"One hundred years of musical excellence"

Toby was born in 1972 and was brought up in Gosforth Cumbria. He started to play the Tuba aged 15 while at Wyndham Comprehensive School, under the guidance of his teacher Simon Yeo. He was soon in demand playing in local groups Orchestras and his first band The Flimby Saxhorn Silver Band. In 1991 he entered the Royal Northern College of Music. Successfully studying for a Professional Performance Diploma (PP) Under the Guidance of Stuart Roebuck, Brian Kingsley and Andrew Duncan. While at College among other achievements he was proud to perform the Edward Gregson Tuba Concerto and Toured Japan in 1995 with the Wind Orchestra.

While at college he started to play for local bands including Wingates, British Telecom and Swinton but in 1993 he was asked by Howard Snell to join the then Britannia Building Society Band (now Fodens) and he stayed there until 2005 making over 30 commercial CDs, playing all over the world and winning all major titles including the National Championships at the Royal Albert Hall in 1999 and the British Open in 2004.

Toby has been involved in education work since early on in his banding career, he is still regularly evolved in outreach work with Fodens and was a founding tutor of the Armagh old boys Brass Band Summer School which is now entering its 6th year. He has also had spells conducting the Ellenbrook and Boothstown Brass Band the Besses Boys Training Band and the Bolton Schools Intermediate Brass Band.

He Presently works for the Bolton Music Service as a Brass Teacher and is assistant musical director of the Astley Youth Brass Band. When he’s not busy with Musical activity he likes to spend his spare time starting (but never finishing) D.I.Y projects and supporting Manchester City football club (for his sins!!)