Roche Brass

Roche Victory Hall Social Club
15 Victoria Road, Roche

St. Austell , Cornwall PL26 8JF

Phone: 01726 892848 01726 892848

Fax:

E-mail address: info@rochebrass.co.uk

Roche Brass

Trombones

Solo Trombone - Martin Sanders

Martin started at the age of 9 with Lostwithiel Youth Band. He started on the tenor horn, and went through almost every instrument in the band before finally and thankfully settling on Trombone at the age of 14.

Martin has played with various local brass bands, as well as Orchestras and concert bands over the years. He gave brass playing up for 5 years, to play the bass guitar in “Bounce the poodle”. Martin has played numerous times on the radio and in front of the camera! He has played with Supergrass and Oasis to name a few, as well as the great George Chisholm.

Martin has played with Bodmin and Mount Charles bands and was also a member of “Monkeys Uncle” Jazz Band and the “Joe Cocker tribute Band”. He also enjoys doing orchestra work for shows around the South West and beyond.

After a number of years playing with 'Company B' Martin joined Roche Brass in January 2024.

2nd Trombone - Lisa Armstrong

Lisa started her musical career at the age of 6 learning the Cello. This was too big to carry on the school bus so at the age of 9 she decided to move to a brass instrument and she joined Witney Town Band and Stonesfield Silver in Oxfordshire on Euphonium and Baritone, before learning the Trombone when she was 11.

Lisa studied music throughout her school years achieving her Grade 8, O level and A level music. She joined The Women's Royal Army Corps Staff Band in 1989. She served in the British Army for 6 years, travelling extensively worldwide. During this time, she has carried out many military pageants and parades such as The Royal Tournament, Edinburgh Tattoo and Berlin Tattoo. Lisa played at Buckingham Palace and Clarence House for the Royal Family as well as dinner nights for other Royals. During her military service, she also represented the Army with inter- service Swimming.

Lisa has played with various Brass Bands, Orchestras and Wind Bands, but her heart firmly sits with Brass Bands.

Over the past 20 years, Lisa was principal Trombone/Baritone for Shrewton Silver Band in Wiltshire. During this time, Shrewton Silver Band took part in many contests, achieving promotion from the 3rd Section to the 1st section and they also qualified and played at the National Finals in Harrogate twice. This was a real highlight in her brass banding career.

In 2023, Lisa and her family relocated back to Cornwall. Roche Brass was a perfect band to join and continue her hobby where the commitment suits her musical needs and also fits around her busy lifestyle. Lisa particularly enjoys the comradery that a brass band team has, it's the tonic a band needs to perform and compete well.

2nd Trombone - Ben Orchard

At the age of seven Ben first began playing the tenor horn under the tutelage of Derek Greenwood. At ten, and when his arm was just about long enough, he switched to the trombone and joined his first band, that of the 1st Truro Boys Brigade.

Since that time an eclectic musical career has seen him perform at venues as diverse as St Michaels Mount to Wembly Arena, Giants Stadium to The Royal Albert Hall and from Disney World to playing Village People hits in the infamous gay quarter of Cologne. He joined Bodmin Town Band shortly before the 2004 area contest.

Ben also enjoys cycling, badminton, eggs, the colour blue, Rentaghost and 321 (with Ted Rogers and Dusty Bin). His favourite film is the early Mike Leigh masterpiece Nuts in May and his lucky soup is Tom Yum.

Bass Trombone - Mike Brown

Mike studied the trombone at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, with Chris Mowat being the Head of Brass. Since then, he has taught for the Cornwall Music Service and has played in various settings, including The Three Spires Orchestra and Cornwall Sinfonia. He has also conducted The City of Truro Wind Orchestra and continues to teach pupils of all ages.

Brass banding is a recent addition to Mike's repertoire and he says he enoys the technical challenges that it offers. Mike joined Roche Brass at the end of 2016.

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