Woodfalls Band - Percussion


	Percussion: Paul Williams Paul started learning music at Oakmead School in Bournemouth, joining the school band as a cornet. He then moved on to tenor horn before branching out into hitting things. Paul’s first contest on percussion was at the Albert Hall, playing the timpani solo in Gregson's Occasion for the Youth Championships. Paul was taught percussion by former principal percussionist of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Chris Guy and also received instruction from Michael Skinner and the late great James Blades. Paul also studied composition at the Royal Northern College of Music under Anthony Gilbert and also had lessons from Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, John McCabe and once even had a drinking session with John Cage! His music has won him the Royal Northern College of Music's composition prize in 1991, as well as been featured at the Huddersfield Festival, Paul has had performances at the Granada Celebrations Festival, the Expressionist Festival and the New Composers Forum when the English Northern Philharmonic under the baton of Elgar Howarth performed his first symphonic work. Paul's second work for orchestra was broadcast on Radio Three in 1993. As well as bashing things with sticks, Paul has also been known to wave one around on odd occasions and was the principal conductor of the Dorset based student orchestra ‘Gli Amici Della Musica’. Paul joined Woodfalls in 1988 and apart from a little sabbatical whilst he was at college, has played for the band ever since spending some considerable time (and money) building up a collection of drums, whistles, gongs and the plain bizarre that makes Woodfalls' percussion store rival any in the country. Paul works as a freelance music tutor and percussionist around the Bournemouth area and lives with his two frankly odd cats. Percussion: Paul Johnson Paul first started playing drums at age of 11 years after his parents got fed up with him bashing up their saucepans and frying pans so they sent Paul to drum lessons (with Albert Cooper) to get him out and hit things outside the home! After 6 months Paul was encouraged to join 2 brass bands which were Southampton Albion Band and Southampton Youth Brass Band. Paul then joined New Forest Brass in 1985 (formerly Marchwood Brass) where he met Kate who is now his wife. From there, Paul joined Test Valley Brass in 1998 and saw them go from 4th Section through to Championship Section. Then having helped out Woodfalls from October 2004, Paul officially joined them in January 2005. Paul had always been on drum kit until he joined TVB when he ventured onto other aspects of percussion with the help and encouragement from his wife and brother-in-law. Paul’s highlights of banding life have included: playing at RAH for first time in 2000; and playing for the Duke of Edinburgh at Wells Cathedral with a ceilidh band. Paul’s playing has not been limited to brass bands, Paul has also played in a rock covers band for several years in his late teens, and then joined a ceilidh band and played with them every weekend for 8 years or more. In Paul’s home life, he is married to Kate, and enjoys travelling, cycling on both single and tandem bicycles. Paul works as a Bodyshop Manager and is a Specialist in Car Paint Effects for a vehicle repair and customising company (Absolute Vehicle Care) based in Romsey – take a look at www.absolutevehiclecare.com for examples of some of his work. His next project at work is to try some of the specialist paint effects on a drum kit so keep checking the website for the latest progress of this. Percussion: Henry Boler Profile coming soon Percussion: Kate Johnson Kate’s first introduction into brass banding was by following her older brother to Hampshire County Youth Band and help him set up his drums. Kate did not actually play herself at the time but made friends with a baritone player, so wanted to play the same instrument! Kate got known by the band members as ‘Ralph’s sister’ which she didn’t like much. Kate then started baritone lessons and her mum bought her a baritone so she could then join her first brass band -– Michelmersh Silver Band, where she played 2nd baritone. From here Kate moved on to New Forest Brass formerly Marchwood Brass where she still played baritone but after a while the band needed someone to play tuned percussion and as Kate had piano lessons when much younger, Kate moved onto percussion and realised it was more fun to play! It was also whilst playing at this band that she met Paul (now her husband).The next band Kate joined along with Paul was Test Valley Brass. Kate has been playing on and off for Woodfalls for 5 years, but as well as a percussionist Kate is also sorting out the library cataloguing system so if she isn’t playing during rehearsal, Kate is probably either checking music pads or tapping away at a laptop! Her banding highlights include: playing at the RAH twice (in 2000 with TVB when all finals played there and in 2008 with SWT) also being part of the winning band (TVB) for 3 national finals. Outside of band, Kate has been with Paul for 18 years, and works full time as a Personal Assistant to the Projects Director at Roke Manor Research Ltd (part of Siemens) which is an electronic research and development company based just outside Romsey. Kate’s other hobbies include travel, jewellery making, cycling including riding on a tandem bicycle and driving in her sports car!

