The 2016 Band Cymru competition, broadcast on the Welsh language S4C channel, kicks off on Saturday 23rd April with the first of four prime-time semi-finals.

£10,000 top prize

Recorded at Aberystwyth Arts Centre, they will feature 12 brass, woodwind and jazz bands, with the top four ensembles — not necessarily those declared the winner of each broadcast — going through to the final which will be broadcast from the Parc & Dare Theatre, Treorchy on 22nd May. The eventual champion will claim the first prize amounting to £10,000.

Semi finalists

The first semi-final will feature Tredegar Town, Northop and the City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) Bands, whilst the following broadcasts will feature Llwydcoed, Tongwynlais Temperance and RWCMD Chamber Winds; RWCMD Brass Band, Tylorstown and Beaumaris Band, and finally, BTM, Burry Port and Capital City Jazz Orchestra

The two presenters, Morgan Jones and Alex Humphreys (above), are keen musicians themselves, with Morgan the President of 2014 champions, Cory.

Privilege

Alex, who has a BMus (Hons) Music degree from Cardiff University and has played cornet for a number of bands, told 4BR: "Presenting Band Cymru is such a privilege. Music is an important part of my life and I'm pleased to be able to combine my work with one of my favourite things.

I get so much enjoyment from listening to the bands perform and chatting to the competitors. The standard is incredibly high and it's a difficult task for the judges to pick who goes through to the final.

She added: "I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of pieces in the repertoire this year and also their styles of performing."

they will feature 12 brass, woodwind and jazz bands, with the top four ensembles — not necessarily those declared the winner of each broadcast — going through to the final4BR

Youth contest

Also following a series of auditions, four bands have also been picked to compete in the brand new youth competition (under 18), Band Ieuenctid Cymru 2016 (Wales Youth Band 2016), with £1,000 up for grabs.

The final of that event will be broadcast on Saturday, 21st May from the Parc & Dare Theatre, when the Greater Gwent Youth Brass Band, Band Jazz Tryfan, Gwent Youth Wind Orchestra and Cardiff and Vale Music Service Youth Jazz Orchestra battle it out for the title.

Broadcasts

S4C 2016 Band Cymru
Saturday 23rd April: 8.00pm
Also, 27th April: 3.00pm
English subtitles

Website: s4c.cymru