CITY OF COVENTRY
BRASS
THE BAND
Musical Director - Lee Woodward
Born in Manchester, Lee started playing the trombone at age eleven. After playing for several bands including Blackburn & Darwen Junior & TDS Bands and Eccleston & Warburton's Bolton; Lee was appointed principal trombone of Blackburn & Darwen Band. During his time with the band, notable highlights included a 6th place at the National Brass Band Championship finals and winning the Pontin's National Championships in the first section.
In 1992 Lee joined the Army as a musician, serving with the Band of The King's Regiment before auditioning for the Band of The Irish Guards who he joined in 1994. Lee had his first taste conducting with the Guards, working with small ensembles before moving on to larger groups. In 2010, he joined the Band of The Royal Logistic Corps as principal trombone, retiring from the service in 2014.
Whilst in the Army, Lee played for several local brass bands including Staines Brass and Yiewsley & West Drayton.
In 2007, Lee was appointed Musical Director of the Almac Bisley Band before joining the Saint Sebastian Wokingham Band as MD in 2009. Under his leadership the band achieved their first ever first prize at the Regional Area Contest (3rd Section), earning promotion to the 2nd Section and an appearance at the National Finals, a landmark in the band’s history. In 2015 the band qualified for the National Finals in the 2nd Section, another first for the band.
In 2014 Lee also became MD of Staines Lammas Band where he has built on solid foundations to improve the band and build a loyal following at concerts. Under Lee's direction "The Lammas" have won the annual "Challenging Brass" competition held in Addlestone for six consecutive years.
In 2017 Lee was appointed MD of Alder Valley brass, a 1st Section band based in Farnham.
Lee moved to Coventry in 2022 and was appointed as our MD in June 2023.
Soprano Cornet - David Anker
David joined the band following in his father, Steve Anker's (Bass Trombone) footsteps.
David is the father of two young daughters so hopefully in a few years time we may have three generations playing in the band.
Principal Cornet - Kirsty Woodhouse
Kirsty started playing the cornet when she was 4 years old and joined the junior band at Coventry City Salvation Army when she was 7 where she very quickly became the principal cornet. Kirsty then joined the senior band and the midlands youth band on solo cornet. In 2015 Kirsty passed auditions at Kneller Hall. Whilst not pursuing a career in the Army, this is something Kirsty is very proud of. Since then Kirsty has played solo cornet for Shirley Brass Band and Stamford Brass where she helped the band become 4th section national champions. In March 2019, Kirsty joined City of Coventry Brass on flugel, before moving to Principal Cornet in May 2023.
Solo Cornet - Stephen McDonald
Stephen grew up in the North East and started playing with Horden Colliery Band aged 9. He moved to the Broughtons/ Durham Miners' Association Brass Band, who he played with for 15 years having some fantastic experiences including playing at the Menin Gate, Cologne Cathedral and Abbey Road studios. He joined City of Coventry Brass in the summer of 2019 after moving to Coventry because his wife (see Trombones) insisted they live in the same house. He loves marching and has spent about a month of his life at the Durham Miners' Gala. With two young children and work commitments he decided to step down from Principal cornet in 2023.
Solo Cornet - Ffion Johnson
Ffion started playing the cornet aged 8 and joined the local youth band a few years later. She joined her first senior band in 2017, Abergavenny Borough Band in South Wales, on 3rd cornet, progressing to 2nd, rep and then front row, until leaving to move to Coventry in summer 2023.
Ffion is very happy to be playing in a band again after a short break!
Repiano Cornet - Liz Slack
Solo Cornet - Hannah Hateley
Hannah has been playing brass instruments since she was 9, but only joined her first brass band just before starting university. Whilst completing her degree, she played flugelhorn in the university brass band, before joining Pilling Jubilee Silver Band on solo cornet. She has now moved to Coventry and is enjoying being back in a brass band family.
Second Cornet - James Franklin
Liz Slack has played in brass bands on and off for 30 years! She still gets told off for talking when she shouldn't be, but she isn't a terrible cornet player so we put up with her.
Second Cornet - Karen Woodhouse
Karen started playing the cornet at the age of 7 years and was taught by Len Pepper at school. Over the years Karen has played with Coventry School of Music Orchestra and Bedworth Silver Band. Being a Salvationist Karen spent most of her playing years on the solo cornet bench with the Coventry City Salvation Army band until retiring in 2015. Following the appointment of Jonathan Fearn as MD in 2019 Karen decided to come out of retirement and join City of Coventry Brass with her daughter Kirsty (Flugel)
Second Cornet - Sheryl Borton
Sheryl grew up in Kent and her introduction to Brass Bands came via the Salvation Army in Ramsgate. She played Tenor horn in the Youth and Senior Band along with playing in London Ladies Brass under the musical direction of Maisie Wiggins.
