How long have you played with Rothwell Temperance Band?
I started playing for Rothwell in late 2012.

What’s the best thing about playing in a brass band?
The friends and laughs you have in the band and other bands. The sounds and quality of music we make can help with your wellbeing. 

What’s your highlight so far with Rothwell Temperance Band?
There are several from the week we had as a band in Malta, the festival concert after the German Championships and from a contest point winning the Grand Shield to get us back to the British Open.

How did you get involved with playing a brass instrument?
I started playing in the Salvation Army aged about seven.  

What was your earliest musical experience?
Playing hymns in the junior band at Brighouse Salvation Army.      

Who has been your biggest influence?
A man called Andrew Owenson who was the conductor at Queensbury Music Centre in the 1970s. He helped me realise I could play to a decent standard and get to play at or near the top of brass banding.

Do you enjoy practising or find it a chore?
I find it a chore. 

Were your parents musical?
My father was, as was my grandfather. Though my dad played drums so not sure that makes him musical.

What’s the best and worst things about performing?
Giving enjoyment to an audience and a sense of achievement when it all goes well. The anti-climax when it’s all over.

What can the audience expect from a performance by Rothwell Temperance Band?
A great variety of music that will be entertaining and cover many genres of music.

How long have you played with Brighouse and Rastrick Band and what position do you currently hold?
I joined the band in 1995, but I’ve had around four years out because of work and other commitments. I currently hold the position of solo Eb bass.

What’s the best thing about playing in a brass band?
The “best” thing about playing in a brass band is a hard one to answer. Socialising, camaraderie, making music, competing and of course, winning.

What’s your highlight so far with Brighouse and Rastrick Band?
My highlights so far are winning the treble (All England Masters, National Championships, European Championships) in 1998, playing to capacity audiences in Canada in 2005, and winning the British Open last year.

How did you get involved with playing a brass instrument?
I first learned to play the bugle with the boys brigade, I then joined the school brass band when I went to senior school.

What was your earliest musical experience?
My earliest musical experience was playing the recorder in junior school to the assembly.

Who has been your biggest influence?
My biggest influence was my band conductor at school, Brian Farrar.

Do you enjoy practising or find it a chore?
I do enjoy practicing, but as you can imagine, playing bass is not very discreet and can annoy the neighbours.

Were your parents musical?
My father used to be a semi-professional singer in the clubs. My mother was tone deaf!

What piece of music do you most enjoy playing?
I enjoy playing The Bare Necessities, it always puts a smile on people’s faces.

What can an audience expect from a performance by Brighouse and Rastrick Band?
The audience can expect world class soloists and players, and a varied programme… there should be a little bit of something for everyone!

How long have you played with Foden’s Band?
I joined Foden’s in January 1996, as such 2023 is my 28th year in the band.

What’s the best thing about playing in a brass band?
Rehearsing, performing and socialising with others who enjoy the musical challenges that playing in a band such as Foden’s provides.

What’s your highlight so far with Foden’s Band?
On the contest stage winning the double in 2012 (British Open and National Champions), however as a concert performance, being directed by Bram Tovey in a performance of his Requiem for a Charred Skull at the RNCM Festival of Brass will sit long on the memory. Lastly, performing Andy Scott’s Molecular Cocktail Party a concerto for improvising musician at the RNCM was possibly the most challenging musical experience I’ve had the pleasure of being involved with.

How did you get involved with playing a brass instrument?
I started playing the baritone when at primary school, then switched to trombone when I was twelve, ironically as I would only be able to play in a brass band if I stuck on baritone..!

What was your earliest musical experience?
Learning piano aged six with the teacher from the local Sunday school. Seemingly I was a little too disruptive for the Sunday school so piano lessons with the teacher were arranged as an alternative – sort of God by proxy. The do God part didn’t really take off but fortunately the piano part resonated a little more.

Who has been your biggest influence?
Musically at first my sister, who is a year older than me, played the trumpet (really well!) and inspired me to learn a brass instrument. Latterly many of the wonderful musicians we’ve been fortunate to either have in our ranks at Foden’s or who we’ve had the pleasure of accompanying on stage.

Do you enjoy practising or find it a chore?
I’ve never been great at practicing sadly! Whilst a student at the RNCM, I was told to make sure that every time you play, be sure you do it properly and that way you’re reinforcing good technique. I’ve been fortunate for the past 27 years to be part of a band who rehearse and perform regularly and in all honesty, that constitutes the majority of my practice.

Were your parents musical?
Not formally, however Dad played guitar and he and Mum met whilst singing in a pub in Weymouth so there’s something in the genes somewhere!

What piece of music do you most enjoy playing?
That’s tough to answer as over the years Foden’s have played so much repertoire- I think the piece I most enjoyed performing was Albion at the National Finals in 2001 with Bram Tovey. It’s such a powerful and descriptive juggernaut of a piece and on the day, whilst Foden’s didn’t win (we came second to Black Dyke) the performance was incredible to be part of.

What’s the best and worst things about performing?
Best thing – knowing that you’ve connected with the audience, that hopefully you’ve made an impression and given them a positive experience, that they’ve enjoyed at least some part of your performance.
Worst? On occasion being a long way from home late at night before an early morning the next day…!

