Luke is the Principal Cornet of Flowers Band, Gloucester, having progressed along the solo cornet line since joining in 2019 at the age of 16. From the minute Luke entered the band room it was clear that he was immensely talented and from then on he was nurtured with the view of one day being appointed as Principal Cornet.

Luke began playing the cornet at the age of 7 with the Shipston Town Band organisation. He was a member of the The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain joining the National Children’s Band in 2015 on Repiano and progressing to the Principal Cornet Chair. He went on to join the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain in 2017, starting down the solo cornet line, going on to become Principal Cornet in 2021, an enormous achievement.

Luke has enjoyed many opportunities guesting with other bands, including when he moved to Switzerland as part of his degree. Luke joined the front row of Brass Band Treize Etoiles and was part of their winning performance at the Swiss National Championships, qualifying for, and then proceeding to win, the 2023 European Championships in Malmo, Sweden.

On his return from Switzerland in 2023, he was appointed a Denis Wick Mouthpiece Artist. In 2024, Luke won the ‘Best Soloist’ award at Unibrass, competing with the University of Birmingham Brass Band, and won the Harry Mortimer Trophy for Best Principal Cornet at the 2024 Brass in Concert Championships.

Now a very well known name in banding, Paul started his playing career in Cornwall and in his early years progressed through the Mount Charles Band and then onto the St Austell Band eventually assuming the principal cornet chair. After his job took him to Bristol, Paul joined the Sun Life Band, taking the principal cornet in 1988, a position he held for 5 years. During this period the band won the British Open, took the WMC Kerkrade World Title and produced a legacy of recordings.

After a long period away from banding focussing on family and career, Paul returned to the movement when his son joined the local youth band. Paul was involved with the set up of Brunel Brass, which combined young and senior players into a new band which rose from the 4th to Championship section in a 6 year period.

Paul then joined the Flowers Band and has had huge success as a soloist, winning the Best Soloist at the 2015 National Finals, Best Soloist at Brass in Concert 2018, and Best Soprano in 2016 and 2021. He also has twice been the Best Soloist at The French Open and the Butlin’s Mineworkers Championships.

After spending sixteen years as a plumbing and heating engineer, Kelvin joined the Army as a musician. Upon completion of his training, Kelvin was appointed to the Royal Artillery Band, based in Tidworth having moved from Cornwall after spending many a year within the St Keverne organisation. As well as playing Principal Cornet with St Keverne, Kelvin also conducted the St Keverne Youth Band whilst being an active member of the surrounding community.

First joining Flowers in 2017, Kelvin has enjoyed many appearances and performances, from Concert to Contest. In 2022 the band were honoured to perform at Kelvin’s wedding, playing during the ceremony.

We currently have a vacancy for a Solo Cornet player. If you would like more information, please contact manager@flowers.band.

Erin first began playing the cornet at the age of 7, and went on to join her local brass band, the Beaumaris Band. She was a member of the band for 10 years and eventually worked her way up to become the principal cornet of the senior band in 2019. Whilst in Beaumaris Youth Band, a true highlight of her time was travelling to the 2018 European Youth Brass Band Championships in Utrecht, where Beaumaris achieved 3rd place. In 2017 Erin joined the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and since then she was worked her way up to play 4th solo cornet.

Erin moved to Cardiff in September 2020 to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where she has instrumental lessons with Tom Hutchinson. In 2023, Erin was shortlisted to compete in the Ian Stoutzker Prize, the most prestigious competition in the College. Upon moving to Cardiff, Erin joined Llwydcoed Band on repiano cornet, and enjoyed competing as a member of the band at the 2021 National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall, the 2022 Welsh Regional Championships and the 2022 Grand Shield. Erin joined the Flowers Band in June 2022, and made her contesting debut with the band at the 2022 British Open.

In 2024, Erin was selected to represent Wales as a member of the European Youth Brass Band in Palanga, Lithuania.

Owain was born in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, and started playing BBb Cornet at the age of four at his local youth band, Brunel Brass Academy. Owain came through the youth band and progressed to the senior band, Brunel Brass from 2013 until August 2024 becoming their principal cornet in 2019. A particular highlight of his time with Brunel was winning Best Cornet and Best Instrumentalist at the Wessex Contest in November 2023 on Between the Moon and Mexico.

Owain became a member of British Army Band Tidworth from January 2020 with a short spell at the Band of The Scots Guards before returning to Tidworth as their Principal Cornet. He is looking forward to playing at the major contests alongside his brother, Ieuan.

Mark joined Flowers in 2019 after a successful tenure at Filton Concert Brass, during which he enjoyed contest success including wins at the Spring Festival, Welsh Open & Wychavon. More recently, he has made his debut at the British Open & enjoyed several more appearances at the National finals & Brass in Concert Championships, to name a few.

Starting his musical journey at the age of 10 in the Salvation Army, Mark was appointed as principal cornet by the age of 16 and later went on to play and tour overseas with Bristol Easton SA Band, with a period on Flugel Horn as a band soloist.

Outside his musical pursuits Mark is married with 2 children and is a Project Director by profession. He resides in Bath, is a passionate supporter of Bath Rugby and regular attendee at the REC.

Jess began learning the cornet aged seven in her village, with Bratton Silver Band. At the age of 14, she was awarded a DfE Music Scholarship to Wells Cathedral School. During this time she was presented with the school's trumpet award and gained her DipABRSM Trumpet Performance. Jess was a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, working her way from the back row up to the Solo Cornet Bench. During her time in the NYBBGB, Jess got to work with some of the best tutors in the country, as well as conductors such as Bramwell Tovey, Garry Cutt and Philip Smith.

Jess annually attends the Wessex Band Summer School. In 2016, Jess undertook a year at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London studying trumpet, before moving to study Psychology at Cardiff University in 2017. After moving to Cardiff, Jess enjoyed 2 years with the Tongwynlais Temperance Band on the front row, a highlight of which was playing bumper up at the 2018 National finals at the RAH, before joining the Flowers Band in July 2019.

Born in Blenau Gwent, Richard began playing cornet in his early teens. He was a member of the Abertillery and Tredegar Youth Band. He received a scholarship to study composition at the Charterhouse School under Patrick Hawes. During his time at the school he was selected to play the Denis Wright Cornet Concerto in his final year with full Symphony Orchestra.

He went on to study at Cardiff and then Bristol universities. He has enjoyed great success, with his work being played by the RPO, Music Theatre Wales, the Cory Band, and the WFEL Fairey Band. His composition, ‘Three Ancient Customs,’ was selected as the Third Section National Finals piece in 2012. He returns to the Flowers Band after an eight year gap due to work commitments.