Dr Nick Grace OBE BMus(Hons) DMA FLCM LRSM
Dr Nick Grace retired from the Royal Marines in 2017 as the nation’s senior military musician after over 35-years’ service, of which his final 8½ years were as the Principal Director. Born in West Bromwich, he joined the Royal Marines Band Service in 1982 playing Euphonium and Cello. On completion of his music training he was awarded the Prince's Badge followed by several years’ service in Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia. Commissioned in 1999 he attended the London College of Music graduating in 2001 with a First Class Bachelor of Music degree and was awarded the Worshipful Company of Musicians’ Silver Medal.
His military appointments included: Director of Music of the Band of HM Royal Marines Commando Training Centre, served on RFA Argus during Op TELIC (2003) and worked in various appointments at HQ Band Service. Promoted to Major in 2004 he was appointed the Director of Music Training at the Royal Marines School of Music and in 2007 Director of Music of the Band of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth (Royal Band). Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 2009 and appointed Principal Director of Music Royal Marines he has conducted the International Bands at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2011, 2014 and 2017. As the senior military musician in the country he was the musical lead for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Armed Forces Muster and Review and conducted the Bands at the Diamond Jubilee Pageant at Windsor and Jubilee River Thames Pageant in 2012. Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2013 New Year’s Honours List, he gained his Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA) from the University of Salford later that year.
Nick has conducted bands on numerous recordings including with DECCA in 2011 and SONY in 2014. At the London Film Festival in 2014 he conducted the film score for the world première performance of the highly praised restored film The Battles of Coronel and Falkland Islands. Other regular performances and recordings have seen him conduct massed bands at Beating Retreat on Horse Guards Parade including the 350th Anniversary celebrations of the Royal Marines in 2014 involving British, Dutch and American Marine Bands. He has then produced and conducted at eight Mountbatten Festivals of Music in the Royal Albert Hall.
Taking the musical lead for national commemorations such as ‘Gallipoli 100’ at the Cenotaph, ‘VJ Day 70th’ on Horse Guards in 2015, the ‘Battle of Jutland’ in May 2016 he also conducted the stage orchestra at the ITV BAFTA winning ‘Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebration’ at Windsor. International events included the 2015 Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony and conducting International Bands from Canada, USA, Germany, France, Japan, Brazil, Malta, South Africa, Russia, Oman, Italy, Estonia, Tonga, Jamaica, Mexico, Holland, Switzerland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Turkey, India, Australia and New Zealand.
Nick is now forging a freelance music consultant and conductor where he has been guest conductor including: The Royal Netherlands Marine Band in Rotterdam, The Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force Band in Basel, The Finnish Navy and Estonia Defence Force Bands in Hamina and the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force Central Band in Tokyo.
In 2018 he directed Journey through Conflict marking the Centenary of the end of WW1. This artistic event features renowned one-handed concert pianist Nicholas McCarthy, who performed Left-Hand Alone repertoire composed for injured service personnel during WW1, is fused with the artwork, voices, poetry and stories of our veterans’ personal experiences of conflict, injury and rehabilitation.
Nick has taken on a role with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo as their Musical Director in January 2022 and is responsible for coordinating all the musical aspects of the show, plus conducting the Stage Band.
Recognised as a global leader, Nick provides advice and support to national and international military and non-military musical organisations.
His military appointments included: Director of Music of the Band of HM Royal Marines Commando Training Centre, served on RFA Argus during Op TELIC (2003) and worked in various appointments at HQ Band Service. Promoted to Major in 2004 he was appointed the Director of Music Training at the Royal Marines School of Music and in 2007 Director of Music of the Band of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth (Royal Band). Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 2009 and appointed Principal Director of Music Royal Marines he has conducted the International Bands at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2011, 2014 and 2017. As the senior military musician in the country he was the musical lead for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Armed Forces Muster and Review and conducted the Bands at the Diamond Jubilee Pageant at Windsor and Jubilee River Thames Pageant in 2012. Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2013 New Year’s Honours List, he gained his Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA) from the University of Salford later that year.
Nick has conducted bands on numerous recordings including with DECCA in 2011 and SONY in 2014. At the London Film Festival in 2014 he conducted the film score for the world première performance of the highly praised restored film The Battles of Coronel and Falkland Islands. Other regular performances and recordings have seen him conduct massed bands at Beating Retreat on Horse Guards Parade including the 350th Anniversary celebrations of the Royal Marines in 2014 involving British, Dutch and American Marine Bands. He has then produced and conducted at eight Mountbatten Festivals of Music in the Royal Albert Hall.
Taking the musical lead for national commemorations such as ‘Gallipoli 100’ at the Cenotaph, ‘VJ Day 70th’ on Horse Guards in 2015, the ‘Battle of Jutland’ in May 2016 he also conducted the stage orchestra at the ITV BAFTA winning ‘Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebration’ at Windsor. International events included the 2015 Rugby World Cup Opening Ceremony and conducting International Bands from Canada, USA, Germany, France, Japan, Brazil, Malta, South Africa, Russia, Oman, Italy, Estonia, Tonga, Jamaica, Mexico, Holland, Switzerland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Turkey, India, Australia and New Zealand.
Nick is now forging a freelance music consultant and conductor where he has been guest conductor including: The Royal Netherlands Marine Band in Rotterdam, The Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force Band in Basel, The Finnish Navy and Estonia Defence Force Bands in Hamina and the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force Central Band in Tokyo.
In 2018 he directed Journey through Conflict marking the Centenary of the end of WW1. This artistic event features renowned one-handed concert pianist Nicholas McCarthy, who performed Left-Hand Alone repertoire composed for injured service personnel during WW1, is fused with the artwork, voices, poetry and stories of our veterans’ personal experiences of conflict, injury and rehabilitation.
Nick has taken on a role with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo as their Musical Director in January 2022 and is responsible for coordinating all the musical aspects of the show, plus conducting the Stage Band.
Recognised as a global leader, Nick provides advice and support to national and international military and non-military musical organisations.