Norway in support of the Medical Squadron of the Commando Logistic Regiment as well as visits to the United States of America and Europe.

In 1993, as well as completing the Senior Command and Musician One courses, he began his studies with the Open University. He completed the Bandmaster Course in 1995, where he attained a distinguished pass and was awarded the Silver Medal by the Worshipful Company of Musicians. He was also granted Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music and was the top military student of that year’s examination board for this. In 1997 Mick was sent to HMS Nelson in Portsmouth as the Volunteer Band Instructor. During his tenure the Nelson Band won the coveted Wilkinson Dirk at the 1997 Volunteer Band Festival and Mick finished his studies with the Open University graduating with a 2:1 Honours Degree.

1998 brought a move to the Higher Training Department at the Royal Marines School of Music where he became the Assistant to the Chief Instructor and the first University Liaison Officer for the then newly set-up Royal Marines School of Music Degree programme in collaboration with the University of Portsmouth.
Mick continued with his own studies and began a Masters Degree at the University of Salford, studying composition and arranging with Peter Graham.

In 2000, after promoted to Warrant Officer 2 Bandmaster, he became the Chief Instructor of the Higher Training Department. During this year he was also responsible for producing over one third of the music for the 100th Birthday Celebrations of Her Majesty the Queen the Queen Mother. Mick finished his studies at Salford and graduated at the Lowry Centre in 2000 with a Master of the Arts Degree.
Mick was selected for promotion to Lieutenant in 2000 and after completing the Staff Officer Late Entry Course at CTCRM, he went on to complete his professional training at the Royal Northern College of Music where he graduated as a Master of Music with Distinction, was granted the Professional Performance Diploma and awarded the Michael Brierly Award for Conducting. 

Prior to taking up his current appointment, as Director of Music (Training), Mick was Supply Officer (Music) and editor of the Blue Band Magazine. As well as being involved in military music making, Mick has continued to keep in contact with civilian musical organisations and has been invited to conduct the World famous Besses o’ the Barn Brass Band and is regularly acted as a tutor at the Canford Summer School of Music. He lives with his wife Heather and their three children on the Isle of Wight.

Last updated: May 2007