Bernard Snell: 2003 - 2010
Bernard’s musical awareness began at the age of 8 when he took interest in the piano and cornet. Bernard was taught by the local bandmaster of the Long Eaton Salvation Army Band.
During the 60's Bernard was a member of the Tottenham Citadel Band (S.A.) under James Williams. (now Enfield.)
During the 70's, Bernard was principal cornet of the ISB.
During the 80's & 90's with Boscombe S.A. Band.
During the 2000's joined Woodfalls.
It has been an honour to participate at the RAH in the National Finals with Woodfalls in 2008. Also it was a surprise and a wonderful experience in Bernard’s 50th year of `senior' banding to be a guest on the front row during 2007/8 with the Black Dyke Band. Bernard’s aspirations are to continue to learn more and play better.
Kevin Darby: 2003 - 2011
Kevin began playing the cornet at the age of 17, joining his
local brass band Copperfield Brass, where he progressed
to the principal cornet seat within 3 years. He joined
Glastonbury Band in 1988 where he was appointed
principal cornet and bandmaster and enjoyed their
successive promotions up to the 1st Section before moving
to Championship outfit Flowers Band. Kevin was principal
cornet of Flowers Band during the mid 1990’s and it was
with them that he first fulfilled his dream of playing principal
cornet at the National Brass Band Championships in the
Royal Albert Hall, an experience he has enjoyed on 5
separate occasions.
After a brief spell on principal cornet with welsh band BTM, Kevin was appointed
Resident Conductor of Yeovil Town Band in 1998. During his time there he also
played principal cornet, helping them to gain promotion from the 1st Section and
cement their status as a Championship Section band.
Kevin was asked to “temporarily” fill the “hot seat” at Woodfalls for the All England
Masters in 2003, but ended up staying for 2 years! After taking up the baton to help
prepare the band for the 2006 area contest, he was asked to re-join the band in
2007 on a more permanent basis.
Kevin writes and arranges music for his own brass group where his wife Catherine
also plays baritone.
During the day he works as an insurance broker, specialising in Commercial
Insurance. Kevin enjoys football and tennis although he admits his playing days
are behind him.
Simon Persin: 2002 - 2011
Simon has been playing with Woodfalls band since 2002, having previously played for numerous different bands throughout the sections. He started playing the cornet at school aged 7 and joined the local brass band, Tadley Concert Brass, up until accepting a place at Exeter University to study History.
While at University, Simon played for Torbay Brass, and Lympstone South West Telecoms Band, as well as guesting with Bodmin, Yeovil and Bournemouth Concert Brass.
On the completion of his History degree from Exeter, Simon moved back to the Basingstoke area and joined Woodfalls Band, of which he is still a member of today.
In his spare time, Simon is an avid follower of Rugby Union and is a season ticket holder for London Irish. He has recently begun to play the trumpet at London Irish home matches so keep an ear out for him on the media coverage. Simon also enjoys playing sports including rugby, squash, swimming and football.
Sarah Persin: 2007 - 2011
Sarah’s musical career began at age 8 when she first picked up a flute. Over the years, she progressed through the County and Regional bands and orchestras and finally to the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Wales, where she held the principal seat for two years. She read music at Cardiff University, studying the flute with Roger Armstrong of Welsh National Opera. She became principal flute of the City of Cardiff Concert Band in her first year at university, and by her third was principal flute of the University Symphony Orchestra.
The change to percussion was made when she got bored at a County Wind Band residential course in 2001 and decided to make her way to the back of the band. Sarah was asked to play for the County Brass Band the same year, and a year or so later, joined the Burry Port Town Band. Her time with Burry Port gave her some of her most memorable banding experiences, including two visits to the Royal Albert Hall. Sarah was also a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales, where she received tuition in tam-tam and cymbal playing (but not the music) from Kevin Nutty of the BBCSO, and participated in their successful tour of Canada in July 2007.
Sarah moved to Hampshire and Woodfalls in 2007 after being dragged away from her native Wales by a certain cornet player! She works for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as Marketing Assistant, and when she isn’t at rehearsal she enjoys archery, yoga and undoing all this fitness work at the pub.
Solo Horn: Trish Chislett
Trish started playing at the age of 5 in the Shepton Mallet Band (her home town), initially on cornet and soprano, before moving to Solo Horn at the age of 8, and even at that young age, won prizes at local solo contests for her playing.
Trish was asked by the Wincanton Silver Band to play Solo Horn with them at the age of 11. Wincanton at that time were 2nd section (1st section equivalent now) and Trish often played solos out with the band, which often qualified for the national finals.
Trish moved to college in Manchester studying Engineering (Product design) and winning national design awards for some of her work. Her final degree thesis was on Brass Instrument Design. During her time in Manchester she played with Sale Concert band and the Glossop Band.
On completion of her PGCE year in Crewe, Trish moved back to Ferndown and taught in Southampton, before marrying Steve Chislett in 1983. Steve was a front row cornet player of Woodfalls Band from 1969 to 1975 and a peripatetic brass teacher in Southampton and is still Chairman of the Wessex Brass Band Association. Steve was playing principal cornet at that time with Wes Garner’s Solent Concert and Trish played front row cornet for a couple of years.
A short spell with Woodfalls followed before family arrived and Trish played Principal Cornet with Verwood Concert Brass for two years, whilst husband Steve was conducting.
Trish continued her thirst for education and completed her LLCM and ALCM in Tenor Horn playing as well as a Masters Degree in Computer Animation and Visualisation at Bournemouth University.
Returning to her love of the Tenor Horn, Trish rejoined Woodfalls on Principal horn, a position that she has held ever since and has performed many solos with the band over the years, with the highlight perhaps, being some faultless performances of the Mendelsohn Concerto to some very appreciative Swiss audiences. She has also been a valuable part of the band’s contesting success.
Trish has a busy private teaching practice with students of brass, piano, keyboard and theory from young to old and up to Diploma level and is a technical Clinician on brass performance problems and also has a professional Stress Management qualification.
Trish continues with her interest in product design and has recently designed some special mutes for Woodfalls Band, which she is hoping will eventually move to a global marketplace.