Roland Knight - Second Trombone

About Roland: Roland was introduced to brass instruments at Sandfield Primary School, starting off on euphonium at the age of eight; which, he says, was like playing a tuba!. Four years later, he switched to trombone (a much more versatile instrument) after borrowing an instrument from John Avery; a regular guest conductor of the Guildford based WRAC Band. Roland learnt to play the trombone at Bishop Reindorp School under peripatetic teacher Tony Moore; a former session player for ‘The Beatles’! He was a member of the Guildford Youth Brass Band, before joining Cobham Band in 1980; which, at the time, had a very strong trombone section for a Forth Section Band! Guildford Brass Band was formed in 1983 and Roland went along to the second ever rehearsal; shortly afterwards joining the Band on Solo Trombone, playing alongside fellow trombonist and founder member Tony Ford. In the early years, trombone section rehearsals were held at Tony’s home. Roland has played Solo Trombone for most of the Band’s history. He has had the pleasure of seeing the Band move up from the Forth to Championship Section, and of playing at every National Final along the way. One of Roland’s highlights (so far!) was playing at the 1st Section National Final, and his ambition is to play at the Royal Albert Hall. Roland is a former SCABA (Southern Counties Amateur Bands Association) Trombone Solos Champion, and was PRO for the Band during its sponsored years as the Friary Meux (Guildford) Brass Band. He is currently Friary Guildford Brass Band’s Supporters Club Secretary and Editor of the Band’s quarterly newsletter, the ‘Friary Bugle’. Roland is in much demand to deputise for other local brass and concert bands. Amazingly, he manages to find time to play in his own five piece function band called ‘Tuxedo Junction’; which, he says, is a welcome break from Friary’s intensive rehearsals, and a chance for him to let his hair down… what’s left of it! Roland works for Surrey County Council, and manages an office in Leatherhead, providing office work experience and training for adults with learning disabilities. In his spare time (what’s that?) Roland enjoys socialising, cycling, swimming, walking, the occasional long distance run (he’s completed the London Marathon twice!), travelling, reading and cooking.