The Cory Band has announced that Pontypridd MP Owen Smith is to become their new Band President.

Honoured

The Labour MP for Pontypridd and Shadow Secretary of State for Wales said: "I am honoured to accept the role. Having followed the band’s progress for many years I’m excited about the future prospects that our partnership can bring.

I look forward to working with the band to help them continue their terrific success and also, more broadly, to champion their performances as an excellent example of Wales’ famous musical heritage."

Excited

Cory Band Manager Austin Davies added: "We are very excited that Owen has agreed to take on the role and we look forward to nurturing a strong partnership that can build on the foundations and success over recent years.

We have a number of very exciting projects lined up which we are sure Owen can help us deliver and indeed improve."

We have a number of very exciting projects lined up which we are sure Owen can help us deliver and indeed improveBand Manager Austin Davies

Thanks

The MP takes over the Presidency role from Bernard Jones OBE, who has decided to step down after almost 14 years supporting Cory through a period of unprecedented success.

Commenting on this relationship Austin added: "We will always be grateful to Bernard Jones for the incredible support he's given to the band since 1999.

It's no coincidence that all the ground breaking musical projects, concert performances, and contesting Cory has been involved in during the last 14 years have coincided with Bernard's tenure as President."

Fitting

Austin concluded: "It's fitting that we end the relationship on a successful note with the band winning Brass in Concert and retaining the number 1 world ranking for the sixth consecutive year."