MUSICAL DIRECTOR - SIMON CARR

Simon Carr is a well known personality in the field of taxidermy in the south west of England. Near or far, big or small he's stuffed them all. Originally from Corsham, where he was born from an egg on a mountain top, Simon has studied under the greatest: Einstein, Planck and Ghengis Khan. It was here that he developed his dislike of cornets, finding them awkward and difficult to stuff, and will be looking forward o the taming of Bratton's front row. He was asked to conduct the Band after he was discovered hiding in a local compost heap and after being tamed by a local circus master is seen as many as a rising star in the field of (bus) conducting.

Rehearsal Details

8pm to 10pm

 Mondays and Fridays

The bandroom is located in

the Bratton Church Institute

Tynings Lane

Bratton

Nr Westbury, Wiltshire

BA13 4RR

DEPUTY MUSICAL DIRECTOR - MARIA FRICKER

Maria was born in Bradford-on-Avon, grew up in Trowbridge, and now lives in Westbury with her family. Maria graduated from the University of Salford with a 1st class honours degree in Band Musicianship. During that time she studied euphonium under Morgan Griffiths, conducting under Dr. Roy Newsome and Prof. David King and arranging under Prof. Peter Graham. She received the Roy Newsome Conducting Award when she graduated in 1998. Since 2001 Maria has been an active member of the National Association of Brass Band Conductors.

Maria has conducted a number of brass bands. Bratton's contest successes whilst she has been working with Bratton Silver Band include qualifying for the lower section National Finals in 2004 and winning an entertainments contest at Wychavon in 2008.

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PRINCIPAL CORNET - LISA HILL

Lisa has played in the band since 1990, and started playing cornet (out in the back garden - to the annoyance of the neighbours) in 1983 which seems impossible because she looks so young! She is also our highly organised secretary, some might say too organised or even frustratingly organised. She loves the band and it couldn't run without her commitment and enthusiasm! The highlight of Lisa's playing came when she performed a stand-up cornet feature with the Cory Band in 2010 - a day before her birthday. What a present!

SOLO CORNET - STEVE SMITH

Steve began playing at the age of 10 following a long family tradition of joining the band. Quickly promoted to principal cornet in his early teens he remained there for many years until taking a break from banding. Steve won 'best soloist' at a contest in Reading in 1992 and has enjoyed many other banding high lights over the years. These include playing with the legendary cornet player James Shepherd. He is back playing on the front row and is loving it!

SOLO CORNET - MERVYN SMITH

Mervyn started to play cornet in the Salvation Army under Ivor Borsanko before joining the Army Corps of Music. By studying at the Royal Military School of Music at Kneller Hall Mervyn broadened his musical knowledge to include orchestration and conducting. Whilst at Kneller Hall he was also fortunate to study cornet under the legendary Jack McIntosh. Mervyn is enjoying the challenge of playing with Bratton Band as it keeps him on his toes!

SOLO CORNET - MARTIN LEWIS

No, not the newsreader!

Martin came along for a blow one evening and was quickly asked to join the front row cornets! He is quite a versatile player and regularly swaps to playing Eb horn when required.

SOPRANO CORNET - PAUL CROKER

Paul began playing in 1983 and joined Trowbridge & District Youth Band. He first played with Bratton Silver Band in 1989 by helping out at a concert and stayed! He spent several years playing solo cornet then, for his sins, now plays soprano cornet. Memorable moments include winning the areas and playing traffic light drinking game in France but he can't remember that whole episode!

REPIANO CORNET - NAOMI STYLES

Naomi has been in the band for a couple of years now after moving into the area and has only 3 years of brass band experience having played the french horn in the past. She has constant excuses for her sometimes 'creative' playing putting it down to 'air pressure', 'dodgy mouthpiece' or something mysteriously wrong with her cornet!

REPIANO CORNET - KIERAN KIRK

Kieran is currently one of the newest members of the Band, joining from the Training Band in March this year (2010). He is already proving himself to be a keen member of the Main Band and started playing at engagements, for experience, whilst still in the Training Band. He started on 2nd cornet and is now playing alongside Naomi on Repiano cornet.

SECOND CORNET - ABBIE DAYMAN-JOHNS

Abbie is the daughter of Steve who plays trombone in the Band. She has progressed from the Training Band to the Main Band recently (2009) and seems to be enjoying the challenge of a wider variety of music.

SECOND CORNET - DAVID GRIMSHAW

Dave learned to play the cornet at the age of 12 in 1942.He played with St Sebastian Band in Berkshire until 1952, then in various Air Force bands. He conducted the St Sebastian's Band from 1979-1984 and later Bracknell Brass and Waltham St Lawrence. He retired in 2002 and joined Bratton in August 2002. He is still playing, albeit not so well as in earlier years.

THIRD CORNET - BETH CARRICK

A late entrant into the brass band world blaming a thwarted childhood ambition - 'why are girls always given nice, ladylike flutes or clarinets?'. Promoted from chaperone duties in a local youth band to a fully fledged student, she learned to play alongside her sons, who are both former members of BSB, and Grade 8 plus musicians - leaving Beth firmly at grade 1 but happy to be in the band!

THIRD CORNET - TERRY SMITH

Terry joined the band in 1978 at the age of 41 after teaching himself to play on a borrowed trumpet. He could play the piano and read music but could only play a few scales and hymns on the trumpet. Here he is, 31 years later, with a slightly improved playing ability but still on 3rd cornet and enjoying every minute of making music with the friends he has made over the years.

