Franciscus de-Leuw

Francisus (Frans) de-Leuw LRSM LTCL LWCMD ALCM

After graduating from the Welsh College of Music and Drama (performance studies in Clarinet) I began a musical career with the Royal Air Force which lasted for 32 years. I progressed through the ranks as a rank and file musician to section leader, administrator, training and development supervisor to be privileged and blessed to finish my career as Bandmaster of the Royal Air Force Central Band. My wife and I retired to Crete, Greece in 2009 where we now spend our time playing with the local band, forming smaller performance groups and choral singing. This has resulted in a personal need to undertake new musical arrangements.

In recent years I also find the time to fulfill a life time ambition of creativity through my original compositions. I openly admit that my soul is in the Classical and Romantic eras; some may say 'trapped' but that is where my heart tells me my creativity currently lies and to move outside of that at this time would necessitate me being false to myself. This is not a livelihood to me, I have had a wonderful career in music which has afforded me the privilege of retiring early to spend more time on creativity and, I hope, to give something back. So my music is primarily an outpouring of my heart and soul - if other people find pleasure through it then I will feel doubly blessed. You can listen to all through my Sound Cloud (Frans de-Leuw).