Our Cornet Section
Tom Hutchinson - Principal Cornet
Tom began learning the trumpet at the age of nine and moved onto cornet in order to join his local brass band Stannington. As an early teenager he joined Barnsley Building Society Band and quickly ascended to the position of principal cornet. Tom’s first taste of playing ‘top man’ in a championship section band happened a few years later, aged fifteen, when he joined the Rothwell Temperance Band under the baton of David Roberts.
During these formative years Tom also played solo cornet with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain including two courses as Leader. It was the Band’s Associate Conductor, Dr Nicholas Childs who noticed his talent and later invited him to join the Black Dyke Band.
Tom played for ‘Dyke’ on repiano cornet, and at the age of eighteen, was promoted to tutti solo cornet. He played with Black Dyke for four years, contributing to many contest successes including the British Open and both the English National and National Championship of Great Britain titles. During his time with ‘Dyke’ he also toured extensively across Europe and America. He was also part of an extended tour of Australia where he performed in Sydney Opera House.
During the period Tom played at Black Dyke he was also a student at The Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester where he studied trumpet and cornet with John Miller and Richard Marshall respectively, graduating with a B.Mus.(hons) degree. The most memorable musical moment for Tom as a student, was giving the world première of Elgar Howarth’s Sonatina for trumpet and pianoforte in his final recital.
After Tom graduated Dr Robert Childs invited him to join the mighty Cory Band on principal cornet, and the lure of sitting on the ‘end chair’ for the reigning; British Open, European, World Champion Band was too great an opportunity to turn down. After leading the band to its hat-trick winning European title in 2010, and Welsh regional title in 2011, he hopes to win many other major trophies with Cory. As well as playing principal cornet with the Cory band, he is a brass tutor for Birmingham Music Service, cornet tutor for the National Youth Brass Band of Wales, and a visiting tutor at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Tom is pleased to be working with Besson and playing their Prestige cornet.
At the 2011 British Open Brass band Championships, Tom was awarded the Stanley Wainright Memorial Award as Best Soloist.
Christopher Turner - Assistant Principal Cornet
Chris hails from the Welsh village of Briton Ferry, where he began his musical career playing cornet aged 10 for the local silver brass band and West Glamorgan Music Ensembles.
In 1989 Chris became a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales working his way through the ranks to become Principal Cornet.
After playing for the country’s finest bands he decided to diversify and take up the trumpet. It was his trumpet playing that led to him moving to London where he took up a coveted place at the Trinity College of Music under Norman Burgess. Whilst at Trinity College of Music Chris was the winner of the Phillip Jones Brass Ensemble Prize twice and the John Burden Soloist Prize.
He completed his musical studies as a postgraduate at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama under Paul Cosh, John Miller and Anne McAneney.
After completing his studies Chris held many prestigious trumpet and cornet positions including playing for the Halle, Liverpool Philharmonic and BBC Concert Orchestras, before moving to New Zealand to play for The Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra and Dalewool Band.
Since 2000 he has returned to his brass band roots, playing Co-principal Cornet for the Black Dyke Band, Soprano Cornet for the Brighouse and Rastrick Band, where he has enjoyed much success including winning the National Brass Band Championships.
In 2003 Chris felt the calling of the green green grass of home and is thrilled to be playing with the Cory Bandon Assistant Solo Cornet Chris has won many major contests including the Nationals, British Open, European as well as the World Championships. Chris’s biggest musical ambition is to win the Grand Slam of Brass Band Contests which means holding the British Open, National and European Championships all at the same time.
Chris works in Gwent Music Support Service as a Peripatetic Brass Teacher. As well as teaching for Gwent Music Support service Chris is the Cornet Tutor at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.
“It is a great pleasure to play Besson again. The Prestige Cornet BE2028 is a well built cornet which produces a wonderful vibrant cornet sound which has an open feel and strong core throughout the range. The valves are silky smooth and the finish is stunning.”
Darren Thomas - Solo Cornet
Darren started playing at the age of eight inspired and influenced by his father Jeff. His initial experience of brass banding was in the Tredegar Town Band, firstly in the Youth Band and then the senior band. He was also a valued member of the Gwent County Youth Band.
Darren comes from a very musical family, his mother used to play cornet and his father was a revered flugal horn soloist and Chairman of the Cory Band for more than thirty years.
