Ian began playing cornet at an early age and quickly progressed through the brass banding culture of the North West. He has appeared with the world famous Fodens Band on several occasions and held principal cornet seats with many bands. In 2000 he was invited to study at the Junior School of the Royal Northern College of Music where he took up Trumpet studies with Tracey Redfearn and in 2002 began full time trumpet studies at Birmingham Conservatoire, during this time Ian won the Conservatoire Brass Prize and featured as soloist in many competitions and recitals. Ian appears with many ensembles and orchestras on a regular basis and in 2004 won a place on the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra’s training scheme.

Ian has toured extensively with bands and orchestras and has often featured as soloist; USA, Germany, Holland, France, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Denmark and Sweden have all been visited over the past few years. As well as performance Ian is also composer in residence for the Lions Youth Brass and teaches and conducts around the midlands.

Mattias Andersson

At the age of ten Mattias went to see the Swedish Army Band perform at a local concert hall where he lived in Sweden, he was very inspired by this and wanted to learn to play the trumpet. Nine years later, Mattias had to do National Service and decided to audition for the same band that had inspired him into music in the first place. After a successful audition he spent one year as a trumpet/cornet player in the Swedish Army Band and Big Band. That year got Mattias into thinking of performing music professionally and thought it would be a good idea to study music further. Mattias studied for one year at a music school in Stockholm followed by four years at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Mattias graduated in June 2005 and is currently working as a music teacher and freelance musician, and has recently worked with Telford New Symphony Orchestra and Die Philharmonie der Nationen.

Shona Brownlee

French Horn

Details to come

Kate Furlong

Kate took up the trombone at the age a 9 and has being playing ever since. After progressing through the Bedfordshire County music service and studying with Neil Carey and Terry Hext, she gained a place at Birmingham Conservatoire, where she studied with David Purser, Phil Harrison and Sue Addison. Whilst at the Birmingham Conservatoire Kate played in many conservatoire ensembles including the symphony orchestra, brass ensembles, trombone choir and early music ensembles, and in 2004 participated on the CBSO training scheme.  She has recently performed with Telford New Symphony Orchestra and a European Period Performance Orchestra.  Since graduating from the conservatoire Kate is working as a freelance trombonist and also teaches for Birmingham Schools Music Service.

Laura White

Laura began playing the tuba at the age of 11 (after a failed attempt to play the trumpet!!), under the guidance of trombonist Leslie Piper. Through the Leicestershire Arts in Education service Laura gained the opportunity to play in several different chamber groups and ensembles. Laura also played with the Ratby Co-operative Brass Band for many years, which not only gave her great playing experience, but also the opportunity to travel to many places in Europe. In 2003 Laura gained a Scholarship to study at the Birmingham Conservatoire, where she now receives guidance from teachers Stuart Birnie and Alan Sinclair. During her time at the Conservatoire Laura has played with many groups and Orchestras throughout the midlands, and has recently founded an all-female Tuba Quartet. Laura also teaches Tuba as part of a minority instruments scheme in Coventry.