Stephen Cooper began playing the baritone at the age of 10 with Bedworth Band. In 1980 he changed to the euphonium and enjoyed four years with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and was also a founder member of the Young Ambassador’s Brass Band of Great Britain including tours of Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Germany and Sweden.
In 1987 Stephen graduated from the London College of Music where he studied euphonium with James Gourlay, trombone with David Evans and conducting with James Stobart.
Whilst still at college Stephen was awarded the Kenwynd Beard Brass Prize in 1986 and the Director’s Performance Prize (then John McCabe) the following year. Stephen was also invited to play with the BBC Symphony Orchestra touring Russia under the baton of Yuri Termikanov. Since that time Stephen has worked with all of the leading British orchestras including tours of Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Holland, Sicily and Japan.
Stephen has performed the important tenor tuba part in “Don Quixote” (Richard Strauss) with Mstiov Rostropovich as cello soloist in this country and several European tours with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Other notable performances include the “Last Night of the Proms” for four consecutive seasons and numerous proms concerts with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the world premiere at Covent Garden of the ballet version of “The Planets”.
To date Stephen has recorded over thirty CDs including four with the Wallace Collection, “Ein Heldenleben” with the London Symphony Orchestra (Michael Tilson Thomas) “Pictures at an Exhibition” with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Vladimir Ashkanazy) and “The Firebird” with the Phiharmonia Orchestra (Esa-Pekka Salonen) as well as numerous sound tracks including the incidental music (with Maurice Murphy) to “Brassed Off” and “GI Jane.”
Stephen has made many broadcasts and television appearances; more recently he has been recording pop sessions with members of the London Session Orchestra directed by Nick Ingman for albums by Mark Owen, Pearce & Levene, Beth Gibbons and Rustic Man.
His interest in the brass band world has continued since his first conducting appointment with Ellesborough Silver Band in 1986. He also took Horsham Band to the National Finals. Five successful years were then spent as Musical Director of the Coventry School of Music Brass Band in the Championship section, followed by a further two year period with Ibstock Building Products Band. Stephen was Musical Director of Sovereign Brass in 2002 and along with several contest successes recorded a Radio 2 “Listen to the Band” session with them. Stephen has been associated as a player or has conducted many other bands including Desford, Newham, Kibworth, Shirley, Friary Maux and Banks Brewery and Enderby. He returns as Musical Director of City of Coventry Brass for a third term having enjoyed a very successful run of contest results including qualifying for the second section National Finals at Harrogate in 2008 and qualifying for the first section National finals the following year in 2009.
Principal Cornet- Bob Baggott
Bob started playing the cornet at the age of 12. He was taught by Len Pepper. At 14, he joined the Coventry School of Music Youth Brass Band, rising to principal cornet at 16, and he played for them until 1988. During the next 44 years, Bob has played for 6 Championship Section Bands as principal cornet – Shirley, Heart of England, William Davis Construction, Sovereign and Jaguar, returning to Coventry in 2007 ; he has competed in 44 area contests, has made 8 appearances at the National Finals in the Albert Hall, and 12 appearances at the British Open…..We are not worthy!
Solo cornet - Sean Doughty
Sean first picked up a cornet at the age of 7, when his headmaster suggested pupils joined him learning a brass instrument. He has never looked back. He joined the band at the beginning of 2013 and has just celebrated his 18th birthday with them at Butlins 2014. Sean also plays principal cornet for Enderby Youth Band. Exam results permitting, he will be studying cornet at the Birmingham Conservatoire later in the year.
Solo Cornet - Nicola Bagshaw
Nicola began playing at the age of 7 and joined Bedworth Band where her father Philip Cooper was M.D. She played in the City of Coventry ‘B’ Band in 1976 and was promoted to the ‘A’ band in 1977 under the musical direction of Ken Dennison. She has performed at the Granada Band of the year, Belle Vue Manchester and at the national finals at the Royal Albert Hall. Nicola made several recordings whilst in the band and was the first female in Harry Mortimer's Men ‘O’ Brass, playing at numerous concerts all around the UK. Nicola also played in the Coventry Festival Band, Dunchurch Band and Bulkington Silver Band before taking a break to get married and have three children. Coming out of retirement to play at her father’s memorial concert in 2002 she said she would never play again. However, after much persuasion from her brother, Stephen Cooper (M.D), she agreed to play at the area contest in March 2013 and is still enjoying being a member of the band.
Solo cornet - Nick Savjani
Nick has been playing the cornet since he was eight years old. He had his first taste of ensemble playing thanks to the Coventry PAS Youth Brass Band, he now plays first trumpet for the Youth Wind Orchestra and Jazz Orchestra. He joined City of Coventry Brass in 2013 because he was looking for a new challenge – and as his first rehearsal was for the premiere of a new piece for brass and electronics, he reckoned he’d found it... Nick is 15, and studying for his GCSEs at Blue Coat School. He also plays the piano and guitar.
