Players will be vying for top place at Open
THE Welsh Brass Band Entertainment Championship takes place on February 20 at the Riverfront Theatre & Arts Centre, Newport and the organisers have allowed 14 bands to take part.
The bands taking part are A W Parker (Drybrook) (Joshua Ruck), BTM (Jeff Hutcherson), Brunel Brass (Daniel Hall), City of Cardiff M1 (Christopher Bond), Ebbw Valley Brass (Gareth Ritter), Filton Concert Brass (TBA), Forest of Dean Brass (Thomas Dunne), Lewis Merthyr (Craig Roberts), Markham & District (Jayne Thomas), Parc & Dare (Dewi Griffiths), Pontardulais Town (Paul Jenkins), SW Comms (Stephen Sykes), Tongwynlais Temperance (Carl Saunders), and Tylorstown (Gary Davies).
Supporters of the Welsh Open who advertise in the programme and sponsors are, to date: Bandsman’s Gin, Brass Band Insurance Services, Cobra Music Studios, Eventz Percussion, Hercules Music Stands, Musicwear Etc, New Moon Insurance, Brass Band Notes, Narbeths Mechanical Services Ltd., and South Wales Transport.
The City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) M1 has established itself as one of the leading bands in Wales, competing in the championship section consistently since 2017 and rising up the world rankings to the current position of 25th in the UK.
At the Welsh Regional Championships, M1 have achieved four successive fourth placings since 2017, leading to the band’s appearance at the 2018 National Finals of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall, and being promoted into the Grand Shield at the Spring Festival at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens for the first time in its history.
The appointment of Christopher Bond as Musical Director in 2019 has seen two consecutive 2nd placings at the Welsh Open Entertainment Contest – also winning the prizes for the Most Entertaining Band and the Best Horn Section in 2020.
The band won the South East Wales Brass Band Contest in 2019 and were awarded 3rd place in the 2020 Cory Online Brass Band Championships, also winning prizes for the Best Welsh Music, Best Horns and Best Baritones & Euphoniums.
Last year saw the band placed 2nd overall at Wychavon Festival of Brass, also winning Best Baritones Section.
M1 is distinctly proud of the history on which the band sits; its close relationship with the late JP Powell, and the band’s re-emergence over the last eighteen years from the Fourth Section up to the Championship Section where it is today.
The Forest of Dean Band have had some success over the years winning the Gloucestershire Brass Band Association contest on several occasions.
The band’s most recent success was at the 2020 contest at Torquay, where they were placed 3rd at the West of England area competition, qualifying for the National Finals.
In recent times they have been in the top three at South East Wales Brass Band Association contest at
Cardiff and in the top 5 at the Wychavon Entertainment Competition. Forest of Dean Band are now among the top two First Section bands in the West of England.
Apart from contesting the band does a lot of concerts at many locations.
They enjoy the classic Bands in the Park, but revel in playing modern Pop classics at cider festivals and cannot wait for our journey with Tom Dunne to begin with the Welsh Open Contest.
Tylorstown Band began competing in local competitions in 1885 and with the exception of a brief break during World War II have continued to compete throughout the years.
Although self- funded the band has been fortunate to have had strong links with the collieries of the Rhondda Fach.
The band appointed Mr Gary Davies Musical director and he has brought unparalleled success to the band.
In 2010 the band became Welsh Regional Champions and went on to become National Champion Band of Great Britain in 2nd Section, 2013 saw the band gain the titles again only this time in the 1st Section.
The band has also won the title of Welsh League Champions in the Championship Section in 2011 and 2016. In 2014 the band competed in the Championship Section, Nationally, for the first time in its history and gained 2nd prize at the Welsh Open.
2018 saw another first for the Band in becoming National Eisteddfod Champions in the top section of this prestigious competition.
The band was delighted to get back to the competing stage in 2021 to take part in the First Section National Championships of Great Britain sadly delayed from 2020 due to the pandemic.
Another first for this year, we are proud to be supporting members of our Youth Band Project to compete at the European Youth Brass Band Championships to be held in Birmingham Symphony Hall in April.
The band is looking forward to competing in Championship Section once again.
More information about Tylorstown Band can be found at www. tylorstownband.org.uk.