Hi, my name is Gill!

I played the clarinet and piano as a child through to when I went away to university but then stopped playing for about 10 years other than for carols when I went back home each Christmas.

I then picked up the clarinet again, first playing in the local village barn dance band and then a classical ensemble.

When we moved to NZ in 2002 I joined the Risingholme Orchestra and other orchestras and ensembles. Unfortunately work commitments got in the way so I had to stop playing again.

I’d never thought about playing a brass instrument until my husband George (who plays euphonium in the band) declared that the band could do with some more back row cornets so I should learn to play one!

He bought me a cornet and I started lessons with Tyme Marsters in 2019 and joined SSB. I had my first playout with the band over Christmas 2019.

I always remember thinking as a child that brass instruments looked really cool but must be really difficult to play so never thought I would end up playing one myself – it is really fun and everyone should give it a go!