cornets

Mike Willett

Originally from Oxford, Mike started playing at the age of 7 with the Yarnton Band and enjoyed many European tours with them. During the early 80s he joined Brackley & District, appearing with them at the Royal Albert Hall for the National Finals. He moved to Perth in 1988 with his family and joined WA Brass (then known as the Channel Nine Brass Band) where he was principal cornet from 1990 to 2005. Mike works as a contract draftsman in the mining industry and was a member of Australian Brass when it re-formed in 1995. Playing highlights would include the Royal Albert Hall finals appearance and RASWA’s 2013 performance in the Australian Nationals. Mike has been a committee member of the band for over 30 years. He is a former Vice-President and President and currently hold the treasurers postition.

Nina Brotherton

My name is Nina Brotherton and I play Solo Cornet in the band. I began playing the cornet when I was only 7 and I’ve been a part of this band for almost 23 years!! I’ve seen many musicians come and go but I love the fact that the major core of this group remains the same. Aside from being in the band, I have 3 children and my diploma in Children Services. My two daughters are really into dancing and I’ve recently taken up tap myself. I also love running and regularly do the City to Surf. I’m looking forward to my next 23 years in the band 🙂

Tim Jewell

Tim started playing the trumpet when he was 8. After completing music studies throughout high school he enjoyed a very very short period at university before deciding to adopt the rock and roll lifestyle, during which time he hit a lot of drums and generally behaved like a member of Spinal Tap. Somehow through this time Tim stayed true to his brass heritage and has been a member of the band for over 20 years. Tim’s shy and withdrawn personality along with a delicate and tasteful playing style suits the soprano cornet perfectly and he vows to never try another instrument. Having now left the rock and roll life behind, Tim returned to university to study how to do things with motors, cogs, sensors and computers, and now has a semi respectable job making things whir and pop in an automatic fashion. When not performing with the band, Tim enjoys the company of his wife and daughters and dreaming of things he hopes to one day build with his late collection of timber and power tools.

Glenn Evans

I currently play Repiano cornet for  RASWA and have been playing with the band since 1991. All though my mum thought it would be good idea to play drums when I was 7 years old due to having severe  asthma.  I wanted to play the same instrument as my sister the cornet. I finally got my way and despite playing in various bands I have always played in the same bands as my sister Nina (Brotherton).

Glenn is a manager for an Energy company and have been kept busy with a teenage son who plays cornet/Trumpet as well.

What time I have left I love to goto the gym and running.

Laurie Trengrove

Laurie was born in Broken Hill (NSW) and grew up in Adelaide in the suburb of Largs Bay right in the heart of Port Power country. As a boy Laurie dreamed of playing football for Port Adelaide but had his footy career tragically cut short by a lack of ability. He attended Flinders University and headed to Tasmania when he completed his studies. Laurie worked as a Probation and Parole Officer supervising and counselling people on court orders. Laurie again tried resurrecting his football career but this was short lived as he found himself playing against people he was supervising on probation and parole, and decided that it was safer for his health to play squash. Whilst in Tasmania Laurie completed study at the University of Tasmania in music performance with plans to be a professional musician but again his plan were tragically cut short by a lack of musicality. He then changed direction and completed a Diploma of Teaching. Laurie has worked as teacher and educator since completing the diploma in Western Australia. He now spends his time dreaming of playing in a professional orchestra whilst playing 2nd trumpet in the junior concert band at his present school.

Geoff Ogden                                                                                                    

After pestering my Dad for a Trumpet at the age of 7 and despite my mother saying he was wasting his money, he purchased me a Lark Trumpet for $50 from Boans Bunbury. My first band rehearsal with the Manjimup Junior band ended in tears at half time because I could not read music very well but with the help of an older ex-Salvo member, I soon got better. Then despite my year 7 Primary School class teacher telling me in front of my class mates I was not smart enough to be recommended for a music scholarship to Churchlands SHS, a year later I become Solo Cornet player with the Bunbury City Band and then Dad bought me a $2000 Round Stamp Boosey & Hawkes Sovereign Cornet just before I performed Maxwell’s Silver Hammer on Channel 9’s Perth Young Entertainers talent show. After completing an Apprenticeship as a Motor Mechanic and forming and conducting a Junior Brass band, I left Bunbury to study Jazz Trumpet & Music Education at ECU’s WA Academy of Performing Arts Mt Lawley. During this time I had to relearn to play the Trumpet due to long term Embouchure damage so focussed on my Education studies but still play left handed due to not having a proper teacher when I was younger. Since graduating I’ve spent the last 28 years teaching Class Room Music, Brass & Percussion Instruments and Conducting Jazz and Concert Bands with the WA Department of Education whilst still fixing the odd car. In 1999/2000 I went travelling around the world and whilst living in the UK for 6 months I joined the Fulham Brass Band and competed in the London & Southern Counties Qualifying Contest of the National Brass Band Championships. More recently during a 2 year stint as Musical Director for the Bunbury City Band, I took them to the 2021 WA State Band Championships winning the D Grade Brass and highest scoring WA Country Band awards. I joined WA Brass in 2017 and performed with them at the 2019 National Band Championships in Brisbane. My wife likes me travelling to Perth to band rehearsals so she can have a whole evening break from me each week hence the years with them have continued.