Young players get a chance to shine
TY CERDD, as the Welsh Amateur Music Federation, formed the National Youth Brass Band of Wales in 1982 and in 1984, they set up the National Youth Choir of Wales.
Working with the Welsh Joint Education committee, the National Youth Arts Wales has been formed and the result is the creation of National Youth Jazz Wales in 2001, National Youth Wind Orchestra in 2002, and National Youth Symphonic Brass in 2004.
The first residential twoday course for a National Youth Training Brass Band will be taking place at Monmouth School for Girls culminating in a concert conducted by Tom Davoren at the School’s Theatre this Saturday, April 15 at 2pm.
Auditions to become a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales (NYBBW) in 2017 started in November 2016 and even if you were a member of the band in 2016 you still have to pass an audition to be accepted as a member of the band in 2017. The successful players will meet in Monmouth in July for the residential course at the Monmouth School for Girls which lasts from Tuesday, July 25 to Sunday, July 30.
The director of the course, and the musical director of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales for 2017 is Ian Porthouse who is also the musical director of Tredegar Town Band who were the Champion Band of Wales in 2016. The ages of the players in the NYBBW are between 12 years and 21 years and are all still in full time education.
On Sunday, July 30, the NYBBW will give a concert at the Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl at 2.30pm.
The band will meet again to take part in a concert on September 16 at the North Wales International Festival of Music which will be held at St Asaph Cathedral at 7.30pm. Both of these venues will be breaking new ground for the NYBBW. In 2016, the NYBBW presented concerts at Aberystwyth and at Monmouth School for Girls and was conducted by Tom Davoren.
Both the 2017 NYBBW and the National Youth Training Band will play commissioned works by Rhian Samuel who is the Ty Cerdd Composer in residence and will feature a celebration of American composers and music.
The NYBBW will play a work composed by Rhian Samuel called Taliesin in their programmes at Porthcawl and St Asaph Cathedral.
Pontardulais Town Band will be guests at the Morriston Ladies Choir Annual Concert which will be held at the famous Morriston Tabernacle Chapel on Saturday, April 22. Doors open 6.30pm and the concert starts at 7.30pm.
Tickets are available from the concert secretary on 01792 428440. Don’t forget that Markham & District Band will be providing the music for Brassed Off at the Little Theatre in Blackwood on April 19, 20, 21 and 22. Each performance starts at 7.30pm. For tickets, call 01495 366 196 or visit www.blackwoodlt.org.uk/tickets