Welsh banding will have gained encouragement about its future playing talent as individuals and ensembles shone in competition at the recent Urdd National Eisteddfod at Margam Park near Port Talbot.

The event which attracts over 90,000 visitors and is live broadcast on television, is one of Europe's largest youth festivals with over 15,000 youngsters taking part in the celebration of the Welsh language and culture.

Solo winners

Carys Wood, from Ysgol Haverfordwest added yet more silverware to her growing collection of solo awards as she won the Under 19 Brass Solo category with a fine performance on trumpet of 'Slavische Fantasie' by Carl Hohne.

Earlier this year Carys also won the 'Best Soloist' prize playing for Goodwick Band at the Welsh Open and at the National Youth Championships with Pembrokeshire Music Service.

Second place went to cornet Elin-Haf Gwilliam playing 'Zelda', with third place claimed by Laura Rowland on euphonium playing 'Vois tu la Neige qui Brille'.

Cornet player Meilir Tudur Davis, from Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen, who also plays with the Deiniolen Band won the Year 7-9 Brass Solo category playing 'Grandfather's Clock'. Second place went to Eliza Wood on euphonium who performed 'The Ash Grove', with third going to Ioan Davies on horn playing 'Silver Threads'.

The Year 6 Brass Solo category was won by trombonist Mason Adam Llyr Jones from Ysgol Mynydd Bychan playing 'The Acrobat', ahead of trumpet player Wolfgang Lief Evans with third claimed by cornet player Ffion Haf Thomas.

Ensembles and bands

A record 17 schools provided competitors in the Under 19 Ensemble (Wind and Brass) category which was won by Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen from Caernarfon.

The ensemble, conducted by Dylan Williams performed 'William Tell', 'This is Me' and 'You Can't Stop the Beat' as they made it a hat-trick of victories and their sixth win in the last eight years.

Dylan also led second placed Band Ysgol Brynrefail from the Caernarfon area who finished off their programme with 'Runaway Baby'. Third place went to the student led ensemble from Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr.

The event which attracts over 90,000 visitors and is live broadcast on television, is one of Europe's largest youth festivals with over 15,000 youngsters taking part in the celebration of the Welsh language and culture4BR

Mixed ensembles

There was also brass success in many of the other mixed ensemble events, with Ystalyfera coming third in the Ensemble Year 7-9 category and a brass ensemble from Ensemble Ysgol Bontnewydd coming runner-up in the Ensemble Year 6.

Three bands featuring brass in Ysgol y Wern, Band y Gelli and Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth claimed the podium slots in the Year 6 Band category.