Hannah Plumridge
Cornet
Hannah began learning the cornet aged 7 and joined her local town band in Brixham where she quickly progressed to the position of Principal Cornet. In her early teenager years Hannah gained experience playing in many bands in the south west and further afield including the Grimethorpe Besson Youth Band. Hannah’s first taste of playing ‘top man’ in a championship section band came at the age of sixteen when she joined The Mount Charles Band. During these formative years Hannah also played solo cornet with the Cornwall Youth Brass Band for a number of years.
Hannah accepted an invitation to join the Cory Band just before she commenced her studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2015. Initially on 2nd cornet, Hannah has developed to playing Repiano Cornet and is the bands deputy Principal Cornet. During her time at Cory, Hannah has won every major brass band competition and has contributed to many successful international tours (including the band’s two ‘Grand Slam’ years).
On the competition front Hannah is no stranger to success having won the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble prize on three occasions, The McGrenery Chamber Prize and the Linda Mowat Solo competition. Hannah obtained the Harry Mortimer Memorial Trust award and in February 2019 Hannah competed in a trumpet competition held at the Royal Academy of Music in London where she was awarded the Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe Scholarship.
After graduating in 2019, studying under Tom Hutchinson, Hannah was invited over to New Zealand as guest Principal Cornet to perform in the National Brass Band Championships. Hannah continues to play in the Cory Band and also plays the trumpet as a function musician across the UK.
Emily Evans
Tenor Horn
Emily began playing the Cornet at the age of three before switching to the Tenor Horn at the age of seven. She played in her family band in Cornwall, the Lanner and District Silver Band, before moving to Cardiff to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music to be taught by Owen Farr.
Emily was a member of both the National Children’s Brass Band and the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, becoming Principal Tenor Horn in both of the bands.
Whilst at RWCMD, Emily won the Harry Mortimer Award at the British Open Brass Band Championships. and was part of the winning quartet at the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble competition and the McGrenery Chamber Prize.
Since graduating from college, Emily has travelled with the Orchestra Revolutionnaire to London, New York and Paris to play a saxhorn as a part of their Berlioz tour.
Emily played in the Tongwynlais Temperance Band in Cardiff for three years before moving to the Flowers Band in 2017. Emily was awarded the ‘Best Tenor Horn’ prize at Brass in Concert in 2018 and the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ award at the Butlins Mineworkers Championships in 2020.
Cerys Mair Hughes
Flugel Horn
Born in Tywyn, on the North-West coast of Wales, Cerys is the Flugelhorn soloist with the City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) M1 Band, currently studying at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama under the direction of Roger Argente, Dr Robert Childs & Owen Farr.
Before moving to Cardiff in 2018, Cerys was a member of the Oakeley Band and was part of the band that took a hat trick of victories at the National Eisteddfod of Wales from 2014 – 2016, culminating in the featured solo spot in front of a capacity audience. My first lessons were with Aled Williams, principal euphonium of Northop Band, this lead to spending my weekends with the Gwynedd and Môn Youth Brass Band.
In 2018 Cerys joined the City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) Band, making an appearance with them at the National Brass Band Championships at the Royal Albert Hall. After a short spell with the Tongwynlais Temperance Band, Cerys rejoined M1 in 2020 and has since been involved in many online projects including winning the ‘Best Horns’ award in the inaugural Cory Online Brass Band Championships.
Cerys has been an active member of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales since 2017, holding the Principal Flugelhorn seat since 2018 and was awarded the ‘John Childs Memorial Trophy’, for the most promising player in 2018.
Ellie Carlsen
Euphonium
Born in Swansea, South Wales, Ellie started her musical journey playing the cornet at age 7, before moving onto the euphonium. As a euphonium player, Ellie joined Penclawdd Junior Band and her love for the instrument and music began. Progressing quickly to the Senior Band, she had the opportunity to compete in many contests, including the National Finals in Cheltenham.
As well as being a dedicated member of Penclawdd Brass Band, with the support and tuition of Simon Howells and Tony Small, Ellie has held the Principal Euphonium seat with the West Glamorgan County Brass Band. Here she had the opportunity to perform a variety of solos and duets, and in 2016, she was extremely fortunate to tour Lake Garda in Italy, performing many concerts with the band.
In 2017 Ellie became an active member of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and has been fortunate enough to hold the Principal Euphonium seat on the Six Counties Brass Band course. Ellie accepted an offer to study Music Performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and began her studies in September 2020 under the direction of Roger Argente and Dr Robert Childs. Ellie sees the opportunity to perform with the Glyndwr Ensemble as the next step in her career.
Neve Lawrence
Tuba
Neve began playing the tuba aged 9 with the Coleshill Band from near her home in the Midlands. Neve continued her development with the Foden’s Youth Band before joining the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.
Having gained a place at the Junior Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Neve combined this with first playing with the Shirley Band before moving onto Foresters Brass. At this time Neve was awarded the Robinson Award from Future Talent.
Neve has gained orchestral experience with the Royal Sutton Coldfield Orchestra, the English Symphony Youth Orchestra as well as through projects with the CBSO Youth Orchestra.
Since relocating to Wales to study Music Performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Neve has joined the Llwydcoed Band as well as the National Youth Brass Band of Wales.