Joseph Schorah

I first started playing music in Year 4 as part of a wider-ops class group on cornet, which was my first introduction to playing a musical instrument. In Year 6, I discovered the trombone, and my interest in the instrument continued to grow over the years, leading me to where I am today.

At the age of 10, I began playing with the Lostock Hall Memorial Brass Band’s youth band alongside my great-auntie and uncle. I also joined the Lancashire Youth Brass Band, progressing through the sections to become Principal Trombone, a position I held for five years until I left at the age of 18. During my final two years with the music service, I also played with the Lancashire Youth Symphony Orchestra.

In 2017, at the age of 13, I joined the Red Admiral Music Academy, performing in both their youth and main bands. I quickly progressed to 1st Trombone in the main band, a position I held for several years. It was during this time that I was first introduced to brass band contesting, competing in numerous youth and area contests.

I later moved back to Lostock Hall Memorial Band just coming out of covid, where I competed on Principal Trombone in the 3rd Section before progressing with the band into the 2nd Section. I held the Principal Trombone seat until February 2025.

At the age of 18, I joined the Army Reserves as part of the Lancashire Artillery Band, based in Bolton, where I served for just over two years. During my time with the band, I took part in numerous high-profile engagements. This experience ultimately led me to transfer and become a regular musician within the Royal Corps of Army Music (RCAM).

After joining the Army School of Military Music in Portsmouth in July 2025, I took the opportunity to switch from tenor trombone to bass trombone, beginning the next stage of my career as a military musician. This has led me to where I am now, as I prepare to complete my final exam in September, after which I will move on to one of the bands within RCAM.