One of Welsh banding's star contesting performers has been celebrating a hat-trick of victories, after current National Fourth Section champion Ebbw Valley Brass charged to three wins and two instrumentalist prizes at the recent Welsh League contest in Merthyr Tydfil and the SWBBA event in Weston super Mare.

Silverware

The band claimed the SEWBBA Third Section title in Merthyr thanks to a commanding performance of Kenneth Downie's ‘Purcell Variations’, with principal cornet, Nanette Jones, adding to her growing collection of ‘Best Soloist’ silverware.

Meanwhile, the following day, the band travelled down from its home in Ebbw Vale and over the new Severn Bridge to Weston-Super-Mare for the SWBBA contest, where they claimed titles in both the Second and Third Sections.

Sterling

Giving a sterling reprise of the Area set-work, ‘Partita: Postcards From Home’ by Philip Wilby, the band snapped up the Third Section honours, before giving a repeat performance of ‘Purcell Variations’ to claim victory in the Second Section, with David Johnson taking the ‘Best Euphonium’ award.

Hard work

MD, Gareth Ritter, told 4BR: "The band has worked so hard since its formation in September 2011. We have only been competing for just over two years and we've had 17 wins and 10 top-six finishes.

It’s an incredible record that shows that we have both talented soloists and strength in depth."

Gareth continued: "To win one contest on a weekend is fantastic, but three is unbelievable — and credit goes to everyone involved in the organisation."

It's an incredible record that shows that we have both talented soloists and strength in depthMD, Gareth Ritter

Finals

The band is now looking forward to a number of Summer events before attention switches to the National Eisteddfod in August and National Finals in Cheltenham in September.