2015 has proved to be a very successful year for Deiniolen Youth Band from North Wales.

Contest successes

In February the band was crowned 'Most Successful Band of the Day' at the North Wales Solo, Duet & Quartet event and followed it up in June by winning the 'Best Youth Band' award at the Newtown Open Air Contest for the second year running.

They recently rounded off their season at the North Wales BBBA contest where they won first prize for 'Best Hymn' and second prize for their test-piece performance — with their young soprano star Richard Alun Efans taking the 'Best Soloist' prize.

Masterclasses and TV

The band has also benefited from masterclasses from cornet star Dewi Griffiths and conductor Ian Porthouse from Tredegar Band, and has performed in numerous concerts and on television for the 'Heno' programme on S4C.

Wonderful year

MD, Osian Tomos told 4BR: "It's been a wonderful year. We've enjoyed great contest success and we are looking forward to building on this in 2016.

Our set-up with our Junior Band developing players from a very early age is certainly bearing fruit and we are looking forward to introducing new contests to our calendar in order to give the youngsters more valuable experiences."

It's been a wonderful year. We've enjoyed great contest success and we are looking forward to building on this in 2016MD, Osian Tomos

Future stars

Some of those future stars gained reward at their recent annual concert with percussionist Dylan Efans and principal cornet Ela Haf Williams claiming well deserved band awards.

A trio of Iwan Williams Scholarships for 2016 were presented to solo horn Tomos Herd, trombonist Lisa Morgan, cornet player Morgan Gwyn Williams.