Lt. Col. Brendan Power (b. 1951)

Brendan Power is director of the Defence Forces School of Music at Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin. He recalls his schooldays in Clonmel during which he attended music lessons. His love of music brought him to UCC in 1969 from where he graduated with a B. Mus. Degree having begun initially to study dentistry and changing course after two years. He had attended public lectures given by Prof. Fleischmann, and his area of study undertook a major change in direction as a result. He worked as a teacher for one year in Clonmel after graduating, and then joined the Army in 1978. He spent two and a half years in Dublin, and then was appointed to Athlone, where he spent eight years as a band conductor. He was then appointed conductor to the Army No. 1 Band, with responsibility for the three bands at the military barracks. He discusses the recruitment and training of band members at the barracks.