Tony Emery
Trombone Player / Band leader
Tony started playing the Trombone at the age of 12 and Joined the Royal Marines Band at the age of 17. Having left the Royal Marines, Tony then played professionally spending the summers seasons playing at Butlins & the winter seasons playing at the Bristol Hippodrome or as a musician on caribbean cruises. He has worked with many famous acts over the years. His claim to fame is that he once turned down the chance to play with Dexys Midnight Runners. Tony Formed the Bristol Pops Orchestra with the aim of only playing the best of music from the 60s to date..
Ben Preston
Drums
Ben began playing with a Trad Jazz band for a while and got some much need gigging experience. From there he joined Bristol Pops Orchestra which has rovided a great opportunity to bed down some basics of rock, pop and funk drumming.
Meet The Band
TONY EMERY
Trombone Player / Band leader
Tony started playing the Trombone at the age of 12 and Joined the Royal Marines Band at the age of 17. Having left the Royal Marines, Tony then played professionally spending the summers seasons playing at Butlins & the winter seasons playing at the Bristol Hippodrome or as a musician on caribbean cruises. He has worked with many famous acts over the years. His claim to fame is that he once turned down the chance to play with Dexys Midnight Runners. Tony Formed the Bristol Pops Orchestra with the aim of only playing the best of music from the 60s to date..
ROB CHIVERS
Lead Guitar
Rob plays Lead guitar for us, & has been playing for the past 30 years. "I have barely put the guitar down since I started" says Rob.. He has been in various bands in the U.K, Egypt
and Argentina playing a mix of covers and originals. Rob is also an accomplished songwriter. Despite all his experience over the last 30 years, playing guitar for the Bristol Pops Orchestra is still the best experience & most exciting band he has ever played with..Thanks Rob!
ANYA SZRETER
Piano/Keyboards
Anya studied piano to diploma level, has an Oxford University degree in music, and trained as an opera singer. She also trained as a Music teacher and has taught music and singing from Reception up to A level. After moving to Bristol in 2018, she started up a community choir The Nightingale Valley Choir and has since started two more choirs, Arnos Vocale and The Redcliffe Singers. After a career as a classical musician, Anya decided it was time to indulge her lifelong passion for all things rock, pop, soul, blues and Motown so she joined the Bristol Pops Orchestra in 2018
FREYA SZRETER
Vocals
Freya joined Bristol Pops Orchestra in 2021 after moving from London to study Animation. She was briefly the singer/songwriter for Bristol-based indie band Rhino Barfight (2018-2019) and the same for London-Based synth duo Rocket City Blues (2016-2018). Freya was also the graphic designer for both bands' logos and album art. Freya gives a 110% performance every time with BPO
LYNETTE TABERNER
Alto Saxophone
Lynette began classical guitar at 11 and clarinet at 15, studying both at Chichester university, along with her music degree. Since 2003 she has worked as a peripatetic teacher of both instruments around South Glos schools. Lynette enjoys harmony singing, having been a member of Free Range Acapella, and more recently Arnos Vocale. Lynette opted for a change from the classical world and joined Bristol Pops Orchestra on alto sax. It's been amazing fun, especially having her daughter Imogen join on vocals!
IMOGEN DOWNES
Vocals
Imogen is a Bristol based singer, writer and theatre-maker who has been playing and performing music from a young age. At the age 4 years old she began playing classical guitar, and as a teenager moved into performing acoustic covers with various groups and bands. As an adult she has combined her passions of music and theatre, performing in venues such as Bristol Old Vic, Tobacco Factory Theatres, The Wardrobe Theatre and more. She joined The Bristol Pops Orchestra in 2020 and is loving the experience of making music with a full Orchestra
MIKE PICK
Drums
Mike has played over 2250 + live gigs with Rock Bands, Pop, Jazz, 80's Tribute,Funk ,Ska and Big bands and is regarded as a tight drummer (he will pay his round though if prompted !) .Mike loves being in the engine room to drive the band along and in addition to a solid groove loves to add those important percussive effects to replicate the original hits we all love to hear. He can count to four.
STU BALDWIN
Bass Guitar
Stu started playing bass at the age of 14 in the midst of 80s pop and wearing the bass as high as possible. Since playing in various function bands over the years, including stints on cruise ships and holiday camps, the dream of being the next Mark King is still there though and the bass has been appropriately lowered, and his love of all things pop n disco has continued.
The Bristol Pops Orchestra offers the eclectic mix of music he craves with fantastic musicians. In his own mind he sees himself as a real triple threat, however he now realises he’d better leave his singing and dancing to others and concentrate on holding down the low end.