John Bevan (musician)

In August 1986 the band was dealt a terrible blow. On returning from vacation after celebrating their Silver Wedding anniversary they were informed that Oslo's Rainbow Restaurant, the building where they would usually rehearse, had had a serious fire which damaged virtually everything within. The band's library of music was completely destroyed with the exception of the performing folders which were located at another store. This saved them and they got many new engagements. The library at that time had a total of 750 arrangements which is now somewhat depleted to a total of 550.

Another milestone in their history was in 1984, when they were invited to perform for the Istanbul Music Festival accompanying the local Turkish vocalist IBO in the Istanbul Opera House. The band also had the honour of performing at a large Turkish wedding.

In 1980 Norway hosted the Paralympic Winter Games where the orchestra once again showed its skills in the international field.

After an eight-year period living at Windmill Avenue, Rubery, John and his wife, Joan, left England in 1969 with their two children, Andrew and Colin, and took up residence in Norway. Within a short period he was invited to join the Nesodden Amateur Orchestra. Within a four-year period he conducted the local youth and school bands and also the Oslo Post Office orchestra. From the connections he had established with local musicians he formed an eighteen piece combination which later became known as the John Bevan Big Band. From these very basic beginnings the band enjoyed a great deal of success in a relatively short time. It established a working arrangement with NADU (Norway's Amateur Dancing Association) and performed on several occasions for their National Championships. In 1978 Norway was allocated the World Championship in Latin American Dancing and the Bevan band were honoured to be chosen for this prestigious arrangement. Norway took both second and third places in this competition.

In 1959, he was conscripted into the army stationed at Woolwich, London, as a musician in the Royal Artillery Staff Band. This was short-lived due to a compassionate discharge owing to the unexpected death of his father at a very early age. This did not quell his interest for music, however, and he formed the John Bevan Quartet, which became popular in the Birmingham area and also was the regular feature at the Perry Hall Hotel, Bromsgrove for many years. Classical music at this time was not the forefront of his musical activities but an opportunity presented itself in 1962 when the Bromsgrove Music Festival invited him to perform. With able assistance from the Bromsgrove String Orchestra under the conductorship of Joseph Stones he performed Richard Strauss's Duo Concerto for Bassoon and Clarinet. John was honoured to partner with Harold Evans, principle bassoonist with the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

John Bevan (born 3 August 1938) is a British clarinettist, saxophonist, conductor and orchestra leader who emigrated to Norway in 1969. Bevan now lives in Nesodden, Akershus, Norway.