Tredegar Band principal cornet player Dewi Griffiths has swapped the solo spotlight for the television lights this weekend to undertake his dual roles in Anglesey as Welsh National Eisteddfod fanfare trumpeter and S4C brass band pundit.

Outstanding solo performance

It comes after he gave an outstanding performance (above) of the hugely demanding Edward Gregson 'Cornet Concerto' in Porthcawl last weekend as the guest soloist on the 2017 National Youth Band of Wales course.

This year's Course Director was Ian Porthouse, and he told 4BR: "It's hard to come up with the right superlatives for Dewi and his playing. He's simply one of the banding world's elite performers. He was phenomenal and was an inspiration to all the players on the course."

Pride

For Dewi, the delight of being asked to be the invited soloist with the band he was part of as a youngster also came with a great deal of pride.

"I never thought that when I was playing third cornet on my first course I would one day be the guest soloist. It's great that the band continues to flourish and I'm very proud that I've been able to play a small part in that.

It was an excellent course under Ian and the music was certainly challenging, and not just for me!"

It's great that the band continues to flourish and I'm very proud that I've been able to play a small part in thatDewi Griffiths

Eisteddfod roles

Dewi can now be seen alongside his friend Paul Hughes dressed in their ceremonial outfits as they play their part in the set-piece ceremonies during the Eisteddfod week.

He will also be seen in the television studios as one of the expert pundits giving his opinions of the playing in the various brass band contests and competitions.

Image: Copyright National Youth Band of Wales