Horn News!

We are pleased to announce details of new tenor horn players for the forthcoming season.

Ailsa Russell has been promoted to the position of solo horn, and we’ve recruited Ross Dunne to the 1st horn seat.

Speaking about the new formation, Musical Director Philip Harper commented: “This is a great boost for the band ahead of the summer. Ailsa has been playing with Cory for five years on 1st horn, stepping up into the solo seat whenever required, including memorably our 10-date tour of Australia in 2013. Since January of this year she has been away from the band completing the training part of her new job in the Corps of Army Music. She will be returning from Kneller Hall to Wales to join the Band of the Prince of Wales Division in the next week or two, and is our logical choice to promote to the solo horn seat from now on. She is a very talented young player with lots of potential and I look forward to helping her with her future development.”

About new recruit Ross Dunne Philip continued: “I can remember the first time I heard Ross play about three or four years ago at the Gwent Youth Band, and had him marked out then as one to watch. Like Ailsa, he has the potential to be one of the greats, and has progressed to solo horn with the National Youth Brass Bands of both Wales and Great Britain. He is 17 years old and plans to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where Cory Band is Brass Band in Residence, from September 2016. Since 2013 he has been the solo horn player with Championship Section Llwydcoed Band, and has been a regular dep for Cory since the beginning of the year.”

Llwydcoed Band’s conductor and past Cory Band member Chris Turner, who has been Ross’s teacher for the last ten years, added: “As Ross’s teacher I am delighted that he is moving on to Cory. As Llwydcoed’s conductor we are sad to see him go but send him on his way with our best wishes. Good luck Ross for your future at the Cory Band.”