Musicians aiming for glory at this year’s Welsh Open contest
THE Welsh Open Entertainment Contest takes place on Saturday, February 17, at the Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl at 12noon.
The final list of competing bands is: Abergavenny Borough; A W Parker (Drybrook); BTM; Filton Concert Brass; Goodwick Brass; Jackfield; Llwydcoed; Markham; Tylorstown; Wantage; City of Cardiff (Melingriffith); Ebbw Valley Brass and Burry Port.
Abergavenny Borough Band was recently described as “a brass band as it should be, a band with a big sound and a big heart”.
Over the years the band has been National Eisteddfod and Welsh League Champions on numerous occasions and they were crowned Welsh Regional Champions in 2017. Their musical director is Sean O’Neill, one time British Tuba Champion and Principal Tuba with the Welsh National Opera.
A W Parker (Drybrook) band hails from the lovely Forest of Dean.
They won the Second Section Regional Championship in 2015 and have certainly consolidated their first section status over the last two years.
They have put a great deal of effort into nurturing young players and this effort is beginning to bear fruit. They are a very good concert band and this Entertainment Contest plays to their strength under their musical director Josh Ruck, who is fast becoming an adopted Welshman, as he has been conducting Abertillery band for quite a few years.
Ross Dunne, tenor horn player with Cory band reached the final of last year’s Radio 2 Young Brass Award and has reached this year’s semi final with seven other players.
Each player will record a 10 minute programme of their own choice with Foden’s Band, conducted by Michael Fowles, on February 10 in the BBC’s Philharmonic Studio.
This recording will be sent to the judges who will select four players to go through to the final which will be broadcast live from the Royal Northern College of Music on April 20.
Dan Thomas, ex Cory and Tredegar, won this prize in 2016 and is now the Principal Euphonium with Black Dyke. This year’s West Wales Solo and Ensemble Day takes place at the Memorial Hall, Burry Port, on Saturday, January 27. The day starts at 10am with the Youth Band Classes, followed by the Solo, Duet, Trio and Ensembles.