At 15 Sheryl took up playing the French horn after successful selection she played in both Kent Schools Youth Orchestra and Wind Bands.
In 1984 Sheryl joined the Royal Air Force as an aircraft engineer serving for 22 years during this time she continued to play French horn or Tenor horn in either RAF voluntary bands or local Brass Bands.
Prior to moving to Rugby in 2022 Sheryl played French horn in the Inverurie Orchestra.
Joining the City of Coventry Brass Sheryl has moved onto Cornet and joined the back-row team ready for the new challenge of playing in a competing band.
Third Cornet - Phil Wroe
Phil started playing trumpet at senior school way back in the 60’s and first played with the original Jaguar Cars Band when they were one of the top bands in the Midlands. He was taught at school by Len Pepper who formed the Coventry School of Music Band from his pupils in 1965. Phil moved onto flugel horn as a founder member. Phil has been with the band ever since playing either flugel or along the cornet line. He played flugel when the band won the Grand Shield in 1975 and at the Open in 1975 (Fireworks) and 1976 (Epic Symphony) at the Kings Hall, Belle Vue. He has subsequently played in the Grand Shield at the Free Trades Hall, Manchester and more recently in the Senior Trophy at Blackpool. He has seen many players come and go and come back again and the band's name change twice. Phil also enjoys playing trumpet and Flugel in Tarrington Brass ensemble.
He manages City of Coventry Brass for his sins!
Third Cornet - Marcus Teagles
Marcus joined the band in 2014 just in time to be part of the ‘best back row section playing on the day’ at Butlins, according to then MD Stephen Cooper. He is a local boy, born in Nuneaton, where he still lives with wife Lisa. He has two grown up children, Rebecca and Adam .
Marcus has worked in the motor industry for over 25 years.
Flugel Horn - Yuko Ishibiki
Solo Horn - Val Bell
Yuko joined the Band in the summer of 2018, she enjoyed playing the cornet with the band and having lots of fun with all the other members. In May 2023, Yuko moved to Flugel Horn.
Val is a primary school teacher in Coventry,and mum of two girls.She has been in the band for longer than she cares to remember! (about half her life) She took the solo horn seat for an area contest many years ago (Journey into Freedom) and has remained there ever since. If she could save only one possession from her burning house, Val says it would be her tenor horn. (I guess partner Chris has to leave his trombone to save the children!) Her favourite colour is red and birth sign is Taurus. Val thinks that the best thing about our band is the people who play in it.
First Horn - Claire Pilkington
Second Horn - Sylvia Cooper
Claire started playing at the age of 12 after answering an ad in her local paper asking for people to come & learn a brass instrument (it was around then when she discovered that the saxophone was not a brass instrument and settled on the tenor horn).
She joined Coleshill Town Band (formerly Ansells Coleshill Band). Highlights of her time there have been tours to France, Germany & Sweden. After a brief spell with RBL Crownhill Band in Plymouth, Claire returned to Coleshill.
Both her children play brass instruments, and she is chair of Coleshill Town Band. The fact that Coleshill is more of a community band that does not contest allows her to enjoy also being a member of City of Coventry Brass.
Sylvia originally started playing for Wycombe Band and then moved up to the Midlands in 1985 joining Dunchurch Band. After a few years she came to City of Coventry Brass as 2nd Horn player. It was going to be “just temporary” but love blossomed over the music stand and she ended up as another victim of the” brass band romance” and married Stephen Cooper the then MD in 1993. Sylvia had several attempts at leaving when she had her two children but always ended up back in the 1st or 2nd Horn chair. She has now given up trying to leave as she does not plan to have any more children.
1st Baritone - Emma Knight
2nd Baritone - Charlotte Cooper
Emma has had a keen interest in music since she picked up a recorder at age 7. She quickly progressed to her main instrument, Flute and received a Diploma in Summer 2014. Her first experience on a brass instrument was when she received a Trumpet for her 18th Birthday, however, it spent several years in its case, until she joined Keele University Brass Band in 2013. She continued playing at the University of Warwick before moving to City of Coventry Brass on Tenor Horn in April 2014. After enjoying improving on horn, she moved to Ist Baritone .
Charlotte was taught to play Cornet by her Dad, Stephen Cooper. She enjoyed playing with Enderby Youth Band, which included several tours.
While at Roehampton University, Charlotte played for Putney Brass Band and after graduating in 2017 she joined City Of Coventry Brass when she returned to the Midlands to be with her family.
She moved to baritone.
Solo Trombone - Chris Moore
2nd Trombone - Rebecca McDonald
What can we say about Chris.......nothing..........there is nothing to say about Chris!
Chris was taught by Bob Baggott at school and subsequently joined up. Following an absence while he was studying at university, he was spotted back in the area, and returned to the fold. Having met Val (solo horn) Chris has been with the band ever since and in 2006 won the soloist prize at the Wychavon Entertainment contest.