Soprano Cornet - Helen Hollings LTCL
Helen started playing the trumpet at primary school and at the age of 15 wanted to become a musician. She studied Eb, D trumpet, piccolo, jazz flugel and the piano at college and played in a variety of orchestral, wind, jazz and brass groups. Helen then had a break from music, got a real job working for Coventry Building Society, concentrated on swimming and married Dave. In 1998 she qualified as a swimming instructor and after her 2 children were at school, she began teaching swimming on a regular basis. She also returned to music, joining Royal Spa Brass as a trumpet player disguised as a cornet player and working her way up to the principal cornet chair. Helen left Royal Spa Brass at the end of 2009 and joined City of Coventry Brass on front row cornet. In July 2011 Helen was persuaded to try Sop - she doesn’t know how that happened but figured the disguise didn’t work!
Repiano Cornet - Josh Jones
Josh started playing the cornet at the age of 7 after being recruited by a local band through his Primary School. He has travelled extensively, touring France, Germany , Italy, Holland and Wales through a local charity band, Valley Brass, with whom he has played since 2002. Josh was also heavily involved in the Valley Brass youth band over the years before moving to Coventry to study Music Composition at the University.
Second Cornet - Jon Evans
Jon first touched a cornet at the age of 11 having been inspired to play a brass instrument by Jim Norden. Unfortunately he then purchased a trumpet and spent the next 5 years messing around playing with the Leicestershire county music service and the North Warwickshire Concert band. When he joined Bablake School for 6 th form he saw the error of his ways and with the encouragement of Stephen Cooper joined City of Coventry in 2010. Jon then left in 2011 to go and study Biochemistry at Leeds University where he spent more time playing than studying. Whilst in Leeds he played with the Leeds University Union Big Band, Leeds University Union Music Society’s Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Orchestra as well as a few other gigging jazz bands and other smaller ensembles. He enjoyed 4 European tours and managed to supplement his student loan with these opportunities. Now having graduated he is back with the band and atoning for his sin of not regularly playing in a brass band in Yorkshire!
Second Cornet - Marcus Teagles
Marcus joined the band just in time to be part of the ‘best back row section playing on the day’ at Butlins, according to MD Steve. A good start then! He is a local boy, born in Nuneaton, where he still lives with wife Lisa, and their two children, Rebecca 15 and Adam 12.
Marcus has worked in the motor industry for over 25 years, and is a relative newcomer to banding, having played for around 10 years.
Third Cornet - Jon Padley
Jon has played in the band for 10 years, with a short break when he went up to Manchester with work. He joined after being accosted by the Wroes at Coventry University Fresher's Fair. Jon's Dad is musical, playing the cello, and he passed on the musical gene to Jon, who started on the trumpet at the age of ten.
Third Cornet -
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Flugel Horn - Phil Wroe
Phil started playing trumpet at senior school way back in the 60’s and first played with the original Jaguar Cars Band when they were one of the top bands in the Midlands. He was taught at school by Len Pepper, then principal trumpet and deputy conductor at the Coventry Hippodrome who formed the Coventry School of Music Band from his pupils in 1965. Phil moved onto flugel horn as a founder member. Phil has been with the band ever since and has seen many players come and go and come back again and the band's name change twice. Phil also enjoys playing trumpet and Flugel in Tarrington Brass ensemble. He manages City of Coventry Brass for his sins!
Solo Horn - Val Bell
Val is a primary school teacher in Coventry,and mum of two girls.She has been in the band for longer than she cares to remember! (about half her life) She took the solo horn seat for an area contest many years ago (Journey into Freedom) and has remained there ever since. If she could save only one possession from her burning house, Val says it would be her tenor horn. (I guess partner Chris has to leave his trombone to save the children!) Her favourite colour is red and birth sign is Taurus. Val thinks that the best thing about our band is the people who play in it.
First Horn - Sylvia Cooper
Sylvia originally started playing for Wycombe Band and then moved up to the Midlands in 1985 joining Dunchurch Band. After a few years she came to City of Coventry as 2nd Horn player. It was going to be “just temporary” but love blossomed over the music stand and she ended up as another victim of the” brass band romance” and married Stephen Cooper the MD in 1993. Sylvia had several attempts at leaving when she had her two children but always ended up back in the 1st or 2nd Horn chair. She has now given up trying to leave as she does not plan to have any more children.
Second Horn - Diane Bell
After being inspired to start playing again after a long break, Di joined City of Coventry Brass. She had played the tenor horn as a youngster but like many people it stopped being a part of her life once work commitments took hold. However Di’s family encouraged her to take it up again and she now enjoys being a member of the band. Di has found there are many rewards and great experiences to be had as part of the band, including the opportunity to play with great musicians at a wide range of venues , involving great teamwork and of course seeing the audiences appreciate and enjoy the performances.
