Captain PJ Curtis MBE BMus(Hons) PGDip LRSM AMusTCL Royal Marines

Born into a Salvationist family, Pete grew up interested in music and thus in January 1986, having watched the Royal Marines Band perform in his hometown of Bath, joined the Royal Marines Band Service as a Solo Cornet player. On completion of 3 years training at Deal, he was drafted to CinC Fleet Band, London, where he travelled the world extensively.  He then spent the next seven years serving as the Principal Cornet of both the Royal Marines Bands in Dartmouth and Scotland.  It was during this time when he made contact again with the civilian Brass Band scene, firstly playing, and then conducting both Totnes Band and Tullis Russell Mills Band.

In 1997, he was appointed as the Solo Cornet Instructor at the Royal Marines School of Music, Portsmouth.  From here he was selected for the “Musician 1” Course and, following promotion to Sergeant, the Bandmasters Course.  Having finished both Courses as top student with distinguished passes and gained two civilian diplomas - an Associate (Music) with Trinity College London, for Theory and a Licentiate with the Royal Schools of Music, for Conducting - he was presented with the prestigious Silver Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians. 
Following promotion to Colour Sergeant in 2001, he became the Bandmaster of the HMS Collingwood Volunteer Band. During his two-year tenure, they were twice crowned "RN Concert Band Champions" and  also "Best Overall Band" in 2002.  During this time he was also studying for his Batchelor of Music Degree, graduating with First Class Honours and spent time as the Resident Conductor of Woodfalls Band and as  Musical Director of Ocean Brass. 

A return to the Royal Marines School of Music followed, firstly as Academic Instructor before being appointed Chief Instructor of Higher Training following promotion to Warrant Officer.  Having been selected for commissioning by the Admiralty Interview Board, in April 2004 he commenced the Senior Corps Commission Course at the Commando Training Centre.  On completion and following promotion to Captain RM, he moved to the University of Salford, Manchester, working under Professor David King, to undertake further intensive musical study specialising in Conducting and the Psychology of Performance where, in 2005, he gained a Post Graduate Diploma.  He also worked with the famous Besses O' The Barn Brass Band in Manchester and appeared as a guest conductor with Camborne Town Band.

A fantastic two year period as the Director of Music of the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines Commando Training Centre followed before stepping away from the Band Service to undertake a number of roles within the Royal Marines General Service, firstly as 2nd-in-Command of Base Company, 40 Commando Royal Marines during their 2007/08 tour of Afghanistan, and then as the Corps Casualty Officer where he was solely responsible for the Royal Marines Casualty Notification Process. 

Given his unique experience of the Naval Service Recovery Pathway and having worked closely with many casualties and their families, in June 2009, he was selected to be the first ever Officer Commanding of Hasler Company Royal Marines, a brand new Rehabilitation Company.  He was tasked to create, establish and command this bespoke facility in order to accommodate, manage and administer all of the long term ill and seriously injured casualties within the Royal Marines, a role for which he was awarded the MBE in the 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours. 

Having returned to the Band Service, he currently holds the appointment of SO3 Band (the Royal Marines Band Service Career Manager) working within the Headquarters in Portsmouth.  In addition to this, having always enjoyed working with organisations outside of the Royal Marines, in January 2011 he accepted an offer from the Band of the Hampshire Constabulary to become their Director of Music. 
He lives in the Drayton area of Portsmouth with his wife Rachel and their 3 year old daughter Mosella but also has three older children, Francesca (22), Matthew (21) and Bethany (19), who all live in Kent.

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Last Updated 21 June 2011