Iain Mundy - 1st Trumpet
Iain Mundy started playing cornet aged 10 with his local junior brass band,
Loanhead Brass Roots. In the following years, he remained with the youth and
senior bands under the musical director Alan Fernie, obtaining principal seats
in both bands. He became heavily involved with the music department while
studying at George Watsons College in Edinburgh, gaining experience in both
performance and composition from his tutor Neil Mantle MBE, and the music
teaching staff. He has won the East of Scotland Brass Band Association Solo
Championships in both the U21 and Open category, coming second in the National
Finals two years running. In 2011 Iain took up a place at the Royal Northern
College of Music in Manchester to study cornet, but was urged to swap to trumpet
within the first few weeks by his teacher and mentor John Dickinson. As a hobby,
Iain is now also playing principal cornet with the Dobcross Silver Band while in
Manchester. He also enjoys playing in shows, performing in the 2012 Edinburgh
Festival Fringe for The Blues Brothers Live, and The Rat Pack Live.
Loanhead Brass Roots. In the following years, he remained with the youth and
senior bands under the musical director Alan Fernie, obtaining principal seats
in both bands. He became heavily involved with the music department while
studying at George Watsons College in Edinburgh, gaining experience in both
performance and composition from his tutor Neil Mantle MBE, and the music
teaching staff. He has won the East of Scotland Brass Band Association Solo
Championships in both the U21 and Open category, coming second in the National
Finals two years running. In 2011 Iain took up a place at the Royal Northern
College of Music in Manchester to study cornet, but was urged to swap to trumpet
within the first few weeks by his teacher and mentor John Dickinson. As a hobby,
Iain is now also playing principal cornet with the Dobcross Silver Band while in
Manchester. He also enjoys playing in shows, performing in the 2012 Edinburgh
Festival Fringe for The Blues Brothers Live, and The Rat Pack Live.
Roland Parsons - 2nd Trumpet
Roland started off his career in Northampton at the age of 8, receiving
lessons at his local primary school. He then progressed to the local county
music service in Northamptonshire (NMPAS) where he joined the brass band and had
weekly lessons. He was part of this system until the age of 19 and performed in
such venues as the Sage in Gateshead, Symphony Hall in Birmingham and The Royal
Albert Hall. In 2012 he was award the 'Malcom Tyler' award for contributions to
the NMPAS system.
Roland is currently studying cornet at the Royal Northern College of music,
in his first year, under the guidance of Dr. Roger Webster (principal cornet of
Grimethorpe Colliery Brass Band) and also Richard Marshal (principal cornet of
Black Dyke Mills Band). He also does a lot of trumpet work, being involved
in quartets, quintets, jazz band and wind bands and he feels that being at the
RNCM will help him to flourish as a musician and give him a diverse knowledge of
the instruments he plays. He looks forward to his exciting musical career
ahead.
lessons at his local primary school. He then progressed to the local county
music service in Northamptonshire (NMPAS) where he joined the brass band and had
weekly lessons. He was part of this system until the age of 19 and performed in
such venues as the Sage in Gateshead, Symphony Hall in Birmingham and The Royal
Albert Hall. In 2012 he was award the 'Malcom Tyler' award for contributions to
the NMPAS system.
Roland is currently studying cornet at the Royal Northern College of music,
in his first year, under the guidance of Dr. Roger Webster (principal cornet of
Grimethorpe Colliery Brass Band) and also Richard Marshal (principal cornet of
Black Dyke Mills Band). He also does a lot of trumpet work, being involved
in quartets, quintets, jazz band and wind bands and he feels that being at the
RNCM will help him to flourish as a musician and give him a diverse knowledge of
the instruments he plays. He looks forward to his exciting musical career
ahead.
Fiona Bassett - French Horn
Fiona started learning the French horn at the age of 9, after playing the cornet
for a year at her local school. By the age of 11, she was encouraged to audition
for the Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Service (NMPAS), where she
successfully became a member of the Junior Orchestra. Fiona remained a key
member of the NMPAS until the age of 18, making her way to the Principle seats
in the Northamptonshire County Youth Orchestra and Concert Band. During her time
at the NMPAS she participated in countless National Festival winnings of which
resulted in finishing the ‘Music for youth Schools Prom’ for two years running
at the Royal Albert Hall. In addition to this, she was a member of various
chamber music groups including the Malcolm Arnold Wind Quintet and
Northamptonshire Dectet. Outside of NMPAS, Fiona enjoyed playing for shows such
as ‘Fiddler on the roof’, ‘Oliver’ and Bizet’s ‘Carmen’. She was awarded the
'Malcolm Tyler award' for Brass in 2011 for her contributions to NMPAS.
Fiona is currently a student at the Royal Northern College of Music, under
tuition from Julian Plummer (Hallé Orchestra) and Rebecca Goldberg (Natural
Horn); with an entrance scholarship, generously supported by John Fewkes
(Leicestershire) Instrumentalist Scholarship Fund. Fiona has a passion for
chamber music and now participates in an RNCM Wind Quintet, ‘Misenus’ horn
quintet, a 10 piece brass ensemble and of course, ‘Epsilon Brass’ quintet.
for a year at her local school. By the age of 11, she was encouraged to audition
for the Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Service (NMPAS), where she
successfully became a member of the Junior Orchestra. Fiona remained a key
member of the NMPAS until the age of 18, making her way to the Principle seats
in the Northamptonshire County Youth Orchestra and Concert Band. During her time
at the NMPAS she participated in countless National Festival winnings of which
resulted in finishing the ‘Music for youth Schools Prom’ for two years running
at the Royal Albert Hall. In addition to this, she was a member of various
chamber music groups including the Malcolm Arnold Wind Quintet and
Northamptonshire Dectet. Outside of NMPAS, Fiona enjoyed playing for shows such
as ‘Fiddler on the roof’, ‘Oliver’ and Bizet’s ‘Carmen’. She was awarded the
'Malcolm Tyler award' for Brass in 2011 for her contributions to NMPAS.
