Rhondda’s Tylorstown have been competing since 1885
THE National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain does have an interesting facet to the event which can be of interest to people who may just have a passing interest in the activities of brass bands.
It gives some interesting details of the history of the bands who are taking part in the National Finals which can be found on the Champions website at http://kapitol.co.uk.
An example of this is some information about Tylorstown, one of the Welsh bands taking part in this year’s competition.
Tylorstown band from the Rhondda started competing in local competitions in 1885 and has continued to do so ever since with the exception of a brief break during the Second World War.
The band has always had links with the collieries of the Rhondda and are proud to be representing their local community in the National Finals.
Since Gary Davies, their musical director, was appointed the band has made real progress in achieving some acclaim in the Welsh contesting field.
The band became Welsh Regional Champions in 2010 and went on to become the Section 2 National Champions of Great Britain.
In 2013, they became Welsh Champions and Champions of Great Britain in the First Section.
Continuing progress saw them become Welsh League Champions in 2016 in the Championship Section.
After having a short lean spell the band was relegated back to the First Section.
However they became the Welsh National Eisteddfod Champions in 2018.
After this year, as a result of becoming Welsh Regional Champion in the First Section they will be making a welcome return to the Championship Section of Great Britain.
The National Finals gives a band the chance to advertise the players who lead the different sections in a brass band by name, which is something that rarely happens.
The Principal players in Tylorstown Band competing in the 2021 First Section Final are Tim Hughes on Soprano Cornet; Kevin Jones is Principal Cornet; Lianne Rees Flugel Horn; Angela Westacott Principal Euphonium; Andrew Pryse Solo Baritone; Cerwyn West Solo Rtombone; Len Dennett Eb Bass; Mark Richards Bb Bass and Sarah Burgess Percussion.
A number of bands have seen some changes in playing personnel as a result of the effects of the Covid pandemic and Tylorstown have added some new players to the band taking part in the Finals.
They have welcomed Tim Hughes on soprano cornet, Claire Westacott on cornet and Karen Fletcher on Eb tenor horn.