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 David started playing the tuba at school and quickly improved with eager enthusiasm. He gained a scholarship to the junior department of the famous Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where he was taught by Graham Sibley. It was during these Guildhall days that David enjoyed his first experience of Brass Bands. Eventually, he also joined his local contesting brass band, Castle Point, which gave him vital experience and allowed him to be accepted into the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britian. Since then, David has played for many other bands in the region including Northfleet Brass, the Tilbury Band, the Clacton on Sea Co-Operative band and the Aveley and Newham Band. He feels priviledged to have performed at such prestigous events such as the British Open, the National Finals and the International Masters as well as in fabulous locations such as the Royal Albert Hall in London and the Symphony Hall in Birmingham. One of the many highlights to his playing career was being part of the Aveley and Newham team that won the coveted Grand Shield contest in 2006. Together with Andrea Lewis, David set up what was then known as the Tilbury Learners Ensemble in 1999 and has continued to teach and conduct the band since.
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 Andrea Lewis was born into a family well known in the “South east banding world”, her father and uncle both being prominently involved with bands in the area. It was no surprise then that at the young age of 7, she picked up a tenor horn and started to play herself. In the following years, Andrea “tested” herself on different brass band instruments including the Eb Bass and Cornet until she finally found her niche on the Flugel Horn at the age of 10. For a period of nearly 20 years after this, Andrea performed throughout the country with the Castle Point Brass Band playing at many prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall. In 1997, Andrea moved to the Northfleet Band and then in 1999 joined the Tilbury Band where she has remained since. Andrea is currently Secretary of the Tilbury Band and co-founder and tutor of the Tilbury Brass Academy.
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 Ben started playing Trombone at the age of 9 having previously been a Tenor horn player. Soon after starting, Ben was offered a place in the National Childrens Orchestra of Great Britain where he remained for 4 years and for 2 years as Principal.
At the age of 14, Ben accepted a place at Wells Cathedral School, a specialist Music School in somerset where he received tuition from Alan Hutt. During his 4 years at wells, Ben also received lessons and masterclasses from a range of internationally renound soloists and players including Ian Bousfield, Dudley Bright, John Miller and Ronald Barron.
After completing his A-levels, Ben then studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Dudley Bright, Ian Bousfield, Denis Wick and James Watson. This is where he gained a Batchelors degree in Music Performance and a LRAM Diploma in Brass Teaching.
Wishing to focus more on his teaching skills, Ben then studied for a PGCE postgraduate teaching degree at the University of Greenwich.
As a player, Ben has performed with some of the UK's leading Orchestras and currently plays Trombone with the Aveley & Newham Brass Band.
Ben started teaching at the Tilbury Brass Academy in 2008.
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