In November 1996 Dalmellington band were lucky enough to secure one of Scotlands finest conductors. But believe it or not there was life before Dalmellington.....  John Boax was educated in Kilmarnock, attending James Hamilton Academy, where he began to play the cornet under the tuition of Andrew Keachie. He played in the school band, and later became a founder member of Kilmarnock Concert Brass. In 1978 he became a peripatetic brass instructor for the Ayr division of Strathclyde, being based at Carrick Academy in Maybole. In 1980 he founded the Carrick Youth Brass Band, with whom he had many fine contest results, including 2 Scottish Championship wins and in 1991 becoming the European Champions, the first British band to do so. For 10 years he has been associated with the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland, as a tutor, and also as joint conductor of the reserve band. In 1985 he was approached by Dunaskin Doon Band with a view to becoming their Musical Director, this was the start of 8 very successful years which saw the band move from 3rd section to championship status in that time! Next came the David A Hall Whitburn band in November 1993.

He has worked with some of the top names in the brass band world, such as, Major Peter Parkes, Philip McCann, the Childs brothers, Geoffrey Brand and Richard Evans to name but a few.