Below is more information on the band's cornet players.
Principal Cornet - Claire Bourne
Claire Bourne has been associated with RAF St Athan Voluntary Band since 1991 and took over the Principal Cornet position in May 2008. Previously Cl aire has played in other seats in the band including Flugel Horn and Soprano Cornet. Claire is Head of Music at Willows High School, Cardiff.
Claire grew up in Pembrokeshire and began playing aged 12 because her little brother started playing in the local youth band. Even though her dream instrument was cornet, she was given a tenor horn out of the stock room and a career was born. Finally making the switch to cornet aged 14, Claire played with Pembroke Borough Silver Band whilst at school and was promoted to Principal Cornet at the age of 16. Claire has played with the National Youth Brass Band of Wales on Cornet and Flugel Horn. Claire has also played with Gwaun Cae Gurwen Band and with Tredegar Town Band. Claire studied music at Huddersfield University having lessons from Phillip McCann and played with the Lockwood Band in Huddersfield.
Claire's most embarrassing moment was when she forgot her soprano cornet on the day of a contest and had to get a friend to go to her house find the key for her car which was locked in the garage so it could be driven to Treorchy in time for the end of the rehearsal! Its just as well there are no speed cameras on that road!
A St Athan village resident, Claire lives with husband Alan and young son Oliver, a future player (?) she enjoys participating in the pub quiz and does an occasional turn at Karaoke.
Assistant Principal - Carly Griffith
Carly .jpg) Griffith joined the band whilst studying at Cardiff University for a joint honours degree in Maths and Music. She grew up in North Wales and played for Llanrug Band from the age of 11. Carly’s first language is Welsh and she is a great asset to the band especially for the live TV interviews at the Eisteddfod. She took up playing at school after an unsuccessful attempt at trying to produce a note on the flute she was sent next door to the trumpet teacher where she quite clearly got her buzz!
Carly’s favourite type of band engagements are contests although she certainly celebrated her birthday in some style last year for a whole weekend away with the band on tour to Scotland! A restaurant booking for 50 people with an all you can eat Chinese Buffet and entertainment provided by the helium singers for free! Her most embarrassing musical mishap was when playing for her County Band a whispered pianissimo chord came to an abrupt end when her mute fell out and bounced across the stage!
Solo Cornets
David Powell
 David joined the band in time to play at the Royal National Eisteddfod in Bala in 2009 and has quickly immersed himself into the team. He lives in Llanmaes with his wife and came along with his daughter who plays on a Tuesday night in the Youth Band. David took up playing at the age of 11 whilst at school and also played with the British Steel Band in the 1970s and Sandhurst Silver Band in the 90s. Although David is a grade 8 trumpet player, he also plays keyboards and guitar, his signs of a misspent youth in a pop band now include having to wear acoustic earplugs to reduce tinnitus, that's a relief to the rest of the front row who thought they were just playing too loud!
David works as Energy Manager for the Vale of Glamorgan Council and his hobbies include maintaining his father's wind turbine and growing trees proving he's true to his ideals on the environment.
David's most embarrassing musical moment was when tuning up the band in Sandhurst, he asked the first player by name to play the obligatory C, then prompting realised he couldn't remember everyone esle's name, so from that point on it was "next"! The highlight of David's time at the band so far has been the trip to Bala as David was able to take his family and also playing to a packed house at St David's Hall. David is particularly pleased with the cornet that he has been given to play, he says his Besson Prestige cornet "is a joy to play".
Wyn Howells
To follow
 | 
