Major Andy Thornhill MMus MA LRAM Royal Marines

Major Andy Thornhill joined the Royal Marines Band Service in September 1983 at the age of 17 as a trombone player, having received his early musical education in many brass bands in Staffordshire.  On completion of training he was drafted to the Band of HM Royal Marines Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth for two years prior to moving to CTCRM Lympstone to join the Band of HM Royal Marines Commandos.  During his seven years stay there he travelled extensively, visiting many European countries, USA, Japan and he served aboard HMS Invincible on a three-month deployment of the Far East.

Having qualified for Band Sergeant in 1994, he was drafted to HMS Raleigh where he visited Russia, Ethiopia, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.  He attended the final Bandmasters' Course to be held at RMSM Deal.  Whilst there he was awarded the Malcolm MacDonald prize for composition and successfully qualified as a Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music.

Following the closure of RMSM Deal, Andy was drafted back to HMS Raleigh where upon he embarked on HMS Illustrious for the seven month Ocean Wave deployment, visiting many Far Eastern countries.  The highlight of the tour was taking part in the handing over ceremony of Hong Kong, together with the Band of HMY Britannia.  Having been promoted to Colour Sergeant whilst aboard HMS Illustrious, Andy was selected to attend the Admiralty Interview Board.  He successfully passed, and was duly selected for commission in January 1998.  On passing the Special Duties Officer Course at CTCRM he began the Director of Music Course based at RMSM Portsmouth, which he completed in January 2000.  In July 2000 Andy gained a MMus Degree and was appointed Director of Music of the Band of HM Royal Marines Britannia Royal Naval College.  Prior to joining BRNC Andy was deployed with 29 musicians to Kosovo where they supported Medical Squadron Commando Logistic Regiment Royal Marines for a six month humanitarian deployment.  In November 2002 he was appointed as the Staff Officer Band Service in HQBSRM Portsmouth, and following promotion to Major was appointed as the Director of Music Training at the Royal Marines School of Music in April 2004.  He returned to the West Country in September 2006 in order to commence the appointment of Director of Music at the Band of HMRM Plymouth, whereupon he embarked on many foreign engagements and began an 18 month period of study at Salford University. Gaining an MA in performance in 2009 he returned to the RMSoM for a second tenure before taking up his current appointment with the Band of HM Royal Marines Collingwood in May 2011.

Andy is a keen sportsman concentrating on football and squash and he also enjoys water ski-ing when ever possible.  His hobbies include all forms of music, DIY, cooking and avidly following the somewhat unreliable form of Stoke City Football Club.  He is married to Tania and lives with his family on the outskirts of Portsmouth.

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Last Updated 19 May 2011