Five join Co-op

The Co-operative Funeralcare Band is pleased to announce a quintette of new signings to bolster it’s ranks.

Firstly, Chris Davies, the highly talented former Solo Horn of Tredegar, has joined the band on the Principal Horn chair.

Chris commented “ Co-op has really made a name for itself over the last few years and I’m really excited to be joining the band at this juncture and honoured that I was invited. I am looking forward to working with the band and its musical directors.”

Also joining the ranks, is world renowned Euphonium virtuoso, Glenn Van Looy. Glenn is no stranger to the band having played with them in Rotterdam at the EBBC.

Glenn commented “ I’m very happy with my new appointment at Co-op. I worked with them for the European Championships in Rotterdam and really enjoyed it. The band has been in great form and I’m looking forward to joining them for forthcoming contests. I’m also very much looking forward to working with their professional MD Dr Nicholas Childs”.

Glenn added, 
”I would also like to thank Beaumaris for the 4 years I’ve been with them and wish them all the best for the future”.

The third signing is Ben Thompson the former principal Tuba with the Fairey’s Band. Ben studied at the RNCM, and won the BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Soloist of the Year in both 2006 and 2007. He has featured as a soloist with many ensembles, including BBC Concert Orchestra, an with the Black Dyke and Fodens Bands. In 2011 Ben became Principal Tuba of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in Glasgow. Ben guested with the band in their winning performance at the 2012 West Lothian Festival of Brass and is very much looking forward to the Scottish regional championships.

Alistair Boag, the former Kirkintilloch BBb Tuba player also joins the tuba section, bringing a great talent and vast experience to the section.

Finally, the band welcomes back former Principal Cornet Christine Millar to further strengthen the cornet team. Christine’s undoubted talent is well known, both from her previous times at Co-op and also her years with the Fodens Band, under Howard Snell.

Band Manager Martin Stack commented, “We are really excited that the players all accepted our invitation to join the ranks. Christine and Alistair are well known to us and bring with them a wealth of experience at top end of banding and will be great assets to their respective sections. The captures of Chris, Ben and Glenn, is fantastic news for the band and represent high class end chair appointments and they will bring great quality to a very good ensemble.

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