Fiona is currently a student at the Royal Northern College of Music, under
tuition from Julian Plummer (Hallé Orchestra) and Rebecca Goldberg (Natural
Horn); with an entrance scholarship, generously supported by John Fewkes
(Leicestershire) Instrumentalist Scholarship Fund. Fiona has a passion for
chamber music and now participates in an RNCM Wind Quintet, ‘Misenus’ horn
quintet, a 10 piece brass ensemble and of course, ‘Epsilon Brass’ quintet.
George Bruce - Trombone/Euphonium
George first began playing a brass instrument at the age of 7, receiving lessons
through Milton Keynes Music Service and his local brass band. George has
received great encouragement and support from his family, including playing in
Olney Brass with his Brother and Father for 4 years. Whilst playing the Euphonium
with ‘Olney Brass’, he also played with the Northamptonshire County Youth Brass
Band and Concert Band. When George reached the standard of grade 7, he started
having lessons with Vaughan Bower. During his time under Vaughan he gained
Grade 8 distinction and a place at the prestigious Royal Northern College of Music.
George now receives lessons from Steven Mead and Roger Cutts, with classes too,
from David Thornton. Over the last year, George has had the opportunity to play
with the world famous ‘Honourable Artillery Company Regimental Band’ and has
performed with them many times over the last year, with the highlight being
playing a solo at the Shrewsbury Flower Festival. He is also currently a valued member of the
world famous ‘Wingates band’.
through Milton Keynes Music Service and his local brass band. George has
received great encouragement and support from his family, including playing in
Olney Brass with his Brother and Father for 4 years. Whilst playing the Euphonium
with ‘Olney Brass’, he also played with the Northamptonshire County Youth Brass
Band and Concert Band. When George reached the standard of grade 7, he started
having lessons with Vaughan Bower. During his time under Vaughan he gained
Grade 8 distinction and a place at the prestigious Royal Northern College of Music.
George now receives lessons from Steven Mead and Roger Cutts, with classes too,
from David Thornton. Over the last year, George has had the opportunity to play
with the world famous ‘Honourable Artillery Company Regimental Band’ and has
performed with them many times over the last year, with the highlight being
playing a solo at the Shrewsbury Flower Festival. He is also currently a valued member of the
world famous ‘Wingates band’.
Christopher Hardy - Tuba
Christopher began playing a brass instrument at the age of 9, studying and
performing locally through Bolton Music Service. After a two year stint on
his first instrument, the Baritone Horn, he decided to move onto the Tuba,
where he felt he belonged. After the change, he continued to work his way
through the Music Centre's ensembles until at the age of 14, an opening
came about at the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, of which he
eventually became the Principal BBb Tuba and winner of the 'Maud Wright
award for excellence'. It was during these years under the baton of Bramwell
Tovey that he decided that he would very much like to become a professional
musician. As soon as he could he applied to study at the
Royal Northern College of Music, and was accepted after turning down Scholarships
at some of the finest establishments in the World, such as the
University of Missouri Kansas City. During his time at the RNCM he studied under
Ewan Easton, Principal Tuba with the Hallé orchestra.
During Christopher's musical career, he has performed with some of the
finest ensembles in the world, such as the Fairey band (of which he is still a
member), the Black Dyke Band, the Brighouse and Rastrick Band, and the Fodens
Band, amongst others. He is also set to perform on recordings with one of the
top orchestras in the UK, and soon to be a participating on sessions at one of
the most famous recording studios in London. As well as this, Christopher has
also been offered a recording contract with the Jazz group he performs as a
member of, and has participated in some award winning recordings, under such
record labels as Doyen, World of Brass and others. As well as ensemble playing,
he competes in various solo competitions, and is a Future Talent musician,
after winning the solo prize in a competition held by HRH the Duchess of Kent.
performing locally through Bolton Music Service. After a two year stint on
his first instrument, the Baritone Horn, he decided to move onto the Tuba,
where he felt he belonged. After the change, he continued to work his way
through the Music Centre's ensembles until at the age of 14, an opening
came about at the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, of which he
eventually became the Principal BBb Tuba and winner of the 'Maud Wright
award for excellence'. It was during these years under the baton of Bramwell
Tovey that he decided that he would very much like to become a professional
musician. As soon as he could he applied to study at the
Royal Northern College of Music, and was accepted after turning down Scholarships
at some of the finest establishments in the World, such as the
University of Missouri Kansas City. During his time at the RNCM he studied under
Ewan Easton, Principal Tuba with the Hallé orchestra.
During Christopher's musical career, he has performed with some of the
finest ensembles in the world, such as the Fairey band (of which he is still a
member), the Black Dyke Band, the Brighouse and Rastrick Band, and the Fodens
Band, amongst others. He is also set to perform on recordings with one of the
top orchestras in the UK, and soon to be a participating on sessions at one of
the most famous recording studios in London. As well as this, Christopher has
also been offered a recording contract with the Jazz group he performs as a
member of, and has participated in some award winning recordings, under such
record labels as Doyen, World of Brass and others. As well as ensemble playing,
he competes in various solo competitions, and is a Future Talent musician,
after winning the solo prize in a competition held by HRH the Duchess of Kent.