Woodfalls Band - Former Players


	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. Peter Pring: 2009 - 2011 Peter is a graduate of Birmingham Conservatoire, where he studied trumpet with Andy Stone-Fewings [Royal Shakespeare Company]. Peter began playing the trumpet when he was at junior school having regular lessons with his father Alan Pring until reaching Grade 8 in July 2000 at the age of 14. After leaving school Peter spent 3 years at Southdownes College where he received lessons from Malcolm Weale while taking a BTEC in Advanced Musical Studies, along with two A levels. An able orchestral and ensemble player, as well as a soloist, Peter was previously principal trumpet of the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra and has played in pit orchestras for many productions. Peter was first trumpet in Stage Brass for three years, a Brass quintet formed with other students at Birmingham Conservatoire. In 2009 he recorded Victor Ewald's 3rd Symphony for Brass with the Al Fresco Brass Quintet. Peter has also performed as soloist at the Adrian Boult Hall in Birmingham with the Birmingham Conservatoire Percussion Ensemble. His performance included a specially commissioned work for trumpet & percussion. Peter first played in a brass band when he joined the band at the Birmingham Conservatoire. He was encouraged to go along to a rehearsal for a blow but ended up playing solo cornet with the band for 2 years. Having enjoyed playing for the college band so much, Peter accepted the offer to play for the (championship section) Staffordshire Band in July 2009 with whom he competed at the midland areas and the senior cup for the British Open brass band championships. After Graduation from the Conservatoire with a Bmus Hon., Peter moved back to his hometown of Portsmouth and was keen to join another band. The opportunity to play for the highly successful Woodfalls Band was something he couldn’t afford to miss. Besides music Peter is a keen cyclist. He also enjoys sailing and other sports including squash, badminton and anything else competitive.

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.

Peter Pring: 2009 - 2011

Peter is a graduate of Birmingham Conservatoire, where he studied trumpet with Andy Stone-Fewings [Royal Shakespeare Company].
Peter began playing the trumpet when he was at junior school having regular lessons with his father Alan Pring until reaching Grade 8 in July 2000 at the age of 14.

After leaving school Peter spent 3 years at Southdownes College where he received lessons from Malcolm Weale while taking a BTEC in Advanced Musical Studies, along with two A levels. An able orchestral and ensemble player, as well as a soloist, Peter was previously principal trumpet of the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra and has played in pit orchestras for many productions. Peter was first trumpet in Stage Brass for three years, a Brass quintet formed with other students at Birmingham Conservatoire. In 2009 he recorded Victor Ewald's 3rd Symphony for Brass with the Al Fresco Brass Quintet. Peter has also performed as soloist at the Adrian Boult Hall in Birmingham with the Birmingham Conservatoire Percussion Ensemble. His performance included a specially commissioned work for trumpet & percussion.

Peter first played in a brass band when he joined the band at the Birmingham Conservatoire. He was encouraged to go along to a rehearsal for a blow but ended up playing solo cornet with the band for 2 years.

Having enjoyed playing for the college band so much, Peter accepted the offer to play for the (championship section) Staffordshire Band in July 2009 with whom he competed at the midland areas and the senior cup for the British Open brass band championships.
After Graduation from the Conservatoire with a Bmus Hon., Peter moved back to his hometown of Portsmouth and was keen to join another band. The opportunity to play for the highly successful Woodfalls Band was something he couldn’t afford to miss.

Besides music Peter is a keen cyclist. He also enjoys sailing and other sports including squash, badminton and anything else competitive.