Mike Smith

Mike started his BBb tuba playing career at school under the watchful eye of peripatetic brass teacher John Berryman in 1984. John introduced Mike to the Kettering Town Band in 1985, conducted by a former tuba player with Munn and Felton, Ray Tucker, and then on to Leicester Foresters Band in 1988, Mike's first experience of Championship Banding.

When John returned to conduct the then Rigid Container Group Band in 1991, Mike soon followed, initially on EEb Bass, enjoying many happy times on both concert and contest platforms. Mike took a break from the band in 2001 and spent four happy years at Kibworth band, a significantly lower drain on his time, but late in 2005 the lure 'home' was too great.

A former principal BBb Bass player with the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain, Mike has played with many of the UK's leading bands including YBS, Fairey and Fodens and looks forward to the Virtuosi GUS Band rekindling past glories and challenging for major honours once again.