Chief Technician Cooney was born in Wolverhampton in 1969. After moving to Uxbridge in 1978 and seeing The Central Band of the Royal Air Force he started to play the clarinet with the ambition of joining Central Band. Having moved to Great Yarmouth for a few years he joined Royal Air Force Music Services in October 1985, at the tender age of 16.

Upon completion of his training in the School of Music, CT Cooney was posted to the Western Band of the Royal Air Force, at RAF Locking, in 1986. Two years later he passed an audition for Central Band and was posted to RAF Uxbridge in January 1989. Following the closure of RAF Catterick, in 1994, he joined the Regiment Band at RAF Northolt. In 1996 he rejoined Central Band, where he has remained since.

CT Cooney has also been a member of The Royal Air Force Squadronaires since 2001. This has seen him featured as a soloist on various saxophones, clarinet, flute and piccolo.

Highlights of his career have included performing at Ronnie Scott’s, garden parties at Buckingham Palace and several successful recordings and broadcasts, both on radio and television.

He was appointed as Drum Major of Central band in July 2010 and subsequently left the Squadronaires in May 2011. As a musician he has had the privilege of performing with some amazing musicians. On being the Drum Major of Central Band, he has commented that ‘nothing can prepare you for the pride felt when marching in front of such a fantastic Band’.

CT Cooney is married and has two children. In his spare time he enjoys the “challenges and satisfaction” of being a Leader in his local Scout Group.