Lanner & District Band has announced the appointment of Elliott Smith as its new principal cornet.

It is the first major move of the new MD era of Mark Phillips after the player returned to the band that he started his musical journey with aged 7, going on to progress to the senior band in 2016.

Cornwall return

A former principal cornet of the Cornwall Youth Band, Elliott has also played with Camborne. He returned to Cornwall after the completion of his university studies and is looking forward to the new challenge in the principal cornet role.

Elliott is joined by Tracey Slade on solo horn. Tracey has played with various Cornish bands, notably enjoying 23 years at Mount Charles and a further five at St. Austell Band.

Excited

Speaking about the appointments, MD Mark Phillips said: "I'm excited to have Elliott step up to take on such an important seat and also to have such a fine soloist as Tracey to take on the solo horn role."

Lanner will compete in the First Section at the West of England Regional Championships in March in what is their 60th anniversary year.