Percussion: Paul Williams

Paul started learning music at Oakmead School in Bournemouth, joining the school band as a cornet. He then moved on to tenor horn before branching out into hitting things. Paul’s first contest on percussion was at the Albert Hall, playing the timpani solo in Gregson's Occasion for the Youth Championships.

Paul was taught percussion by former principal percussionist of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Chris Guy and also received instruction from Michael Skinner and the late great James Blades. Paul also studied composition at the Royal Northern College of Music under Anthony Gilbert and also had lessons from Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, John McCabe and once even had a drinking session with John Cage!

His music has won him the Royal Northern College of Music's composition prize in 1991, as well as been featured at the Huddersfield Festival, Paul has had performances at the Granada Celebrations Festival, the Expressionist Festival and the New Composers Forum when the English Northern Philharmonic under the baton of Elgar Howarth performed his first symphonic work. Paul's second work for orchestra was broadcast on Radio Three in 1993.

As well as bashing things with sticks, Paul has also been known to wave one around on odd occasions and was the principal conductor of the Dorset based student orchestra ‘Gli Amici Della Musica’.

Paul joined Woodfalls in 1988 and apart from a little sabbatical whilst he was at college, has played for the band ever since spending some considerable time (and money) building up a collection of drums, whistles, gongs and the plain bizarre that makes Woodfalls' percussion store rival any in the country.

Paul works as a freelance music tutor and percussionist around the
Bournemouth area and lives with his two frankly odd cats.

Percussion: Paul Johnson

Paul first started playing drums at age of 11 years after his parents got fed up with him bashing up their saucepans and frying pans so they sent Paul to drum lessons (with Albert Cooper) to get him out and hit things outside the home! After 6 months Paul was encouraged to join 2 brass bands which were Southampton Albion Band and Southampton Youth Brass Band.

Paul then joined New Forest Brass in 1985 (formerly Marchwood Brass) where he met Kate who is now his wife.
From there, Paul joined Test Valley Brass in 1998 and saw them go from 4th Section through to Championship Section. Then having helped out Woodfalls from October 2004, Paul officially joined them in January 2005.

Paul had always been on drum kit until he joined TVB when he ventured onto other aspects of percussion with the help and encouragement from his wife and brother-in-law.
Paul’s highlights of banding life have included: playing at RAH for first time in 2000; and playing for the Duke of Edinburgh at Wells Cathedral with a ceilidh band.

Paul’s playing has not been limited to brass bands, Paul has also played in a rock covers band for several years in his late teens, and then joined a ceilidh band and played with them every weekend for 8 years or more.

In Paul’s home life, he is married to Kate, and enjoys travelling, cycling on both
single and tandem bicycles. Paul works as a Bodyshop Manager and is a Specialist in Car Paint Effects for a vehicle repair and customising company (Absolute Vehicle Care) based in Romsey – take a look at www.absolutevehiclecare.com for examples of some of his work. His next project at work is to try some of the specialist paint effects on a drum kit so keep checking the website for the latest progress of this.

Percussion: Henry Boler

Profile coming soon

Percussion: Kate Johnson

Kate’s first introduction into brass banding was by following her older brother to Hampshire County Youth Band and help him set up his drums. Kate did not actually play herself at the time but made friends with a baritone player, so wanted to play the same instrument! Kate got known by the band members as ‘Ralph’s sister’ which she didn’t like much.

Kate then started baritone lessons and her mum bought her a baritone so she could then join her first brass band -– Michelmersh Silver Band, where she played 2nd baritone.
From here Kate moved on to New Forest Brass formerly Marchwood Brass where she still played baritone but after a while the band needed someone to play tuned percussion and as Kate had piano lessons when much younger, Kate moved onto percussion and realised it was more fun to play! It was also whilst playing at this band that she met Paul (now her husband).The next band Kate joined along with Paul was Test Valley Brass.

Kate has been playing on and off for Woodfalls for 5 years, but as well as a percussionist Kate is also sorting out the library cataloguing system so if she isn’t playing during rehearsal, Kate is probably either checking music pads or tapping away at a laptop!

Her banding highlights include: playing at the RAH twice (in 2000 with TVB when all finals played there and in 2008 with SWT) also being part of the winning band (TVB) for 3 national finals.

Outside of band, Kate has been with Paul for 18 years, and works full time as a Personal Assistant to the Projects Director at Roke Manor Research Ltd (part of Siemens) which is an electronic research and development company based just outside Romsey. Kate’s other hobbies include travel, jewellery making, cycling including riding on a tandem bicycle and driving in her sports car!