The Welsh Music Guild, the charity devoted to the promotion of Welsh music and musicians, has announced it’s annual awards in recognition of the achievements of composers, performers, educators and musicologists.

Finest musicians

And this year, the prestigious John Edwards Memorial Award, named after the Guild’s founder, for services to the nation’s music, will be presented to Nigel Seaman, one of the Principality’s finest brass musicians.

Nigel follows a line of recipients that includes composer Alun Hoddinott, performers Robert Childs and Bryn Terfel and institutions including the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Nigel recently retired as the tuba player with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, a position he held for 33 years, and has earned a highly respected reputation as a leading brass band conductor and teacher4BR

Recently retired

Nigel recently retired as the tuba player with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, a position he held for 33 years, and has earned a highly respected reputation as a leading brass band conductor and teacher both in Wales and beyond.

He has been tutor of tuba and brass studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff since 1977.

Titles

He led Desford to the 2008 All England Masters International title, as well as many other Welsh and UK bands to victory at domestic and National level.

Nigel is due to take up the musical directorship of Tongwynlais Band in 2011.