Louisa, originally from Yorkshire, began her musical journey playing cornet at age 12 with the Wakefield Metropolitan Youth Band. She continued her passion in Hampshire with the Gosport and Portchester Youth Band and Hampshire County Youth Band. Louisa then pursued a BA with Honours in Band Musicianship at the University of Salford, studying cornet under Nigel Fielding and Brian Taylor, composition with Dr. Peter Graham, and honing her performance and conducting skills with Professor David King and Dr. Roy Newsome.

Her impressive playing career includes stints with Wingates, Leyland, and Fodens, where she achieved multiple contest wins (e.g., British Open, The Masters) and engaged in touring and recording. Louisa also directed the Eagley Band in Bolton for two years and toured with the Young Ambassadors Brass Band of Great Britain.

Postgraduate studies led Louisa to a principal cornet role with Woodfalls, under Dr. Nicholas Childs, and conducting positions with the Portchester Youth Junior Band and Hampshire County Youth Bands. In 2008, she moved to New Zealand, heading music curriculum at Auckland Grammar and band programs at the Dilworth School, playing with Dalewool Auckland Brass.

2009 saw Louisa relocate to Brisbane, teaching for Education Queensland and later leading performance at West Moreton Anglican College. She joined Brisbane Excelsior on flugelhorn, winning the 2013 Australian National Solo Flugel Championship. Louisa also directed Sunnybank Brass and South Brisbane Federal Band, adjudicating at the Queensland State solos and National Band Championships.

Throughout her career, Louisa has played brass in various musicals and joined the Queensland Wind Orchestra on trumpet in 2021. Now in Melbourne, she serves as the Director of Music at St Mary’s College, Windsor.

Footscray Yarraville City Band is delighted to have secured Louisa as our musical director, and look foward to a long lasting and successful partnership.