Andy Grace - Flugelhorn

Andy has been playing since the age of six, so you can say he has been a brass-bander for many years. He initially started playing with a proper brass band with Tayport Instrumental Band during 1988 as a 2nd cornet player and moved his way up through the cornet section to become Principal Cornet for the area contest in 1996. During this time, the band had progressed from the 3rd Section to the Championship.

Andy also played with the National Youth Brass Band of Scotland on Cornet from 1990 to 1995, where he achieved the position of Assistant Principal Cornet.

By this time, Andy had met his future wife Andrea at the Dundee University Jazz Band. On graduating in 1996, they both moved down to live in East Yorkshire and within days of arriving in Beverley, his (soon to be) father-in-law Malcolm had invited him along to Andrea's old band, Driffield Silver Band. In addition, Andy and Andrea both joined East Yorkshire Brass the Driffield-based contesting band.

Following the National Finals in Cardiff 1996, Andy and Andrea both transferred to The Cottingham Band, where Andy played Flugel, and Andrea played repiano cornet. Whilst both playing with Cottingham, the band progressed from 2nd Section to Championship. In April 2005 following the birth of their son Alex, Andy left Cottingham Band and took a few years out of playing.

Andy started playing again when Vince Turton invited him up to Simply Brass in October 2008 & he say's he has enjoyed it ever since.

Previous Bands:

Dundee Schools Junior Brass Band          1984 - 1986

Dundee Schools Senior Brass Band         1996 - 1992

Tayport Instrumental Band                    1988 - 1996

East Yorkshire Brass                             1996

The Cottingham Band                           1996 - 2005

Simply Brass                                       2008 - Present