The 40th annual Greater Gwent Youth Brass Band Festival took place at Coleg Gwent in Cross Keys on the weekend where an excellent entry of 19 bands took part.
The Festival, organised by the Gwent Music Support Service, reflects the support given by the four Unitary Authorities of Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen to Youth Bands in their areas.
Success
Such is the success of the event that it now attracts bands from all over Wales and the Forest of Dean.
Following the cancellation of the Festival in 2011, this year’s event took place in the ew Camous sports hall, and the new facilities were well received by all the bands and audience throughout the day.
The Festival also had a new look too, with the inclusion of a Debutante Section, Schools Band Section and Music Centre/County Band Section.
Winners
Certificates were presented to each band with trophies and prizes to the various ensemble and indivdual winners.
The Festival was presented by David Hayward with the adjudication undertaken by David Childs and C Brian Buckley. Ev-entz stage management provided their usual excellent service throughout the day.
Results:
Debutante Section:
Gold Awards
Cwmtawe Training (T. Smith)
Carmarthenshire Training (G. Thomas)
Youngest Player: Josef Davies (Cwmtawe Training)
Schools Band Section:
1. Croesyceiliog School (C. Turner)
2. Caerleon Comprehensive School (S. O’Neill)
3. Treorchy Comprehensive School (S. Martin)
4. Monmouth School (S. O’Neill)
Youngest Player: Leigh Morgan (Treorchy Comprehensive School)
Best Soloist: Thomas Dunne (euphonium) — Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School Band.
Music Centre/County Section:
1. Greater Gwent Schools (S. O’Neill)
2. Aberystwyth Youth (A. Phillips)
3. Cwmtawe Youth (W. Pedrick)
Youngest Player: Daniel Richards (Blaenau Gwent Music Centre)
Best Soloist: Grady Hassan (tuba) — Aberystwyth Youth Band
Independent/Community Section:
1. BTM Youth (M. Hutcherson)
2. M3 (G. Ritter)
3. Lydbrook Training (R. Morgan MBE)
Independent/Community Section:
Awards of Merit for Gwent Bands
1. Usk Youth (J. Jones)
2. Abergavenny Borough (L. Tingay)
3. Blaenavon Town (E. Smith)
Youngest Player: Natasha Michie (Abergavenny Borough)
Best Soloist: Otis Williams (euphonium) — Lydbrook Youth Band.
The Ev-entz ‘Percussion Section Award’: BTM Youth Band.
The Con Buckley Memorial Trophy, presented to the conductor who has been active in enthusing young players and in forging links with the local community’ and donated by Brian Buckley and his family in 1999 was this year presented to Lea Jones of Usk Youth Band.
The date of next year’s Festival will be Saturday 26th January.
