Tom HUTCHINSON

Tom began learning the cornet at the age of nine and joined his local brass band, Stannington.

As an early teenager he joined Barnsley Building Society Band and quickly ascended to the position of principal cornet. Tom’s first taste of playing ‘top man’ in a championship section band happened a few years later, aged fifteen, when he joined the Rothwell Temperance Band.

During these formative years Tom also played solo cornet with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain including two courses as Leader.

It was the Band’s Associate Conductor, Dr Nicholas Childs, who noticed his talent and later invited him to join the world famous Black Dyke Band. Tom played for ‘Dyke’ on repiano cornet and, at the age of eighteen, was promoted to tutti solo cornet.

He played with Black Dyke for four years, contributing to many contest successes, including the British Open, English National and National Championship of Great Britain titles. During his time with ‘Dyke’ he also toured extensively across Europe and Australia.

After his graduation, Tom was invited to join the mighty Cory Band as principal cornet. The lure of sitting on the ‘end chair’ with a band that were holding the titles for British Open, European and World Champion Band was too great an opportunity to turn down.

After leading the band in his first year to its hat­trick winning European title in 2010 and Welsh regional title in 2011, he has since lead Cory to a British Open title in 2011 whilst claiming the best soloist prize, further Welsh regional titles in 2012, 2014 and 2015 (also claiming the best soloist prize), Brass in Concert Championship wins in 2012, 2013 and 2015, the European title once again in 2013 and 2016, and two National Final wins in 2013 and 2015.

A particular highlight for Tom during his time with the band was receiving the Cory bands player of the year award, voted by the other members of Cory in 2012 and 2015.

As a Besson artist Tom represents the Buffet Group across the world. In the past two years alone he performed in Australia, New Zealand and most recently in 2016 the USA and Japan.

As well as playing principal cornet with the Cory band, he is a Professor of Cornet at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Brass specialist with Ev­entz Music, Cornet tutor for the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and Cornet tutor for the National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain.