Here is part two of our welcome to the new players!
First the band would like to welcome Matthew Foakes to the Bb Bass seat. Matthew is originally from Reading. His brass banding career began aged eight, where he started playing the cornet. After spending some time on euphonium, he settled on the tuba and played for the Berkshire Youth Brass Band whilst living at home. He moved to Birmingham to study German and Russian and he played in the university brass band. He returned to Reading and played in a 4th section band called Pangbourne Silver Band. Now living in London, Matthew works in publishing and really looks forward to his role in the band.
Next, we congratulate Andy Sladen for his brave move from the front row cornet section to the soprano cornet. After Andy unexpectedly came home from school aged eight declaring he was now learning to play the cornet, his Mum and Dad sent him to the local band, Royston, where he started his brass banding career. After spells of playing principal cornet in Hertfordshire County Youth Band and with the City of Oxford Band, he joined Fulham for the first time in 2005, when he moved to London. A career sojourn to Birmingham took him away to a happy five year spell with the Langley Band in Black Country, but on returning to London in 2015, he rejoined his brass band home at Fulham and now sits in the sop chair!
Finally, Fulham welcomes Adam Funnel to a new seat. Adam is a PhD student at UCL, currently halfway through his degree in Electrical Engineering. Adam has a range of musical experience, particularly in concert bands and musical theatre. Despite playing the euphonium and trombone for over ten years, Fulham has provided his first taste of high quality banding since joining on euphonium in 2015. Having really enjoyed his time with Fulham so far, he has moved to the 2nd Trombone seat and is a great addition to the section!
Fulham wishes all of our players in their new seats the best of luck and thanks them for their commitment to the band.