Cornet Tutors
Mark Wilkinson
When he was 18 Mark joined the Wingates Band on Principal Cornet for 2 years before accepting Howard Snell’s offer to join the Britannia Building Society Band (now Foden’s) on Principal Cornet in 1992. During this time he has been privileged to have won every major contest with Foden’s.
As well as performing across the World as a soloist he is also heavily involved in Youth education. Mark enjoyed 3 years as the cornet tutor with the ‘National Children’s Brass Band of Great Britain’ and has been an entrance examiner and cornet tutor with the ‘National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain’ since 2000. Mark has also appeared as a cornet tutor with the ‘National Youth Brass Band of Wales’ ‘National Youth Band of Switzerland’ as well as a guest soloist with the ‘National Youth Brass Band of Denmark.’ As well as being a founder member of the ‘Northern Ireland Armagh Summer School’ he is in demand on various summer schools in this country and abroad.
He has taught at the RNCM, University of Salford, Manchester Metropolitan University, Durham University as well as being an external examiner at the RNCM, Birmingham Conservatoire and consultant with the ABRSM. Mark has adjudicated at a number of leading contests in this Country and overseas being appointed on the ‘Association of Brass Band Adjudicators’ Executive Committee in January 2017 becoming their chairperson in 2018.
In 2022 Mark was awarded the ‘Iles Medal’ by the Worshipful Company of Musicians in recognition of his outstanding commitment to the brass band movement. The award is seen as the most prestigious endorsement for service within the brass band community and has been awarded yearly since 1947.
Luke Barker
Luke is the Principal Cornet of Flowers Band, Gloucester, having progressed along the solo cornet line since joining in 2019 at the age of 16. From the minute Luke entered the band room it was clear that he was immensely talented and from then on he was nurtured with the view of one day being appointed as Principal Cornet.
Luke began playing the cornet at the age of 7 with the Shipston Town Band organisation. He was a member of the The National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain joining the National Children’s Band in 2015 on Repiano and progressing to the Principal Cornet Chair. He went on to join the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain in 2017, starting down the solo cornet line, going on to become Principal Cornet in 2021, an enormous achievement.
Luke has enjoyed many opportunities guesting with other bands, including when he moved to Switzerland as part of his degree. Luke joined the front row of Brass Band Treize Etoiles and was part of their winning performance at the Swiss National Championships, qualifying for, and then proceeding to win, the 2023 European Championships in Malmo, Sweden.
On his return from Switzerland in 2023, he was appointed a Denis Wick Mouthpiece Artist. In 2024, Luke won the ‘Best Soloist’ award at Unibrass, competing with the University of Birmingham Brass Band, and won the Harry Mortimer Trophy for Best Principal Cornet at the 2024 Brass in Concert Championships.
Hannah Plumridge
Hannah went on to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, where she enjoyed a highly successful period. During her time at the College, she won the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble Prize on three occasions, the McGrenery Chamber Prize and the Linda Mowat Solo Competition. In 2016, she was awarded the Harry Mortimer Memorial Trust Award, and in 2019 received a Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe scholarship following success in a trumpet competition at the Royal Academy of Music.
Shortly before beginning her studies in Cardiff, Hannah accepted an invitation from renowned conductor Philip Harper to join the internationally acclaimed Cory Band. Over the following decade she became an integral member of the band, performing on Second, Solo and Repiano Cornet, while also regularly deputising on Principal Cornet, Flugelhorn and Soprano Cornet wherever the need arose. This resulted in a four month period in the hotseat, at the culmination of which she lead the band to become 2026 Welsh Champions, winning the Ian Williams award for Best Principal Cornet in the process. During her time with Cory, she contributed to victories at every major brass band championship, numerous recordings, international tours and the band’s historic Grand Slam-winning seasons.
Alongside her work with leading brass bands, Hannah has built an international reputation as a performer, educator and adjudicator. She has appeared as a guest Principal Cornet with bands around the world, including performances at the National Brass Band Championships of New Zealand and Australia, and has worked as a tutor for the National Youth Brass Band of Switzerland.
A proud Besson Artist, Hannah remains passionate about inspiring the next generation of brass musicians through performance, education and outreach. Alongside her performing career, she works in marketing, combining her musical expertise with a strong interest in arts communications, and audience engagement.
Paul Richards
Now a very well known name in banding, Paul started his playing career in Cornwall and in his early years progressed through the Mount Charles Band and then onto the St Austell Band eventually assuming the Principal Cornet chair. After his job took him to Bristol, Paul joined the Sun Life Band, becoming their Principal Cornet in 1988, a position he held for 5 years. During this period the band won the British Open, took the WMC Kerkrade World Title and produced a legacy of recordings.
After a long period away from banding focussing on family and career, Paul returned to the movement when his son joined the local youth band. Paul was involved with the set up of Brunel Brass, which combined young and senior players into a new band which rose from the 4th to Championship section in a 6 year period.
Paul then joined the Flowers Band and has had huge success as a soloist, winning the Best Soloist at the 2015 National Finals, Best Soloist at Brass in Concert 2018 and Best Soprano in 2016 and 2021, and Best Soprano at the 2024 British Open. He also has twice been the Best Soloist at The French Open and the Butlin’s Mineworkers Championships.