Jonathon Hammond - Soprano Cornet

About Jonathon: Jonathon started playing the cornet at the age of 12 with the Royal British Legion (Plymouth) Band. Inspired by his father Keith and older brother Tim, (both cornet players), Jonathon rapidly progressed to Principal Cornet where he stayed for 4 years under the tuition of Evan Howells and Terry Nielsen. In 1992 Jonathon auditioned for the Band of The Grenadier Guards and upon his success he joined the British Army as a Musician. Jonathon was then posted to The Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall and whilst there he joined the Staines Brass Band as Assistant Principal Cornet. In 1994 Jonathon was posted to Colchester to join his brother Tim in the 1st Battalion Band of The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment soon to be renamed as The Minden Band of The Queens Division. Jonathon then joined The Ipswich Co-Op Band as the new Soprano Cornetist where he immediately found his niche. Jonathon’s reputation as a Soprano Cornet Player grew quickly and in 1998 he auditioned with the Rothwell Temperance Band in Leeds where he was appointed as their Soprano Cornet Player. Featured regularly as a soloist, Jonathon gained a fine reputation that earned many invitations to appear with some of the finest Brass Bands in the World including JJB Leyland Band, Brighouse and Rastrick Band and Grimethorpe Colliery Band. In 2002 Jonathon joined The Travelsphere Holidays Band (GUS) and was also appointed as Musical Director of The Littleport Brass Band based in Cambridgeshire, a successful three year stint that took the band to many contests finishing in the prizes on all but one occasion and qualifying to represent the London and Southern Counties in the National Brass Band Finals 2004. In September 2004 Joined The Redbridge Brass Band on Soprano Cornet and in May 2006 was posted to London and The Band of The Welsh Guards where he is Principle Cornet and has since had the opportunity to perform on stage with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The London Philharmonic and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Jonathon has also backed artists including Tony Christie, Elton John, Bob Geldof, Jules Holland, Leslie Garret and Katherine Jenkins. To date Jonathon has toured the world extensively to countries including, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Monaco, Finland, Denmark, Norway, USA, Canada, Hong Kong, South America, Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Pakistan, Japan, Ireland and even The Falkland Islands. Jonathon is pleased to be working with the Friary Guildford Band as their Soprano cornet Player. Jonathon now lives in North London with his wife Nicola and son Henry.