The Greater Gwent Youth Band has informed 4BR that they have accepted EBBA's invitation to compete at the 2016 European Youth Championship in Lille in May.

Premier Section

The band will compete in the Premier Section of the event which forms part of the European Championship Festival in the French city, on Sunday 1st May.

Despite severe funding cuts to music services in the south Wales area over the past few years, the Greater Gwent Youth Band has continued to thrive under innovative leadership and support.

Its recent annual concert under the baton of MD Gareth Ritter was held in Ebbw Vale, where a packed audience was given the first opportunity to hear the band perform Philip Harper's 'Olympus', the set test for the event.

We are thrilled to be able to represent Wales and to be able to give our youngsters such a wonderful opportunityGreater Gwent spokesperson

Thrilled

A spokesperson told 4BR: "We are thrilled to be able to represent Wales and to be able to give our youngsters such a wonderful opportunity.

We benefit greatly from generous, hard working supporters of the whole organisation, which enables us to offer vital musical services to children from the age as young as six. Now we can show the rest of Europe how we inspire those youngsters to enjoy playing in a brass band."