THIRD CORNET - TERESA RUSSELL

Teresa has spent many years now dipping in and out of the band - a late learner, joining the ranks with her daughter Louise (a former band member). It is lovely to see her back playing again with the Band and she seems to be enjoying herself.

FLUGELHORN - DAVE HARLE

A veteran player of many bands in Wiltshire, Dave has played since the age of 12 and considering he turned 50 last year (2009) has managed to survive his long banding career! He has previously played repiano cornet for Mere Manor Brass and joined Bratton Silver Band in 1999 where he plays a mean flugelhorn.

SOLO Eb HORN - KIRSTY WESTLAKE

A player who started in the learner band, Kirsty began playing aged 7 on the cornet. She had some time away from Bratton and gained playing experience at the T&DYB but returned to the band at 15 to take up horn. She started playing 1st baritone when her sister Carol was asked to play the euphonium, and moved to horn earlier this year. Most might say she is the typical blonde and she does have her moments!

1ST Eb HORN - CAROLE BOWERMAN

Carole joined the band as a leaner in 1978 playing cornet. She spent several years playing the flugelhorn before finally settling on the Eb horn. Her passion was to play a brass instrument form the age of 5 which drew her inexorably to the band and she has never played for any other ensemble since! Music is very important to her as a form of relaxation from a hectic life and she likes nothing better than listening to Mozart.

1ST HORN - JULIE BENCE

Julie started in Bratton Training Band a couple of years ago along with her son Jamie (who played percussion with the Band) and progressed into the Main Band in 2009. She is loving every minute of it - playing and socially.

2ND Eb HORN - LUCY SCOTT

Lucy's musical journey began in her teens when a school music teacher held up a cornet. Lucy thought it would be easy to learn and soon joined Bratton Silver Band. Over 30 years later she's still learning! As a former coordinator of the Training Band she encourages others to do the same. Memorable moment - remembering to take her tenor horn to Germany but leaving her suitcase in Bratton!

SOLO EUPHONIUM - VIC BEER

Some might think Vic has been in the band since it started but he actually began playing in 1950. In 1952 he joined Bratton Silver Band which had recently re-formed. In 1959 he was called up and joined the REME Staff Band and played euphonium and baritone sax for 6 years. Later he re-joined BSB and has conducted the band as well as being a committed player!

SECOND EUPHONIUM - CAROL BOWES

Carol has played in the band for 30 years, starting on 3rd cornet, and has slowly worked around the band to euphonium. She is now the bandmaster (or bandmistress!) and has the unenviable task of keeping the band in line especially at concerts and contests. The only problem is she ends up telling herself off more than anyone else!

SECOND EUPHONIUM - TILLY CORLESS

A recent player to join Bratton and loving it, Tilly started playing with Trowbridge & District Youth Band at the age of 9. She is working towards grade 7 and is taking lessons at the Wells Cathedral School. Her most memorable moment so far is winning the St Augustine's Young Musician of the Year in March. Her old euphonium, Barbie, and now been replaced by a finer version named Pingu!

FIRST BARITONE - SUE JACKSON

Sue joined the learner band as a complete beginner in 2000 playing the euphonium. She got promoted to the main band and is now playing the baritone - a much more suitable part as far as she is concerned!

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Kate is a relatively new addition to the band - a player who came along for a blow when MD Simon took over the baton last year. She has not left yet which suggests that she enjoys the banding and social side, playing in concerts and contests and the frivolity that follows!

Louise is another of our Training Band graduates, recently moving onto the Baritone section. Although a very quiet member of the band, she looks as though she is enjoying the experiences and the musical challenges (sitting on the same row as Vic!)

FIRST TROMBONE -  ROBIN ELLIOTT

Robin joined the band in an emergency to help out at the regional contest one year. Big mistake as he stayed and is now impossible to remove from the band! He started playing at the age of 14 and has played in various musical ensembles throughout his playing career. He can always be found in the thick of any trouble and enjoys the social aspect of banding.

SECOND TROMBONE - STEVE DAYMAN-JOHNS

Steve has played the trombone for far too many years. Most memorable moment was playing in a trombone quartet with the Black Dyke trombone section at a previous Bratton Silver Band concert.

BASS TROMBONE - ROGER GREEN

Roger has been playing the trombone for over 50 years having started playing at the age of 5 with a local TA band. He joined Bratton Silver Band in 1984 as 2nd trombone then within a year moved 'up' to bass trombone. His trombone and deep bass notes are legendary!

Eb BASS - PAUL JONES

Paul is yet another recent member of the Band. Paul joined the Bratton Training Band playing on baritone and was in for a surprise when he was asked to play Eb Bass for the Main Band. Paul agreed and he is now picking up all the bad habits from the other bass players! He has settled into his new role well and seems to be really enjoying it.

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No info at present - come on Tony, tell us all about yourself!

Bb BASS - MIKE STRONG

Mike started playing aged 9 and like most brass players began playing on cornet. He joined the band in 2000 and played front row cornet for a while but was late for practice one night so now plays Bb Bass! Mike is currently the band chairman and his ambition is to play a pedal D in tune!

If the surname seems familiar you will see that Joe shares the same surname as the Band's Musical Director, Simon. That is because Joe is the son of Simon and has joined the band with his Dad, playing percussion. Joe is a relatively new player to the kit ,and the band, but is willing to try anything thrown at him. He plays a superb triangle solo in Radetsky March!! Go, Joe!

Gina is another new member of the Band, playing percussion alongside Joe. She is currently having drum lessons and is bringing her new kit percussion  knowledge through the band room door every week and never afraid to question "what's this 'bamber' all about?". Gina is settling in well and works well within the percussion section with Joe.