In 1992 Darren joined Cory band on third cornet, however, in 2000 he joined Tredegar Town Band to gain valuable experience on solo cornet and within a few years was appointed principal cornet. In 2006 Darren was very pleased to accept the offer of returning to Cory Band on Solo Cornet.
Darren has worked in the aircraft industry as a skilled engineer for most of his working life and currently works and lives near RAF St Athan.
Darren has had many memorable musical moments but one that stands out above all others is his first British Open Championship win in 2007 playing Kenneth Downie’s Visions of Gerontius.
Darren has been inspired by many varied musical moments and personalities. However, one person is always near the tip of his tongue when chatting to others about role models,
Darren said, “Ian Williams is one of the finest cornet players I have had the pleasure of performing with. He played Principal Cornet with Cory Band for a staggering twenty years. Ian’s instrument of choice was a Besson and I’m thrilled that Cory Band are now working with that same company. I love my new Besson cornet, it’s a stunning instrument which I find very easy to play throughout the entire range”.
Darren’s ambition is to win the National Championships of Great Britain with Cory Band.
Seamus Gallagher - Solo Cornet
Seamus starting playing at the age of 7 and was taught by Mr Bob Quick until he was eighteen years old. During that time he was principal cornet of his school brass band and principal trumpet of the area youth orchestra. He made the move from Ireland to Colchester in England to study trumpet at Colchester Institute under George Reynolds (co-principal trumpet with the LSO for almost 20 years). During his time in East Anglia he played with various ensembles in and around the London Area including principal trumpet with the Britten Pears Orchestra and solo cornet with the Aveley and Newham Brass Band.
Seamus decided to move to South Wales in 2004 to take up a Teaching Post. During his first year in Wales he played for various bands, but when he was asked to join the mighty Cory Band it was truly an ambition fulfilled. Seamus has been playing solo cornet with the Cory Band for almost six years and during that time he has contributed greatly to their success. Seamus say’s, “Its been a privileged to be part of such a happy and successful winning team.”
Seamus enjoys being part of an experienced and established cornet section and is very pleased that the band are now working alongside Buffet Crampon. He acknowledges that the new Besson Cornets have already made a positive impact on the Band’s super sound. He say’s, “The quality and consistency of theBesson Prestige have enabled us to blend as a section and has given us the confidence required when performing the most challenging music.”
Amongst his most memorable moments in banding were winning his first British Open in 2007 and completing a hat-trick of wins at the European Brass Band Championships in 2010.
Seamus’s ambition is to win the National Brass Band Championship Finals, held at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall with the Cory Band!
Steve was born in Armadale, West Lothian, Scotland. He started playing the cornet at the age of 8, joining the Armadale Burgh Band soon after. Aged 12 he joined the Kirkintilloch Band on 3rd cornet, and within 3 years had progressed to the soprano cornet chair. The following year (1984) he won the Scottish Championships under the baton of Professor Walter Hargreaves. In 1985 he made his debut at the National Championships of Great Britain, held in the Royal Albert Hall. Within the next few years he won another Scottish Championship and took part in the European Brass Band Championships held in St David’s Hall, Cardiff (this time under the baton of Richard Evans).
As well as playing the soprano cornet Steve is also an accomplished trumpeter and in 1986 was a brass finalist in the prestigious BBC Young Musician of the Year competition. Steve’s insatiable appetite for musical performance drew him to London to study with James Watson at the Royal Academy of Music. At the Academy he won all the major brass and wind prizes. Steve attributes much of his musical development as an instrumentalist and more widely as a musician to the pedagogy of the late great James Watson.
It was James Watson who invited him to play soprano cornet with the Desford Colliery Band in 1988, a position he held until 1991. During his time with Desford he won two National Championships, one of which was the historic ‘four in a row’ in 1991 performing Robert Simpson’s Energy.
In addition to playing soprano cornet with Desford Steve worked as a freelance trumpet player in London from 1987. This work included performances with all the major Orchestras as well as recording sessions and ‘West End’ work. The list of world class conductors and composers Steve worked with during this period in his life reads like a ‘Who’s Who in Miusic’, they include: Carlos Kleiber, Leonard Bernstein, George Solti, Bernard Haitink, Sir Colin Davies, Sir Simon Rattle, Olivier Messiaen, Elliott Carter, Luciano Berio, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Hans Werner Henze and Stephen Sondheim.
In 1997 Steve returned to Kirkintilloch Band and also appeared as a guest with many other fine bands including Brisbane Excelsior Band from Australia!