What can the audience expect from a performance by Foden’s Band?
A high quality, varied and enjoyable programme, delivered with technical assurance – and lots of fun.

How long have you played with Grimethorpe Colliery Band?
I joined Grimethorpe in June 2017 so I have been in the band for over 5 years now.

What’s your highlight so far with Grimethorpe Colliery Band?
Hands down it would be the first performance of Brassed Off Live at the Royal Albert Hall in 2017. It was an incredible experience and the atmosphere was just electric, especially during the Pete Postlethwaite speech at the end of the film – it actually felt like he was on stage with us, which was quite a surreal experience.

How did you get involved with playing a brass instrument?
I was given the opportunity to play an instrument when I started middle school and was specifically told “don’t you dare bring home a violin!”. The woodwind teacher had no instruments left, so brass it was.

What was your earliest musical experience?
My mum was a very good piano player, so when I was very young I used to love to hear her playing impressively difficult pieces by Chopin.

Who has been your biggest influence?
I was incredibly fortunate to have a great teacher, James Shepherd, the former principal cornet player of Black Dyke Band. He’s been a mentor to me ever since I picked up an instrument. He’s so inspiring, not just as a player, but also as a person.

Do you enjoy practising or find it a chore?
When I started it was definitely a chore! But I discovered that as you improve you enjoy practicing more – it’s an addictive cycle.

Were your parents musical?
My mum was an excellent piano player. My dad doesn’t play but he has an excellent ear as an audience adjudicator and his eclectic taste in musical styles has always been an influence.

What piece of music do you most enjoy playing?
It changes every day! Macarthur Park is a particular favourite though.

What’s the best and worst things about performing?
It’s a great feeling when you really stretch your own personal limits of playing, and even better when you’re on a stage with like-minded people all achieving the same. The flip-side of that is the huge amount of personal commitment required – personal practice every day, minimum two rehearsals a week, concerts every weekend and a large mileage on your car!

What can the audience expect from a performance by Grimethorpe Colliery Band?
A diverse range of music played by performers at the very peak of their careers.

How long have you played with Black Dyke Band and what position do you currently hold?
I’m in my 24th year and am proud to say I am the longest serving female player.

What’s the best thing about playing in a brass band?
Everyone will mention about the camaraderie within the band but for me it’s where I have chance to park my professional life as a company administrator and in the evenings become a musician.

What’s your highlight so far with Black Dyke Band?
There are so many highlights, when you have been lucky enough to tour throughout Europe, America, Japan and Australia but I have to say playing at Glastonbury this year was really fabulous!

How did you get involved with playing a brass instrument?
My local school, Bluecoat in Oldham, had a great tradition of a brass band. My brother played and I guess I was dragged along at one stage, and they couldn’t get rid of me after that.

What was your earliest musical experience?
I’m not sure what my earliest experience was but one of the proudest was when I was the first girl to play, some 50 years ago!

Who has been your biggest influence?
I guess my first professional teacher was the famous Gordon Higginbottom, renowned soloist and founder member of the James Shepherd Versatile Brass. Although my husband, who is the conductor of Black Dyke, would like to think it is him. Remember the saying, happy husband, happy life!

Do you enjoy practising or find it a chore?
The saying ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail’ is always in my mind, so when those days come along when I know practising is a challenge I have to remind myself of the great audiences we entertain at Black Dyke.

Were your parents musical?
My mum played the piano and my dad (when he was a child) played drums in the Boys Brigade!

What piece of music do you most enjoy playing?
At Black Dyke we play many genres of music. I like the original and challenging music, however at the moment all the horn section are featured in a great tune, appropriately entitled Nobody Does it Better.

What’s the best and worst things about performing?
Performing is a real buzz. I don’t think there is worst thing, I enjoy every performance! Although packing down after the concert is not high on my list of things I enjoy!

What can the audience expect from a performance by Black Dyke Band?
I always think a performance with Black Dyke is like a journey, we have the emotions of Elgar’s evocative Nimrod, the virtuosity of world class soloists and the exhilaration and sound that only a brass band can produce.

How long have you played with Reg Vardy Band?
Since 1999 with one or two short interludes with other local bands.

What’s the best thing about playing in a brass band?
It’s hard to explain; maybe it’s a feeling of belonging, maybe the buzz when things are going well. I think it’s the physical feeling of fitting into the music – when it just feels right. There’s the camaraderie and post playing social aspect too, of course.

What’s your highlight so far with Reg Vardy Band?
There have been so many! Competing at the World Championships in 2005 was incredible. We’ve produced some great performances in contests and concerts. The French Open weekend in Amboise in 2017 was an amazing team experience (and we won, which helped the atmosphere a bit!). Currently, we have a great playing and conducting team and there’s a positive feeling in the band. That’s a highlight after a day of teaching eight year olds!

How did you get involved with playing a brass instrument?
Our school was lucky enough to have a full set of brass band instruments. I passed my “Bentley test” aged seven and chose a trombone.

