The highly popular Gwent Youth Band Festival returns in 2012 with an innovative format set to encourage yet more youth ensembles to the event.

Innovations

The Festival will take place on the 28th January at the brand new Coleg Gwent, Crosskeys Campus, and the new innovations will include four competitive sections.

Debutant

A new Debutant Section will be aimed at the all important Beginner and Training bands ensembles, with the only stipulation that all participants must be under the age of 16 on the day of the Festival. They will be asked to perform 10 minutes of music.

Schools

The School Bands Section is aimed at single school bands with all players to be 18 years and under on the day of the Festival. They will be asked to perform 15 minutes of music.

Music Centre

The Music Centre/County Youth Bands Section will cater for all music centre and County Youth brass bands with all players to be under 21 on the day of the Festival. They will be asked to perform 20 minutes of music.

As always there will be a host of trophies and prizes, and a wonderfully warm and encouraging welcome to all competitors4BR

Community

Finally, the Independent/Community Youth Bands Section is for all independent and community youth bands, and will allow the use of up to 6 adults on brass and 1 adult on percussion to assist them in performance. They will be asked to perform 20 minutes of music.

As always there will be a host of trophies and prizes, and a wonderfully warm and encouraging welcome to all competitors.

Entry details

The entry fees will be £35 for all bands in the Debutante and Schools Band section and £45 in the Music Centre/County Band and Independent/Community Youth Band sections.

The closing date for entries is Monday 9th January 2012.

More information:
For more information, please contact Christopher Turner on 07976 438594 or by email at gwent.music@newport.gov.uk or chris.turner47@sky.com

For a copy of the rules and entry form, go to the Gwent Music Support Service website www.gwentmusic.net