Ben Smith
Position: Solo Euphonium
Growing up in Northamptonshire, Ben started off his banding with his parents at the Harborough Band on percussion. Ben spent 2 years at Harborough as the only percussionist before moving on to Foresters Brass. He then joined The GUS Band at the age of 15. Once deciding to prioritise the Euphonium over percussion, Ben returned to Foresters Brass on Solo Euphonium, before a short spell (thanks to covid) at the world famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band under the direction of Dr David Thornton. Ben decided to return to a solo seat with the Hepworth Band, where he enjoyed many prestigious concerts and contests as a soloist, including the National Brass Band Championships at the Royal Albert Hall. After returning home to the midlands, Ben enjoyed a spell with the Enderby Band under the direction of Stephen Phillips and Gareth Brindle.
After graduating with a First-Class Honours Degree in Music and Performance, Ben became the proud Musical Director of the Harborough Band, where he started his banding career, and is enjoying the world of conducting.
Tracy Brown
Position: 2nd Euphonium
Tracy started on tenor horn with Leighton Buzzard Salvation Army aged 7 and studied music at Kingston University. She joined the British Army (Royal Artillery Band) and changed to Euphonium, also learning the violin and harp to play with their orchestra. Whilst in the Army, Tracy completed her Masters degree in music performance at Goldsmiths College, University of London, and then decided to pursue a career outside of music, joining brass bands to continue with music as her hobby. She spent some years playing with Aveley & Newham and Northfleet Brass before joining Milton Keynes Brass when she moved here in 2015.
Shaun Pope
Position: Solo Baritone
Shaun started playing the baritone at the age of 10 with the resurrected Manea Silver Band in Cambridgeshire and soon Shaun switched to the euphonium playing on the end seat, as well as becoming a member of the Fenland Concert Band, enjoying trips to Germany and France along the way. Following a brief spell of conducting Manea, Shaun joined Littleport Brass in 1994 on 2nd euphonium when they were in the 4th Section and enjoyed a number of contest successes as the band rose to the 1st section in 2013. He had spells of moving between 2nd euphonium and 1st baritone, finally settling on baritone in 2018. A move from Cambridgeshire to Leighton Buzzard in March 2020, meant he stopped playing but when given an ultimatum by his now wife, of either finding a local band to join or selling his baritone, Shaun joined Bradwell Silver Band on 1st baritone during the summer of 2021. He is incredibly grateful to Bradwell for helping to get his banding mojo back!! In January 2023 Shaun moved to MK Brass.
Christine Smith
Position: 2nd Baritone
Christine began playing Eb bass in a school band at age 12. When she left school she joined Woburn Sands Band and played with them for 5 years, initially on Eb bass, but then moving to baritone. After a break from playing of about 3 years, she was offered the position of euphonium with Bletchley Band (now Secklow Brass). Over time she moved to baritone and then tenor horn. Whilst playing tenor horn she also joined the horn section at Broseley Brass, and enjoyed being part of their contesting journey towards the Championship Section. She left Broseley Brass in early 2008 (just before their renaming to Milton Keynes Brass). She was pleased to be able to join MK Brass in May 2023.