In 2011 Steve was awarded the Best Instrumentalist prize at the Grand Shield with Kirkintilloch Band and more recently he was awarded the Soprano prize at Brass in Concert with Tredegar Town Band.
Having made the decision to move to Wales on a permanent basis he was delighted to accept the invitation to join the famous Cory Band. He is looking forward to working with Dr Robert Childs and the band and in his own words, ‘This is as good as it gets’.
Steve plays on a Besson Soprano cornet and has done since 1990.
Richard Davies - Repiano Cornet
Richard started playing at the age of 7 with the Aberaman Original Silver Band and then at the age of 9 moved to Llwydcoed Silver Band. In 1985 he joined the Cory Band and in 1990 he left to join Cwmaman Institute Silver Band and became their Principal Cornetist. During his period with Cwmaman Band he was the main driving force behind their successful rise from the 4th Section to the Championship Section. During his early years he was also Principal Cornet of the Mid Glamorgan Youth Brass Band and also a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales.
In 2003 he returned to the Cory Band on Solo Cornet, he moved to Repiano 2005 where he has remained since. Richard considers the current cornet section at Cory to be, “One of the most formidable cornet sections in the brass banding world.”
During his time with Cory he has greatly contributed to the Band’s many contest successes and he has been involved in: 3 European titles, 2 British Opens, 1 World Championship, 1 Brass in Concert Championship and 5 Welsh Regional Championship titles.
Richard left school at the age of 16 and went to work in Local Government where he is currently a Principal Officer in the Corporate Finance section. He is a professionally qualified Accounting Technician and also holds a professional Trainers qualification.
His most memorable performance Cory was winning the British Open playing Titan’s Progress where his solo contribution played a significant part in securing the title that day.
Richard’s boyhood hero and most inspirational person in banding is James Shepherd. “I adored his technique and sound, each time I practiced I tried to emulate him. I also enjoy listening to the playing of Wynton Marsalis, Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong. Other influential people in my career have to be my parents, my very sympathetic wife Clare, Dr Robert Childs and also the late Cynan Jones who was an amazing teacher and confidant during my years at Cwmaman.”
Richard’s ambition is to win the National Finals in London and he would also relish the opportunity to record a solo album with the Cory Band.
As for the new Besson Prestige cornet, he says’ “In all the years I’ve been playing cornet, I honestly believe that this is the best instrument I’ve played. The workmanship and build of the instrument is very high class from the mechanics down to the finishing, the instrument is exceptionally free blowing and effortless through all registers, and, produces a very sweet and centered sound that you would expect from a Besson cornet.”
Richard has recently taken up fly fishing and hopes to catch a fish one day!
Lisa Fitzgerald Lombard - Second Cornet
Lisa was born into a very musical family and it was perhaps inevitable that she would play a brass instrument of some kind. There was an old cornet in the family toy box which Lisa and her brother would frequently take out and play, however it was not until Lisa was nine years old that she began to have formal lessons from her father, Robert. It was not long before Lisa joined her first brass band EYMS, where her mother played flugelhorn, her brother played euphonium and her father conducted.
Aged 18 Lisa began to study music at Birmingham University and for a short time played with the Staffordshire Building Society Band, conducted by her trumpet teacher, Andrew Culshaw. However her father remained a great musical influence and Lisa was lucky enough to deputise regularly with the Black Dyke Band, where Robert held the solo euphonium spot for ten years. Through this amazing experience Lisa had the privilege of playing with two other musical heroes, Kevin Crockford and James Watson.
After gaining her degree, Lisa went on to complete a Masters Degree in Performance at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she studied with James Watson, John Wallace and Howard Snell. It was during this time that Lisa had a telephone call from her father asking if she could play with theCory band at the 2001 European Championships, as one of the regular cornet players was unavailable. Lisa enjoyed herself so much, that she continued to play with the band while she was in London whenever she could, and when a permanent position became available Lisa jumped at the chance and moved back to Wales, where she is now Head of Music at a local high school and plays second cornet at Cory. Banding has once again become a family affair, with her brother on euphonium, her sister in law on flugelhorn and of course her father conducting.
Stephanie Wilkins - Second Cornet
Stephanie started to play the cornet aged 8, and was initially taught by the late Shaun Thomas. He’d visited her school on a recruitment drive partnered by Mount Charles Band and the Cornish Music Service.
