The recent Welsh Regional Championships in Swansea saw the Tongwynlais Temperance Band take a significant step on its ongoing rebuilding process.

The band's highly encouraging fifth place finish was not only marked by a confident performance under the baton of MD Carl Saunders, but also secured their top-flight status in what is a small but hugely competitive elite level in Wales.

Launch pad

Band Manger Gareth Hann told 4BR: "Our recent history shows that we have competed at the highest level in Wales, the UK and in Europe.

We have gone through a difficult period but we have also been able to provide a launch pad for some of the best emerging talent in Welsh banding in the process.

That is now starting to come to fruition again but with a focus on what will be good for the band as an organisation for the future."

Focus

It has meant that Tongwynlais will not compete at the British Open Spring Festival this year and will focus further development through local Welsh League contests and other domestic events.

Gareth added: "Contesting will remain an important platform for us, but we also need to concentrate on developing our local audience and supporters.

Our performance on the weekend was possible due to the generous support we received from a few individual players joining us for the contest and the hard work and commitment of our core members."

With hard work and commitment, it's also a chance to put reaffirm brass banding within our area and further afieldMD, Carl Saunders

Core

That core has been developing strongly with players now starting to come through its Tongwynlais Music Academy at a purpose-built facility in north Cardiff. The Academy offers a wide range of instrumental and ensemble tuition, including woodwind, strings and pop music.

MD, Carl Saunders is certainly optimistic that the future now looks bright: "The band's work ethic has been immense and is part of a wider rebuilding programme that will hopefully open up new avenues to bring top class brass music to a wider audience.

With hard work and commitment, it's also a chance to put reaffirm brass banding within our area and further afield."