Raymond Tennant began his musical career as a cornet player, having been taught to play by his father. In 1976 he took up the tuba, and a year later he gained entry to the Royal Scottish Academy of Music. After graduating in 1980 he continued with post-graduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and the National Centre for Orchestral Studies (University of London).

On returning to Scotland he became Principal Tuba with Scottish Ballet and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and as a player he has also performed with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Opera, the Ulster Orchestra, the National Theatre, and continues to perform with the brass ensemble he founded in 1997, First Brass! He has featured as guest soloist with various bands and orchestras, has appeared in a number of films, and also in numerous television and radio broadcasts.

He began his conducting career in 1983, with the Johnstone Silver Band, and during his time there the band gained promotion from the fourth to the first section. From 1987 until 1991 he was Eb bass player and Associate Conductor with the CWS (Glasgow) Band, and enjoyed many successes with them - which included playing in their first National Championships triumph at the Royal Albert Hall in 1990. Throughout the nineties, and into the new millennium, he has continued his successes with various bands within Scotland and England, and won the 2000 National Championship 3rd Section with Kirkintilloch Kelvin Brass, again at the Royal Albert Hall.

In 1997 he returned to the Johnstone Band in the position of Musical Director, and amongst the many highlights of this period was guiding them into the Championship Section for the first time in their history.

In 2003 Raymond took up the position of Resident Conductor of the Scottish Co-op Band, directing it in many concert, CD and radio performances, prior to returning to the Johnstone Band.

Raymond says he is delighted to renew his connection as Associate Conductor with the band under its new name and is looking forward to directing the band in future concerts and recordings.