What was your earliest musical experience?
“Conducting” Fantasia in the cinema at probably age three?

Who has been your biggest influence?
That’s hard to say. There have been so many talented and inspiring individuals in my banding life I couldn’t possibly mention just one.

Do you enjoy practising or find it a chore?
It depends on the practice. Long notes – meh. Tunes and flowery stuff, great.

Were your parents musical?
My mam sings all day and loves Chopin and folk music. She doesn’t play an instrument but she’s a musician at heart. When I started playing a brass instrument, my great gran told us that her dad played cornet in Harton Colliery Band in the 1920s and conducted a local colliery band, (we didn’t know prior to this) so I suppose it must be in the blood!

What piece of music do you most enjoy playing?
From our programme probably Balkan Dance – lots of interesting bits for a second horn player (that’s unusual) and some singing too!

What’s the best and worst things about performing?
The best thing is the connection with the audience and knowing you’re bringing pleasure to so many. There isn’t a worst.

What can the audience expect from a performance by Reg Vardy Band?
Variety. We hope to bring the audience music they may know and some interesting lesser-known pieces.

How long have you played with Leyland Band and what position do you currently hold?
Four years with Leyland having arrived in the UK from Japan via Sydney. Played third cornet for my first eighteen months with the band, and then progressed to second cornet which I really enjoy.

What’s the best thing about playing in a brass band?
I love playing in a brass band because all the players are trying to make the best brass music together, and the challenge of playing so many different styles of music with just brass and percussion.

What’s your highlight so far with Leyland Band?
Playing in the Royal Albert Hall, particularly in 2019, performing Titans Progress. Such a special place to play in.

How did you get involved with playing a brass instrument?
My first musical experience was playing drums and glockenspiel in the elementary school marching band. When I got to junior high in Kyoto I began playing trumpet for the first time.

What was your earliest musical experience?
At the age of four I began piano lessons but was too young to practice at home and I gave it up by the age of six. My teacher wasn’t very happy that I didn’t practice.

Who has been your biggest influence?
My high school music teacher was a very good trumpet player and he really inspired me and my friends to enjoy playing. I’m still in contact with him and he has grown to like brass band music very much as I have.

Do you enjoy practising or find it a chore?
I do enjoy practicing, trying to improve means I can do my best in performances.

Were your parents musical?
My mum played organ and the violin, so music has always been a part of my life.

What piece of music do you most enjoy playing?
My favourite piece to play is our band signature march, Royal Tiger. I know the late Richard Evans was known as the march king in brass bands, and I was lucky to meet him a few times. It’s a special march for me.

What’s the best and worst things about performing?
The best thing about performing is the feeling of togetherness in the band and is even more exciting when I feel the audience is really enjoying the performance too. There are no ‘worst’ things about performing for me.

What can audiences expect from a performance by Leyland Band?
Our audiences expect not just quality playing, but an enjoyable and varied mix of music which entertains them. That’s what we will bring to our performance in Morley. I’m really looking forward to playing there again.

How long have you played with Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band?
I’ve played for Carlton Main for a total of four and a bit years! I spent three years as Assistant Principal Cornet back in 2017-2020, before playing for the Fairey Band and Grimethorpe Colliery. In December 2021 I returned to the band on Principal Cornet and have loved every moment.

What’s the best thing about playing in a brass band?
My favourite aspect of playing in bands is the sense of camaraderie and team-spirit that you just don’t find as strong or as prominent in any other musical setting.

What’s your highlight so far with Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band?
I can’t pick one so I’ll choose two instead! Number 1 has to be performing at the British Open on Principal Cornet in September 2022. Number 2 has to be playing with the band at the 2017 World Music Contest in Kerkrade, Holland.

How did you get involved with playing a brass instrument?
I started playing at around 4-5 years of age, the story my parents tell me is that I picked up a trumpet at a friend’s house and here we are years later!

What was your earliest musical experience?
My earliest memory of playing is probably my Grade 1 ABRSM exam on trumpet! I remember how terrified I was before I walked in!

Who has been your biggest influence?
My mum has definitely been the biggest influence on my music, she always instilled a strong work ethic and a desire to go on and achieve my dream!

Do you enjoy practising or find it a chore?
I enjoy practicing, strangely! I am a bit weird and I find something enjoyable and satisfying out of practicing and being methodical with a routine!

Were your parents musical?
My mum was musical, she played clarinet and saxophone to a very high level. Dad isn’t musical at all and we often joked that instead of playing an instrument, he played the fool!

What piece of music do you most enjoy playing?
Again, I can’t just pick one so two will have to do! Firstly I would say Elgar’s Nimrod. I just find this such a moving piece to play. Secondly would be Jerusalem by Hubert Parry. This, like Nimrod, is so moving and patriotic and always brings a tear to my eye!

What’s the best and worst things about performing?
The best thing has to be the feeling of performing and making music for people to enjoy and listen to, the worst thing is probably the nerves before a big contest!

What can the audience expect from a performance by Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band?
The audience can expect a bit of everything! There will always be something for everyone. We always perform to a high standard and we always perform so many styles and genres of music so that our concert is accessible to as many people as possible.