The third Gwent Youth Brass Solo & Quartet Contest took place on Saturday 31st May at the YMCA Centre, Newport.

Successful

It was a very successful day with one hundred and forty brass players taking part representing bands and schools within Greater Gwent plus entries from Upper Rhondda, the Forest of Dean and Camborne in Cornwall.

The adjudicators for the day were Owen Farr and Christopher Thomas from the Cory Band, Owen kindly appearing courtesy of York Instruments.

It was a very successful day with one hundred and forty brass players taking part representing bands and schools within Greater Gwent plus entries from Upper Rhondda, the Forest of Dean and Camborne in Cornwall4BR

Spellbound

The proceedings were handled very smoothly by Andrew Jones and Christopher Turner, both tutors with the Gwent Music Support Service. Before the announcement of the results of the Contest Owen and Christopher displayed why they are at the top of their profession playing a solo each and holding the audience spellbound and in the palm of their hands.

Next year

Thanks also to the team of helpers who made the event run like clockwork. Following the support and success of this event, the date of next year’s Contest will be Saturday 30th May 2009.

Full results:

Class A Slow Melody: 11 years & under
1. Rhiannon Symonds (Forest of Dean Area Youth Brass Band)
2. Evan Roberts (Abergavenny Band)
3. Benjamin Abbott (Camborne Youth Band)

Class B Slow Melody: 12 & 13 years
1. Ben Stratford (Parkend Silver)
2. Jack Lapthorn (Newport Borough Band)
3. Emily Humphries (Usk Youth Brass Band)

Class C Slow Melody: 14 & 15 years
1. Rhiannon Hayes (Chepstow Town Band)
2. Lloyd Pearce (Rogerstone Junior Band)
3. Ieuan Williams (Upper Rhondda Band)

Class D Air Varie: 15 years & under
1. Ieuan Williams (Upper Rhondda Band)
2. Ben Stratford (Parkend Silver)
3. Lewis Rees (Upper Rhondda Band)

Class F Slow Melody: 16 – 18 years
1. Chloe Abbott (Camborne Town Band)
2. Alanah Moulsdale (Upper Rhondda Band)
3. Ben Roberts (Rogerstone Junior Band)

Class G Air Varie: 16 – 18 years
1. Chloe Abbott (Camborne Town Band)
2. Matthew Hurst (Forest of Dean Area Youth Brass Band)
3. Lloyd West (Caerleon Comprehensive)

Class H Slow Melody: Open
1. Jack Lapthorn (Newport Borough Band)
2. Rhiannon Symonds (Forest of Dean Area Youth Brass Band)
3. Tomas Zagorskis (Chepstow Town Band)

Class J Air Varie: Open
1. Chloe Abbott (Camborne Town Band)
2. Jamie Jones (Usk Youth Brass Band)

Class K Quartets: 15 years & under
1. Ebbw Vale Band
2. Teddy Bear Quartet (Camborne Youth Band)
3. Blaenavon Brass Bandits A (Blaenavon Town Band)

Class L Quartets: 18 years & under
1. Ebbw Vale Band
2. Uskimos (Usk Youth Brass Band)
3. Toreador Quartet (Camborne Youth Band)

Class M Quartets: Open
1. The Jesters (Usk Youth Brass Band)
2. Ebbw Vale Band
3. Spectrum (Croesyceiliog School)

Class N Ensemble: 15 years & under
1. Ebbw Vale

Class O Ensemble: 18 years & under
1. Ebbw Vale
2. Seofon Brass (Forest of Dean Area Youth Brass Band)
3. USKids (Usk Youth Brass Band)

Class P Ensemble: Open
1. bUSKrs (Usk Youth Brass Band)