Second Horn - Lucy Hollings
When Lucy was 8, she went to a Royal Spa Brass rehearsal (her mum and brother were cornet players the time) and wandered into the instrument cupboard where she chose the Bb Tuba to play. She was told it was rather too big for her and was given a tenor horn instead. Lucy joined the junior band and CMS junior brass band. In 2011 & 2012, Lucy won the CCWBF 10 & under slow melody contest , and in October 2012 she joined Cubbington Silver Band on 2 nd horn, where the band went on to win Wychavon contest in 2013. For a greater challenge Lucy joined City of Coventry Brass in June 2014 on 2 nd horn. Lucy also plays 1 st violin in the Warwickshire County Area Orchestra, and enjoys drawing, writing, and computer games!
Solo Baritone -
Baritone - Alex Parker
Alex, known to all as Parky, began playing trumpet at the age of 12 in his home town of Harrow in North London. After playing with local youth music Parky joined the Guildhall School of Music and Drama aged 16 where he played in orchestras and several chamber music groups. He stayed until going to Warwick University to study chemistry. Although sure he was given a cornet to play by his father because his band needed cornet players at the time, he didn’t wake up and really play in brass bands until he arrived at Warwick University where he has spent 5 years in the student band 2 of which on principal cornet. He has also played sop and flugel in various groups and ensembles. In addition to this Parky is a keen conductor currently leading Warwick University wind orchestra, Symphonic Brass, Warwick community band and Warwick Opera. In his “real life”, Parky is doing a PhD in Electro-Chemistry at Warwick University. Parky joined City of Coventry in summer 2012 when he played for the Olympic torch relay and is still with us!
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Solo Euphonium - Rhona Baker
After playing back row cornet for Ipswich Town Band in the 80s, Rhona had a short break of 25 years, returning to playing when her children started on the trombone and bass. She joined City of Cov in 2009, where she likes to sit....on the back row, but they forced her to sit next to Bob on 2nd seat, where she remained for over 3 years. Rhona doesn't like high notes...so in June 2012 she finally got her dream move to Euphonium! Now with renewed enthusiasm for everything musical, she is having a whale of a time learning to huff & puff like the best of them!
Euphonium - Colin Bedding
Colin played solo horn for Coventry Salvation Army for 15 years, during which time he was Young people’s band leader for 3 years. He was lucky enough to tour the USA 3 times, and play in prestigious venues like the Royal Albert Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall. After moving to Nuneaton SA, he became deputy bandmaster, and branched out on tuba. After a break of a few years, Colin returned to playing with a TV recording of Songs of Praise for Jaguar Landrover. Colin joined City of Coventry in 2014, after hearing the band play at the Remembrance service in Coventry in November 2013.
Solo Trombone - Chris Moore
What can we say about Chris.......nothing..........there is nothing to say about Chris!
Chris was taught by the band’s very own Bob Baggott at school and subsequently joined up. Following an absence while he was studying at university, he was spotted back in the area, and returned to the fold. Having met Val (solo horn) Chris has been with the band ever since. As Chris’s talents include accountancy, he doubles as the band's treasurer.
Trombone - Mark Dutton
Bass Trombone - Steve Anker
Steve learnt to play in the Salvation Army on tenor horn achieving the dizzy heights of Grade V (Pass, No Merit, No Distinction). He tried pretty much every instrument in the band, including percussion, in the search for something that suited his technical ability and playing style......
Solo Eb Bass - Alex Baker
Alex was encouraged to join the band when he was 13 in 2009, by his teacher Lesley Howarth. The first contest he ever played in was the National Finals in 2010 - just slightly nerve racking! Joining City of Coventry improved his playing to the extent that he got in to the National Youth Brass Band in 2011. Alex is studying for A levels at Southam College.
Eb Bass - Lesley Wroe
Lesley started playing tenor horn at school and joined Coventry School of Music Band in 1967. She had to wait until 1969 to get into the contest band and that was only because she agreed to move to BBb Bass for one contest! She has played bass with the band ever since with a short maternity break. Since the early 80’s she has been contest secretary of the band.
Bb Bass - Matthew Green
After being rejected by his cello teacher due to his small fingers Matthew headed straight to the brass section and picked up the only instrument left, the trombone. After many years honing his talent he realised it was a shocking instrument to play and he was shockingly average at playing it so he moved to the only instrument left in the band, the Bb bass. He blames this on the conductor at the time and still bears a grudge. After many years playing the bass he's finally worked out what the button type things are good for and now holds the much coveted position of solo Bb bass. If you tell him that this is one stop away from hitting things at the back of the band and therefore it's the lowest of the low he will laugh in your face and declare that you're just jealous of the bass's vast power. By the by he joined the band in 1987 after his teacher told him about it. He still bears a grudge about this as well.
Bb Bass - Maxine Dutton
Maxine started playing at the age of 13. She has been featured in the British Bandsman, as she was the first female Bb bass player in the West Midlands. Maxine has played for Coventry Festival Junior and Senior bands, Bulkington and Dunchurch Bands, but her most cherished years were under Philip Cooper, playing for Rolls Royce Coventry Band. She is an avid card maker, cross stitcher and enjoys caravanning with hubby Mark, who also plays in the band.