ALEX KNOX
Alex Knox was born in Edinburgh in 1966. He took up music when he joined Newbattle High School in Midlothian, where he was taught Cornet, Tenor Horn and eventually French Horn. After obtaining his Higher Music at School, he followed the footsteps of his three elder bothers and joined the Army as a musician, when he enlisted into the Royal Scots at the Junior Infantry Depot in Aberdeen in 1983. After a further year's musical training at the Royal Military School of Music (Kneller Hall), he was posted to the Regimental Band of the 1st Battalion The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) where he served in Germany, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. In 1991 he carried out his secondary role as a Medical Assistant in the 1st Gulf War.
In 1992 he was selected to attend the 3-year Bandmaster's Course, again at the Royal Military School of Music. On completion of this course in 1995, he was awarded 7 prizes including best original composition and best overall Student Bandmaster. He also attained the highest marks in the Ministry of Defence Bandmaster examinations and was awarded with the Silver Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians for musical achievement. In 1996 he was appointed Bandmaster of The Gibraltar Regiment where he spent 18 months before taking up the appointment as Bandmaster of the Light Division in Winchester. In January 2000 Captain Alex Knox was commissioned and appointed as Director of Music of the Royal Irish Regiment. Captain Knox retired from the Army in 2006.
Alex was appointed as the Musical Director of St Ronan's Silver Band in March 2007 and since then has worked with many bands, including Newtongrange Silver Band, before taking up his appointment with Penicuik Silver Band in March 2009.