Having already secured their place in the starting line-up at the Royal Albert Hall National Final in October, Llwydcoed maintained their excellent run of 2023 form by claiming the Senior Cup and promotion to the Grand Shield.

Their winning rendition of 'A London Overture' provided further evidence that the band from the eastern edge of the Heads of the Valleys road in South Wales has further established itself not only as a very competent top section contender, but one of exciting further potential under the direction of their talented MD, Joshua Ruck.

Llwydcoed will be joined in the Grand Shield next year by Fishburn, St Dennis and Redbridge, as Philip Sparke's engaging set-work provided a well-pitched test of technical as well as musical character for the 20 competitors in the Pavilion Theatre.

Pacing and clarity

It's elements of clearly defined pacing and clarity, dynamics and balance were touched upon by adjudicator John Doyle (joined by Andrew Porter) in his pre-results address.

His witty analysis though also came with his usual informative bite — rich praise for the soloists and the horn players in particular, the pointed caveat to MDs about misplaced tempo ambition and harsh tonality.

Both have performed and conducted the piece on many occasions (it's been around since 1984) and knew full well where its traps lay. And with Philip Sparke they are in clear sight with the markings on his score.

Absolutely superb

Overwhelming positives from start to finish from the winners though, with John writing in his summing-up that Llwydcoed had given, "...an absolutely superb show...so controlled as if it was another bandroom performance", with Andrew observing that the MD had, "allowed your musicians to deliver a very special performance...it brimmed with quality from start to finish."

The confidence was marked from the bold opening and boosted further by the excellent solo leads and the MDs sense of scope — mixing detail with lyricism. It was big and occasionally a little brash, but with excellent intonation and the ensemble playing nut-tight, it powered its way to a thumping close.

It was a clear winner, although John and Andrew were also impressed by the overall contest quality and the prize winners in particular — the piece testing but not over stretching the abilities of the performers, spotlighted by the fine cadenza playing on show throughout from the quartet of trombone, horn, cornet and euphonium.

Classy finesse

The very best of them came from cornet player Lewis Barton of Elland Silver (and principal cornet of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain) who delivered his with a classy finesse that his teacher Mark Wilkinson would have been proud of.

His notable contribution to Elland's well worked account under Daniel Brooks saw them provide the early marker for the judges to compare and contrast the qualification aspirations of the rest of the field.

In the end sixth place may just have disappointed their most ardent supporters, but just a few moments of uneasy intonation hampered their determined push for promotion.

Brio and nous

Soon after it was Redbridge that caught the ears in the tent, as Chris Bearman captured the brio and zest of the music almost bang to a podium finish tee.

Only a few moments when the energised drive lost cohesion may have cost, but fourth place and an immediate return to the Grand Shield for a band heading on an upward trajectory once more will have been satisfying enough.

It wasn't until Fishburn at the midway point that they were overtaken, as Duncan Beckley used all his years of experience and nous in crafting a performance built around excellent solo contributions and solid contesting considerations.

Like many on the day there were some intonation issues, but not for the first time (and certainly not the last you suspect) the MDs inherent musical common sense inspired yet another finely delivered account — the North East band gaining a second successive promotion to return to the Grand Shield for the first time since 2007.

Sensible

City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) M1 certainly pushed hard to secure a promotion spot as they finished fifth. Christopher Bond's light touch approach emphasising dynamic and tempo proportion was a lesson in observational score reading clarity, although occasional blemishes and some wayward intonation that may just have cost them.

With Llwydcoed providing the contest winning marker from the number 16 draw, it was left to St Dennis to provide a last furlong drive to the qualification post.

Darren R Hawken's measured approach based on sensible tempos and marked changes in mood had a trademark neatness about it — the resultant third place finish and promotion immediately back to the Grand Shield fully deserved.

Much to enjoy

Elsewhere there was much to enjoy in a contest of consistent quality, although a few bands will have left knowing they didn't quite play to their pre-contest expectations.

The occasional moments of nervousness apart, lead soloists played with confidence, whilst the MDs have now learned to temper the dynamic excess in the somewhat unforgiving acoustic of the Pavilion Theatre. Those who didn't paid the price.

In the end the midfield finishes from a bravura Kirkintilloch in seventh down to a hard-working Boarshurst Silver in sixteenth will look back on the majority of things that went well, and the few things that didn't. Some may count themselves a little unlucky, although the differences between a host of performances were marginal.

Others too, although the relegation trap door opened somewhat unforgivingly for East London Brass off the number 1 draw, Woodfalls, Newtongrange and Aveley & Newham.

Iwan Fox

Overwhelming positives from start to finish from the winners though, with John writing in his summing-up that Llwydcoed had given, "...an absolutely superb show...so controlled as if it was another bandroom performance"4BR

Senior Cup:

Test-piece: A London Overture (Philip Sparke)
Adjudicators: John Doyle, Andrew Porter

1. Llwydcoed (Joshua Ruck)*
2. Fishburn (Duncan Beckley)*
3. St Dennis (Darren R Hawken)*
4. Redbridge (Chris Bearman)*
5. City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) M1 (Christopher Bond)
6. Elland Silver (Daniel Brooks)
7. Kirkintilloch (Hedley Benson)
8. Unite the Union (Jonathan Beatty)
9. Brass Band of Central England (Howard J. Evans)
10. Kingdom Brass (Thomas Wyss)
11. Derwent Brass (Jack Capstaff)
12. Acceler8 Band (Jef Sparkes)
13. Verwood Concert Brass (Kevin Smith)
14. Roche Brass (Keith Maxwell)
15. Shepherd Group (Richard Wilton)
16. Boarshurst Silver (Jamie Prophet)
17. East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)**
18. Woodfalls (Stephen Sykes)**
19. Newtongrange Silver (Anne Crookston)**
20. Aveley & Newham (Will Wilkins)**

Best Instrumentalist: Lewis Barton (cornet) — Elland Silver

*Promoted to the Grand Shield
**Relegated to the Senior Trophy