Tom Hutchinson
www.tom-hutchinson.co.uk
Tom began learning the cornet at the age of nine and joined 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.
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 world famous 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, English National and National Championship of Great Britain titles. During his time with ‘Dyke’ he also toured extensively across Europe and Australia.
After his graduation from the Royal Northern College of Music in 2009 studying under Richard Marshall, Tom was invited to join the mighty Cory Band as principal cornet. After leading the band in his first year to its hat-trick winning European title in 2010, he has since lead Cory to British Open titles in 2011 and 2016, Welsh regional titles in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017, Brass in Concert Championship wins in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016, the European title once again in 2013 and 2016, and three National Final wins in 2013, 2015 and 2016.
A few highlights of his time so far at Cory have been receiving the bands player of the year award twice in 2012 and 2015, releasing his debut solo CD ‘In Principal’, and leading Cory to its historic Grand Slam achievement in 2016, with the band finishing off the year as the world’s No.1 ranked brass band for a consecutive and unprecedented ten years.
As well as playing principal cornet with the Cory band, he is a Professor of Cornet at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Brass specialist with Ev-entz Music, Cornet tutor for the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and Cornet tutor for the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain.
As a Besson artist Tom represents the Buffet Crampon Group across the world and over the past few years has performed as a soloist in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada and the USA.
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 world famous 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, English National and National Championship of Great Britain titles. During his time with ‘Dyke’ he also toured extensively across Europe and Australia.
After his graduation from the Royal Northern College of Music in 2009 studying under Richard Marshall, Tom was invited to join the mighty Cory Band as principal cornet. After leading the band in his first year to its hat-trick winning European title in 2010, he has since lead Cory to British Open titles in 2011 and 2016, Welsh regional titles in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017, Brass in Concert Championship wins in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016, the European title once again in 2013 and 2016, and three National Final wins in 2013, 2015 and 2016.
A few highlights of his time so far at Cory have been receiving the bands player of the year award twice in 2012 and 2015, releasing his debut solo CD ‘In Principal’, and leading Cory to its historic Grand Slam achievement in 2016, with the band finishing off the year as the world’s No.1 ranked brass band for a consecutive and unprecedented ten years.
As well as playing principal cornet with the Cory band, he is a Professor of Cornet at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Brass specialist with Ev-entz Music, Cornet tutor for the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and Cornet tutor for the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain.
As a Besson artist Tom represents the Buffet Crampon Group across the world and over the past few years has performed as a soloist in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada and the USA.
Michael Fowles
http://www.aobba.com/user/michaelfowles/
Widely regarded as one of the leading conductors of his generation Michael hails from the rich musical tradition of North Staffordshire and is an honours and post-graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music and has been Musical Director of Foden’s Band since 2009.
Having worked with many of the country’s leading bands Michael has a reputation for entertaining concert programming and high standards in competition. He is well known for having transferable skills having won Championship section contests with 10 different bands either in regular working relationships or on a freelance basis. As such he is much in demand both in the UK and abroad.
Michael is also a member of the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators and has officiated at numerous Regional Qualifying contests, The National Finals, Butlins Mineworkers Festival and the Swiss Nationals amongst others.
Educational work also forms an important part of Michael’s musical life. He is Course Director of both the Wessex Band Summer School and Fodens Armagh Summer School. As a guest conductor he undertakes much training work throughout the UK with bands of all levels from championship to youth including being Musical Director of Fodens Youth Band, The NEMBBA Youth Band and Associate Conductor and Musical Adviser of Lions Youth Band. He is also a regular guest conductor for school and youth workshops in Leicestershire, Staffordshire and Northern Ireland with both Brass and Wind Bands.
Michael has written articles and reviews for both Brass Band World and British Bandsman, given many premiere performances, conducted concerto appearances of eminent soloists and directed many commercial CDs and broadcasts for both BBC Radio 2 and 3.
The relationship with Fodens Band has produced high quality concerts and recordings that have been met with critical acclaim and awards from the banding press, in addition to a continued dominance of the Tameside Whit Friday circuit. It has also seen a close collaboration with composer-in-residence Andy Scott that has introduced audiences all over the country to a new musical language for brass band.
Having worked with many of the country’s leading bands Michael has a reputation for entertaining concert programming and high standards in competition. He is well known for having transferable skills having won Championship section contests with 10 different bands either in regular working relationships or on a freelance basis. As such he is much in demand both in the UK and abroad.
Michael is also a member of the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators and has officiated at numerous Regional Qualifying contests, The National Finals, Butlins Mineworkers Festival and the Swiss Nationals amongst others.
Educational work also forms an important part of Michael’s musical life. He is Course Director of both the Wessex Band Summer School and Fodens Armagh Summer School. As a guest conductor he undertakes much training work throughout the UK with bands of all levels from championship to youth including being Musical Director of Fodens Youth Band, The NEMBBA Youth Band and Associate Conductor and Musical Adviser of Lions Youth Band. He is also a regular guest conductor for school and youth workshops in Leicestershire, Staffordshire and Northern Ireland with both Brass and Wind Bands.
Michael has written articles and reviews for both Brass Band World and British Bandsman, given many premiere performances, conducted concerto appearances of eminent soloists and directed many commercial CDs and broadcasts for both BBC Radio 2 and 3.
The relationship with Fodens Band has produced high quality concerts and recordings that have been met with critical acclaim and awards from the banding press, in addition to a continued dominance of the Tameside Whit Friday circuit. It has also seen a close collaboration with composer-in-residence Andy Scott that has introduced audiences all over the country to a new musical language for brass band.