Richard Evans has told 4BR of his delight at the success of the recent concert he led when Wales met Japan at Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff last Saturday night.

Welsh/Japan link

The concert featured the bands of Parc & Dare and the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in raising funds for the ground breaking Japanese School in Wales, which provides an educational outlet for Japanese children in the Principality.

Despite the weather, the response from the bands and the audience was great, and there was a feeling that we had delivered something very special to a fantastic community of people in WalesRichard Evans

Generous

Despite the foul weather, a healthy audience enjoyed the contributions of both bands as well as the extremely generous prizes on offer in the interval raffle – donated by many of the leading Japanese companies on South Wales.

Response

"It was a truly historic night for brass music making between the two countries," Richard told 4BR. "Despite the weather, the response from the bands and the audience was great, and there was a feeling that we had delivered something very special to a fantastic community of people in Wales."

Great credit

Richard is no stranger to either the Principality or the Land of the Rising Sun, and revelled in the opportunity to lead both bands.

"It’s great to see so many youngsters from Japan enjoying making British style brass band music, and it is a great credit to Takeo Yamamoto’s work over the years. I just hope something like this can be repeated in the years to come."