As Chris’s talents include accountancy, he doubles as the band's treasurer.
Rebecca first picked up a trombone at the age of 11, and played with youth bands and orchestras including Jaz Vehicle and the Lincolnshire Youth Symphony Orchestra. She took a break from music during university but decided to find a new orchestral group when she began her PhD. Stephen McDonald (cornet) persuaded her that a brass band would be a much better idea, and she hasnt looked back since! She joined the Durham Miners Association brass band and has since played for brass bands, jazz groups and even an oompah band! Rebecca and Stephen joined City of Coventry Brass in 2019. She is currently spending time with her two young children.
2nd Trombone - Mark Dutton
Bass Trombone - Steve Anker
Mark started on Trumpet aged 11 and changed to Cornet 1 year later. 1st ever band job (5 weeks later) and the area Championship section contest with Bedworth playing Concert Overture. Two years later following a lesson with Stanley Boddington and his straight talking and I quote “you will never make a cornet player” I started wandering around the bottom end instruments, a bit of a Nomad/Jack of all trades, I have made 9 recordings on 9 different instruments, Baritone, Euphonium, 1st Trom, 2nd Trom, Bass Trom, Eb Bass, Bb Bass, Percussion and one as Musical Director but enjoying every minute and still Banding 50 years later. Mark moved to trombone to cover Rebecca's maternity leave.
Steve learnt to play in the Salvation Army on tenor horn achieving the dizzy heights of Grade V (Pass, No Merit, No Distinction). He tried pretty much every instrument in the band, including percussion, in the search for something that suited his technical ability and playing style......
BASS TROMBONE it is then, the black note/white note ratio is in my favour and the style required.......
Solo Euphonium - Currently vacant, following Steve Cooper being appointed as MD with Brass Band of Central England. Please get in touch if you want to get involved.
Euphonium - Callum Pilkington
Callum started playing Cornet age 6 with Coleshill Town Band where Mum and Dad played Solo Horn and 1st Trombone. Shortly afterwards he moved onto Tenor Horn and progressed through Coleshill Beginner and Youth Brass into the Senior Band - playing Solo Horn for many years in Coleshill Youth Brass. Then he joined Coventry Festival Band on 1st Baritone and got first experience of contesting at the areas. He moved onto Euphonium before joining City of Coventry
Some highlights so far include playing at Symphony Hall and playing Nimrod at the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate, Belgium with Coleshill Youth Band.
EEb Bass - Hywell Williams
EEb Bass - Lesley Wroe
Lesley started playing tenor horn at school and joined Coventry School of Music Band in 1967. She had to wait until 1969 to get into the contest band and that was only because she agreed to move to BBb Bass - at least she subsequently got the chance to play the BBb solo in Fireworks at the British Open at the Kings Hall in 1975. She has played with the band ever since with a short maternity break .
Since the early 80’s she has been contest secretary of the band.
BBb Bass - Matthew Green
After being rejected by his cello teacher due to his small fingers Matthew headed straight to the brass section and picked up the only instrument left, the trombone. After many years honing his talent he realised it was a shocking instrument to play and he was shockingly average at playing it so he moved to the only instrument left in the band, the BBb bass. He blames this on the conductor at the time and still bears a grudge. After many years playing the bass he's finally worked out what the button type things are good for and now holds the much coveted position of solo BBb bass. If you tell him that this is one stop away from hitting things at the back of the band and therefore it's the lowest of the low he will laugh in your face and declare that you're just jealous of the bass's vast power. By the by he joined the band in 1987 after his teacher told him about it. He still bears a grudge about this as well
BBb Bass - Cameron Huntley
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I played Baritone first because it was available at Rothwell music school for rent, along with the lessons, then Euph because Crofton Silver needed someone to play, then the old Euph player came back and they gave me EEb. So, I took it to the national youth orchestra, where I trained under the London philharmonic principal tuba player, and also played a few performances with them such as 'la strada' , but I always wanted BBb for the range and here I am, bottom of the band, top of world. Never better.
Percussionist - Matt Livingstone
I started playing trombone at age 8. Joined Coleshill beginner brass, progressed through Coleshill youth brass and reached grade 6. I started playing the drums for fun in secondary school completely self taught and then helped out Coleshill beginner brass with percussion, this lead to me progressing to the senior band on percussion. Took a 7 year break from banding and rejoined Coleshill town band. Started with COCB as a dep for the pershore festival, and enjoyed it so I stayed.
Highlights are playing Nimrod at the Last post ceremony at the Menin gate in Belgium with Coleshill youth brass, symphony hall and performing ‘the acrobat’ solo in Birmingham city centre.
Percussionist - Myles Scott-Burt