"The finest brass band in London & the Southern Counties"
in association with
(Registered Charity no. 1137290)
Euphoniums/Baritones
Solo Euphonium
Chris Straker
Having previously played cornet with North East Hants Area Schools Band (NEHASB) and the Hampshire County Youth Band, Chris originally joined Friary on baritone in 2004 for a year before leaving to study music at Cardiff University. Whilst in Wales Chris was tutored by David Childs and played with the BTM Band and Cory Band on baritone enjoying contest successes at Brass in Concert, British Open, European Championships and World Championships. Following a move back to the South of England Chris returned to Friary on solo euphonium in 2010.
Chris’s day job is in finance for a manufacturing company and his memorable banding moments include duetting with brother Richard in Titan’s Progress on the Albert Hall stage at the 2019 National Finals, a joint concert with current and former bands Friary and Cory in 2016 and completing a hat-trick of European Championship titles.
2nd Euphonium
Sam Noden
Sam's banding career that started at the age of seven and includes time at the Royal Northern College of Music, Dobcross, VBS Poynton and Regent, Sam's first experience with Friary was as a dep to cover Covid-struck Mike Trumble at the Grand Shield and has since joined the Band.
Joining the RAF as a musician during the pandemic, Sam has already been involved in a number of high-profile events including HRH The Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral and most recently, the Platinum Jubilee Pageant Parade.
1st Baritone
VACANT
2nd Baritone
Stephen Thorpe
Stephen first picked up a brass instrument at the age of 8 before swiftly being moved from cornet to baritone to fit the needs of the local village training band in Chinnor. He stayed with Chinnor Silver Band up until the age of 18 when he flew the nest for university.
Four brass band-less years went by with Stephen returning home to rekindle brass banding with Chinnor on 1st Baritone for a short period, before work commitments then moved him to Guildford where he took up the 2nd Baritone seat with Friary in September 2012.
His banding highlights include the band’s first appearance at the Royal Albert Hall in 2013 playing 'Of Distant Memories', and qualifying for the National Finals off the number 1 draw with 'St Magnus' at the London and Southern Counties Areas in 2014.
Aided by his love for Norwich City FC, Stephen has an unnatural obsession with the colour yellow and, as tradition dictates, he is never too far away from a packet of Haribo and a Friary banana before entering a contest stage!
2nd Euphonium
Mike Trumble
Mike started playing violin at school in Bolton in the 1960s but when the school bandmaster (with whom you didn’t argue) gave him an Eb bass to take home for the summer holidays with the words “learn it by the beginning of term” he knew his musical career had taken a dramatic turn. He played on three courses with the National Youth Brass Band before starting a music degree at King’s, London and being a founder member of, and solo baritone, with the City of London Band under Geoffrey Brand and later Edward Gregson.
Inevitably family and work commitments meant banding had to take a back seat for a while (actually thirty years) but Mike was delighted in 2012 to be accepted as principal spare Euph by Friary and his life has never been busier or musically more fulfilling.
In his spare time Mike is an accountant. Aren’t all Euph players?