Barker takes end chair at Flowers
The Flowers Band is thrilled to officially announce the appointment of Luke Barker as our Principal Cornet. Luke has been a member for the band since May 2019, when he joined on 4th Solo Cornet at the age of 16. Since then he has hugely impressed the band with both his playing and his commitment. Over the past 3 years, Luke moved up the ranks of the front row cornets, taking the Assistant Principal Cornet chair in early 2020. Luke now assumes the Principal Cornet chair and is the youngest person to do so in the history of the band at the age of 20.
Alongside being a member of Flowers, Luke was a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain Organisation for several years, becoming Principal Cornet of both the National Children’s Band and the National Youth Band. He has also won numerous solo awards including The Geneva Heritage Cornet Competition, The Salford International Online Solo Contest, and he was recently awarded the Best Cornet prize at The Bugle Contest.
Luke will make his contesting debut in the chair at the upcoming British Open Championships. Speaking of the appointment, conductor Paul Holland said, “I'm thrilled Luke will finally step into the Principal Cornet seat. We have worked closely with Luke over the past three years nurturing him for this role which began as 4th man. Luke has been patient, hard working and has shared our long term plan. I will be delighted to share the stage with him on the end at the Open.”
Unfortunately for the band Luke is also currently a double language student and starts his 3rd year of his degree this September. This means that Luke has to move abroad for several months for intensive study, something he does in the week following the British Open. During this period, Flowers Band looks forward to working with exciting first-class Guest Principal Cornets who will cover the seat until Luke returns to fully occupy it next summer.
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