Neil Blockley - Third Cornet
Neil Blockley began playing at the age of seven in the Salvation Army in Pentre, a small village in the Rhondda Valley only a few miles from the home ofCory Band. He received tuition in school on cornet from Mr Ieuan Morgan MBE, and later went on to become Principal Cornet of the Treorchy Comprehensive School Band, and competed in the National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain and Festival of Music for Youth.
In 1995, at the age of fifteen he was asked to perform with the Cory Band on 3rd Cornet and since then has enjoyed playing in the Cory Band cornet section.
On leaving school he joined Barclays Bank and enjoyed their employment for some ten years, gradually working his way up to becoming Bank Manager.
Neil’s skill as a financier coupled with his passion for brass Bands made him the obvious choice to become Cory’s Treasurer. He has also been part of the small management team that runs the Band since 1999.
Neil is currently a Business Advisor who is contracted to the Welsh Assembly Government.
He has played in various positions within the Cory Band cornet section since 1995, but for the majority of time has been their number one 3rd cornet player.
Neil has won all the major titles with Cory Band and his highlights include performing in the winning performance of Peter Graham’s Harrison's Dreams at the National Finals of Great Britain in 2000 Revelation in the European Championships in Bergen, Norway in 2003 which gained the band a unanimous standing ovation!
Neil is delighted that Cory Band has chosen to play Besson Prestige Cornets as he believes that the quality of sound that they produce is second to none. Cory Band has a unique sound which is envied by many in the brass band world, these top class instruments enable all the players to consistently perform to the best of their ability. They are well made and with constant development utilising the very best players within brass bands, there is nothing left to chance and every instrument is manufactured with the player in mind.
Neil's ambition is to perform with Cory Band at the Carnegie Hall, New York or Sydney Opera House, Australia and looks forward to many more successes in the future with Cory Band performing on Besson instruments.
When Neil is not performing with Cory Band you can usually find him on a Ski Slope somewhere in the World.
Phillip Harris - Third Cornet
Philip Harris was seven years old when his father John began teaching him the cornet. He was regarded as a child prodigy by many, and within one year of high quality tuition he was sitting alongside players in the Pencoed Silver Band three times his age. In 1972 he seized the opportunity to play the more soloistic flugel horn and was immediately asked to play with the Mid Glamorgan Youth Band and the internationally acclaimed Upper Rhondda Schools Band under the tuition of legendary conductor and euphonium player Mr Ieuan Morgan MBE.
Aged 17 years Phil was scouted to play with the then, very successful Lewis Merthyr Band, he reluctantly decided to leave Pencoed Silver Band and follow his banding career path towards the top echelons of banding.
After three very happy years with Lewis Merthyr, Phil had made a real impression in the Welsh musical community and in 1980 received a call from the Principality’s premier Band, Cory Workmen’s Band to join them on top second cornet; sadly this appointment coincided with the tragic loss of his Brother-In Law, Ian Jones.
Thirty one years later, Phil is still playing second cornet in the Mighty Cory band. His dedication, loyalty and shear musical talent has helped the band win more than 20 major championships including: 4 National Championships of Great Britain, 4 European Championships, 4 British Open Championships and 10s of Welsh Regional Championships. In addition to this Phil belongs to an elite club of musicians who have won three different hat-tricks; The Welsh Regional championships (2003-04-05-06-07), The European Championships (2008-09-10) and the National Finals of Great Britain (1982-83-84).
As well as his mammoth contribution to Cory’s contesting prowess, Phil also leads by example in other areas of brass bandsmanship. He is never late for band rehearsal and very seldom misses, he is also considered by many to be the most smartly turned-out musician in the Band!
Phil is a keen fan of the newly acquired Besson Prestige cornet, he said, “The latest Besson cornets we've just taken delivery of are the finest cornets I've ever played.”
He is still very proud of being a member of the Cory Band and in 2009 the Band bestowed the honour of ‘Life Member Award’ on him, proving that they are equally proud of him.
When Phil is not heard playing his Besson Prestige cornet, he might be seen riding his Harley Davison Motor Bike!!
We are delighted to welcome Kazuyuki Kouno to our bass section.
Last night's concert at Huddersfield Town Hall, with our good friends, the Honley Male Voice Choir marked the end of our yea
For the fifth year in succession, the band has ended the year as the British Bandsman / 4barsrest.com number one ranked band in th