Tom was born in 1988 in Stoke-on-Trent and started to learn Cornet at Primary School before joining Lions Youth Brass at the age of just nine. He successfully auditioned for the Lions Youth Band in 2002 after taking up lessons with Andrew Welsh, former Principal Cornet with the BT Band.
The following year Tom was invited to join the Roberts Bakery Band by Musical Director Colin Cranson, former Principal Euphonium with the Foden Motor Works Band, who has become a real inspiration to him. Tom has now contributed to two successful recordings with the band and has represented Great Britain at a leading European festival on no less than six occasions.
Tom remained with Lions, and was appointed Principal Cornet of the band under Nigel Birch in 2006. The move was an instant success, as he led the band to 2nd Place at the Tameside Youth Festival just a month after the appointment. Tom would hold the position for two years when he became too old to compete at youth level, after completing a landmark tour to Spain in July 2008.
After his Lions playing 'retirement', Tom was delighted to be asked to become a Musical Director within the organisation. He now takes an active role assisting Ian Raisbeck with the direction of the Lions Junior Brass; conducting the band in concert on occasion.
In 2006, along with four friends who all progressed through Lions, Tom founded the brass quintet Delta Brass Cheshire. Having developed a reputation for high-quality music making, Delta Brass are still going strong and have many exciting projects lined up for the future. Tom is frequently featured as a soloist, most recently performing the Johnny Mathis classic Misty and Mario Lanza's Because.
Tom has recently acquired his first brass pupil in talented young cornet player Wilson Taylor. After just three months' work, Wilson gave a superb performance of The Sunshine of your Smile made him the clear winner of the 13 & 14 Years' Section at the Lions Slow Melody Contest in October 2009. If you are interested in taking up private lessons, Tom would be happy to hear from you (email: tom.hancock@robertsbakeryband.co.uk)
Tom has worked with some of the biggest names in brass banding including Richard Evans, Dr. Nicholas Childs and Russell Gray. He has been fortunate enough to record a CD with the world famous Foden's Richardson Band and is proud to perform at Championship Section level with the Roberts Bakery Band.
Tom has recently completed a BA (Hons) degree in Modern and International History at Staffordshire University and hopes to expand his dissertation on The Changing Nature of the British Brass Band and Brass Band Culture during an MA in Modern British History at the University of Manchester, due to be completed in 2010.