Cornets
Principal Cornet – Chris Bradley
Chris Bradley began playing trumpet at the age of 12 with Jimmy Hillis.
He joined Clydebank Burgh Band on 3rd cornet and soon got the bug for banding. Chris studied trumpet at the RSAMD from 1981 until 1984 and joined Whitburn Band on Flugel Horn in 1984. During his studies he won the prestigious Governor’s Recital Prize for Brass and was featured as a soloist with National Youth Orchestra of Scotland in 1984, playing the Arutunian Trumpet Concerto.
Chris completed his studies with a postgraduate year at Goldsmith’s College, obtaining a high merit diploma in Orchestral Studies.
Chris entered the music profession in 1985 playing with Scotland’s orchestras, however despite his heavy schedule, he never broke his ties with Whitburn. He has since played on every seat in the cornet section. Chris has won the prestigious Terris Medal for the best cornet player at the Scottish Championships in 2008, 2010 and 2011.
Chris currently teaches brass in South Lanarkshire schools and enjoys conducting various bands throughout the country.
Soprano Cornet – Scott Forrest
Solo Cornet – Mel Clarke
Mel started playing with Livingston Brass under the baton of Jim McCafferty, starting in the junior band and then on to the senior band.
For most of her time with Livingston, she played principal cornet and enjoyed lots of success with the band through the sections up to championship status.
She also played with the West Lothian schools brass band and enjoyed winning Scottish and national titles with them.
Since joining Whitburn, Mel has mostly played on the front row and enjoyed bring part of the band’s many fine performances over the years.
Repiano Cornet – Chic Cullen
Charles joined Whitburn Band in 1986 having played previously with Newmains Band.
He is a former principal cornet with Whitburn, having held that position for ten years under Major Peter Parkes and Phillip McCann. He has won several Scottish Championships with the band and has too many second places to mention.
Chic is a former Scottish Solo Champion, and has ‘guested’ with many leading bands including Black Dyke Mills.
Third Cornet – Richard Tobin
Second Cornet – Jennifer Liddell
Jennifer started playing cornet at the age of 9 at primary school under the tuition of Mary Downs.
She joined West Lothian Schools Brass Band in 2002 and is proud to have been involved in four of its British Youth Brass Band Championship wins. She joined Broxburn Silver Band in 2005 before moving to Whitburn in 2006. Jennifer is a former member of the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland.
Scott began playing cornet with St. Ronan’s Band in 2001 before joining Whitburn in 2004.
During his time with Whitburn he has performed on Bb Cornet and Soprano Cornet, where he has contributed to many fine performances. He has also performed with the European Youth Brass Band and the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland, where he was awarded the Best Student Award in 2005 and served as Principal Soprano for several years, including the band’s landmark tour of Japan.
He was the Whitburn Band Player of the Year in 2006.
Assistant Principal Cornet – Lloyd Griffin
Lloyd started playing cornet aged five and joined Loanhead Brass Roots at the tender age of seven.
Lloyd moved to Flugel Horn for a few years but soon returned to playing cornet. He joined the MacTaggart Scott Senior Band in 2005, progressing through the ranks to eventually gain the Principal Cornet seat in 2008.
During the latter part of primary school and throughout secondary school, Lloyd was tutored by Midlothian Schools Brass Instructor John Dickson. Lloyd has many memories in the principal cornet seat, including Best Instrumentalist at the Fife Charities contest and playing at the National Finals in Cheltenham in 2011. Lloyd moved to Newtongrange Silver Band at the start of 2012 and in April of that year he was invited to play with Whitburn Band.
Lloyd also plays front row cornet with the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland, which often involves playing around Scotland at events in Glasgow, Perth, St Andrews and Aberdeen. Lloyd was also Principal Cornet with the Midlothian Schools Brass Band and Principal Trumpet with the Midlothian Schools Orchestra and Jazz Bands.
Over the years Lloyd has won numerous awards. He held the East of Scotland under 16s title for three years, and achieved 2nd at the Scottish Brass Band Association under 21 solo finals this year.
Lloyd is now the fourth generation in his family to be involved with brass banding. In 1897, Lloyd’s uncles played with the local brass band of Polton Mills near Lasswade in Midlothian. Lloyd’s late grandfather Syd Griffin, Dad Christopher and wee brother Leighton, along with other family are also involved in brass banding.
Second Cornet – Colin Gallacher
Third Cornet – Liam Orr