Lofty grew up in a musical family and first began playing the cornet at the age of 5, later joining Blackburn Salvation Army Young People’s Band.
At the age of 14, whilst attending the Junior RNCM, he became a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain.
The following year he joined Marsden on Soprano Cornet enjoying a successful period under the baton of Glyn Williams, winning many contests as well as individual prizes.
In 2005, while still retaining his place in the Marsden Silver Prize Band, Lofty began his studies at the Royal Northern College of Music where he would later graduate with a BMus (Hons) degree (1st Class) in Music Performance.
To further his playing experience, Lofty left Marsden  and enjoyed a short spell with Foden’s Band before enrolling in the Erasmus exchange programme, completing the third year of his degree course at The Norwegian Academy of Music.
During his year in Norway he had the pleasure of playing with Jaren and Eikanger-Bjorsvik.
Upon returning to England he completed his music degree, before moving South to join the Royal Air Force where he became Principal Trumpet of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force and Lead Trumpet in the Royal Air Force Squadronaires until he left in 2018.
During his eight years in The Royal Air Force Lofty won the RAFCTE Soloist Competition and featured as the Soloist on the RAF Concert Tour in prestigious venues around the country in addition to featuring on a number of CDs as a Cornet, Trumpet and Flugel Horn Soloist. 
During his time in the RAF he also continued his studies in composition and music direction and is currently the MD of Marsden Silver Prize Band.