Having grown up in Wigan, Lewis started playing in brass bands aged 7 and sat on the principal cornet seat of the National Youth Brass Band for the last 6 years. Currently, he is principal cornet for a top section band, Leyland Brass Band. Outside of banding, Lewis was a member of the Hallé Youth Orchestra, and studied at the Junior RNCM for 4 years under Tim Barber, during which time he performed the Arutunian Trumpet Concerto with the junior department symphony orchestra. Lewis now studies at the RNCM under the Head of Brass, Murray Greig.
Honor comes from Portsmouth and studied with John Young at the Junior Royal Academy of Music for 2 years before coming to Manchester. Honor started learning on tuba under Jock McKenzie aged 8, going on to join the Hampshire Youth Brass Bands and playing with them for 7 years before switching to trumpet. Honor’s love for musical theatre has led her to play for the National Youth Music Theatre’s productions of Chess and Kiss Me Kate. She has been a member of the National Youth Concert Band and Guildford Youth Symphony Orchestra, and now plays for the South Coast Symphonia. Honor now studies at the RNCM under David Hooper.
Toby is a born and bred Mancunian and has been playing the French Horn since the age of 9. He attended the Junior RNCM for 7 years with a final Performance of Saint-Saëns’ Morceau de Concert as the soloist with the symphony orchestra. He has been a member of many youth orchestras such as the National Children’s Orchestra, Hallé Youth Orchestra, English Schools Orchestra (where he was awarded the John McIntosh award), Young Musician’s Symphony Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra GB. Toby has performed at many prestigious venues, but a favourite is the Royal Albert Hall for the 2022 and 2023 BBC Proms. Toby is current taught by Lindsey Stoker at the RNCM.
Nathan comes from Barnet, London, and has been playing trombone since the age of 8. Before starting at the RNCM, he studied with Dave Whitehouse, and then Rob Burgess at Junior Guildhall for 2 years. Nathan has played in many orchestras, including the Odyssey Festival Orchestra and London Schools Symphony Orchestra, and is currently principal trombone of the Opera North Youth Orchestra. Nathan’s passion for musical theatre and opera has led him to perform with the National Youth Music Theatre in their productions of Ragtime and Kiss Me Kate. He spent the last summer in Germany performing the operas Suor Angelica, Gianni Schicchi, and Hansel und Gretel with the Berlin Opera Academy. Nathan is now taught by Roger Cutts and Katy Jones at the RNCM.
Our tuba player Ben has performed with winning bands at the European Youth Championships and Whit Friday Band section. He was principal tuba of the National Youth Brass Band for 3 years and currently plays for the KNDS Fairey Band. He has performed at some of the most prestigious venues, including the Royal Albert Hall, Symphony Hall, the Sage at Gateshead, Kneller Hall and the Auditorium Stravinsky Hall in Switzerland. His talents have earned him a range of prizes, including the Tom Atkinson memorial trophy for Tuba. Ben comes from Rochale, Manchester, and studied at the Junior RNCM under Les Neish before starting his undergrad.
