Open Day aiming to boost the ranks of youth band
BTM Band recently open its doors to local families with the aim of increasing the ranks in its youth band BTM: Next Generation.
There has been a thriving youth band at BTM for many years under the tutorship of Mark Hutcherson and with help from former players and senior band members the young band has been very successful in winning awards at the local South East Wales Brass Band Association and at the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen.
Many of its players have gone on to greater things, including playing with the BTM senior band at the highest level, the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and the European Youth Brass Band.
As a result of Covid and several members moving on to colleges and universities numbers in the band have dropped to around 20 regular players.
On Saturday, March 26, BTM held an Open Day throwing its doors open to parents and children age seven and over.
Schools within the Caerphilly Borough helped to promote the event and parents were thrilled with listening to the youth band giving a short concert and then watching as their excited children had the opportunity to try to make a decent noise from the instruments that they were given to try.
After many, many years of tutoring, Mark has decided to concentrate on the band’s studio work, so his younger brother Jeff Hutcherson has taken up the baton.
Speaking after the event on the Saturday, Jeff said: “What a great day at the BTM band room, recruiting a new batch of learners.
“To encourage new players to join our youth band is a must so that the brass banding movement continues; lets get the large stocks of brass instruments out there and in the hands of children, young people and adults who wish to learn.
“BTM is committed to help build the future of brass banding.”
(Thanks to Carolyn Jones BTM)
Meanwhile, the 100th Brass Band Spring Festival takes place at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool on May 7 and there are 20 bands competing in the Grand Shield from which two of the best bands will be invited to take part in the British Open Championship on September 10.
The bottom four bands will be relegated to the Senior Cup.
The Senior Cup has 21 bands competing and the top four bands will be invited to take part in the 2023 Grand Shield whilst the bottom four bands will be relegated to the Senior Trophy.
There are 22 bands in the Senior Trophy and the top four will be invited to take part in the 2023 Senior Cup and the bottom four bands will be relegated and not invited to take part in next year’s Spring Festival.
Bands from Wales involved in the the competitions are Llwydcoed and Northop who will be in the Grand Shield, City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) and Tongwynlais will be in the Senior Cup and Pontardulais and Tylorstown will compete in the Senior Trophy.