Following the retirement of John Glyn Jones after 28 years as conductor of the Oakeley Brass Band, the organisation recently staged a special concert in his honour in Blaenau Ffestiniog.
John was presented with a slate plaque engraved with poetry composed by the Welsh bard Iwan Morgan, whilst the band shared the stage with the renowned Welsh tenor Rhys Meirion (an ex-pupil of John) and Côr Ieuenctid Môn straight from their double-winning performances in the final of the S4C televised Côr Cymru contest.
John became a member of the band in 1985 after he moved to the area to work as a peripatetic brass teacher, and took up conducting them in 1991.
Success
Over the years the band has enjoyed considerable success, including nine Welsh Regional titles and National Eisteddfod of Wales triumphs — including a hat-trick of wins in 2014, 2015 and 2016. They also won numerous domestic titles at the North Wales Brass Band Association's annual contest.
The band also recorded two well received CDs and made regular appearances on television and radio.
As a student, John studied music in London under the guidance of Dr William Lloyd Webber and as the conductor of the Gwynedd & Môn Youth Band he led them to the British Youth Championships on two occasions with the Senior and Junior bands.
The band also won the Music for Youth Festival in 2000 and was invited to open the School Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.
In 2018 he was commissioned to compose the official fanfare for the World Heritage Status application by the North West Wales Slate Mines and will now be heard welcoming dignitaries to present the application to the judges later this year4BR
Commission
In 2018 he was commissioned to compose the official fanfare for the World Heritage Status application by the North West Wales Slate Mines and will now be heard welcoming dignitaries to present the application to the judges later this year.
Since his retirement, John has been in high demand as an adjudicator and will be the man to impress at this year's Newtown March & Open-Air contest in June as well as the Tregaron 2020 National Eisteddfod.
