EIBBSS is delighted to welcome Luke Barker and Hannah Plumridge to its growing team of tutors.
Both are among the leading cornet players of their generation and bring with them a wealth of experience from the very highest level of the brass band movement.
Luke Barker
Luke is the Principal Cornet of Flowers Band, having joined the band in 2019 at the age of just 16 and progressed through the solo cornet line before taking the principal chair.
His musical journey began with Shipston Town Band, before he progressed through the National Children’s Brass Band and the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, eventually becoming Principal Cornet of both.
Luke has since developed an impressive international profile. While studying in Switzerland he played with Brass Band Treize Etoiles and was part of its 2023 European Championship-winning performance. More recently, he was part of the Flowers Band team crowned European Champions in 2026.
His individual achievements include numerous solo awards, including the Geneva Heritage Cornet International Slow Melody competition, while in 2024 he was named Best Principal Cornet at Brass in Concert. He has also become increasingly involved in educational and workshop work, helping inspire younger players through coaching and performance.
Hannah Plumridge
Hannah joins EIBBSS following an outstanding decade with the Cory Band, where she progressed through the cornet section and regularly stepped into the Principal Cornet chair.
In March 2026 she led Cory to victory at the Welsh Regional Championships and was awarded the Ian Williams Award for Best Principal Cornet. Just two months later, she was announced as the new Principal Cornet of Grimethorpe Colliery Band.
Originally from Brixham in Devon, Hannah began playing the cornet at the age of seven. She later studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, where she enjoyed considerable success as both a soloist and ensemble player. Her achievements include winning the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble Prize on three occasions, the McGrenery Chamber Prize and the Linda Mowat Solo Competition, as well as receiving a Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe Scholarship.
During her time with Cory, Hannah performed at the highest level of banding, contributing to major contest victories, international tours and the band’s two celebrated Grand Slam years.
Strengthening an already exceptional team
The addition of Luke and Hannah significantly strengthens an already outstanding EIBBSS cornet faculty.
Both combine exceptional playing ability with the experience of performing under pressure at the very highest level, but just as importantly, both understand the importance of encouraging and developing players of different ages and abilities.
Their appointments reflect EIBBSS’s continuing commitment to providing delegates with access not only to some of the finest performers in the brass band world, but to musicians who are enthusiastic about sharing their experience and helping others develop.
We are thrilled to welcome Luke Barker and Hannah Plumridge to the EIBBSS family and look forward to seeing them working with our delegates.
