Trombones

Solo Trombone - Mike Saville

Unusually for a student, Mike spent his time at the Royal College of Music actually practicing the trombone. This meant opportunities for playing at the highest level presented themselves on an all too regular basis.

Never one to be considered a 'one trick pony’, Mike found himself invited to play all styles of music. Some examples include: Early period music (Gabrieli Consort), Orchestral (LPO), Opera (British Touring Opera), Shows (various west end), Light Music (John Wilson Orchestra), Big Bands (Glenn Miller UK) . . . . . and even in the occasional brass band. Of course all taking place in the obligatory major concert halls and on radio & TV.

Having discovered what 15 years playing the same show/music can do to the mind of a sane person Mike decided the best way to buy his own shed was to get a ‘sensible’ job and move out of London. A new (and definitely more lucrative career!) in IT has followed working for IBM, Deutsche Telekom and BT.

Mike has taught trombone at Universities and colleges and therefore over the past 20 years lots of trombone students have had the pleasure (!!) of Mike’s view on the tromboning world, many going onto to study at conservatoires and having careers in their own right.

In keeping with the more traditional brass band biographical style it is probably correct to mention here that Mike first played with Chichester band aged 13 and with lots of others since, won some contests, a few solo prizes and played in National Finals at the Albert Hall.

Assistant 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 - Keith Maxwell  BMus (Hons) ACII ACIM

Keith started playing the Euphonium at the age of 8 but by the age of 16 realised he wanted to study music at University and felt that a move to Trombone would be more beneficial. Within just 12 months he learnt to play the Trombone and successfully passed his Grade 8 with distinction.  Keith's passion for Brass Bands started when he was a member of the  1st Old Boys Band, Northern Ireland's most successful brass band.

In 1990 Keith graduated from the Queen's University of Belfast with an honours degree in Music and during his time as an undergraduate he regularly conducted the University Orchestra.  He studied Trombone with Andy Berryman (the then Principal Trombone of the Halle Orchestra) and the late Adrian Morris (Bass Trombone of the Halle Orchestra). 

Upon graduation he relocated from Belfast to the South East of England and for many years was solo Trombone with the Friary Band and Aveley & Newham Band, winning many soloist prizes during his time with the Friary Band.  Keith's playing experience has been wide and varied having regularly competed at the National Finals (Royal Albert Hall), All England Masters and British Open Spring Festival but also appearing in the first ever stage production of Brassed Off at the South Bank in London and performing in the royal grandeur of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.

After leaving the Aveley & Newham band Keith returned to the Friary band as Musical Director, successfully rebuilt the band and led them back into the Championship section.  In addition to a long list of contest victories and qualification to the National Finals he successfully helped the Friary Band achieve the Southern Counties Brass Band Association's band of the year, and recorded two CDs with the band. He has also had a conducting association with the Horsham Borough Band and the Medway Band. 

Keith relocated from the South East to Cornwall in 2019 after a successful 30 year career within the Insurance Industry, was appointed as the Musical Director of Roche Brass in May 2022, and then moved back to trombone in May 2024.

2nd Trombone - Lisa Armstrong

Profile coming soon

Bass 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.