Music Festival

West Wales Solo & Ensemble Day – Saturday 25th January 2014

On Saturday 25th January, at the Memorial Hall, Burry Port, the Burry Port Town Band held their third youth music event, the West Wales Solo & Ensemble Day, with an encouraging field of around 180 young brass players from all over South Wales.

With an exceptional group of adjudicators lined up for the day including Mr Tom Davoren and Mr Dean Wright to adjudicate the solo, duet and trio classes whist Tom worked alongside Mr Nigel Seaman and adjudicated the Ensembles and Youth Band sections, meaning that all the entrants received two sets of encouraging and supportive feedback on their performances. Tom commented that it was a “real pleasure coming back to Burry Port to adjudicate this event again this year and it is totally heartening to see Burry Port Town Band looking outside the tempting boundaries of self-perseveration to benefit brass playing of all levels throughout West Wales. The day was both fun filled and musically exciting and I can’t wait to come back next year!” 

Mr Dean Wright very kindly lead the Masterclass which was offered to all those brass players who had entered the event, Dean is Principal Trumpet of the Welsh National Opera, and captivated the youngsters through his brass workshop which held some invaluable lessons for all the audience, young and old alike. 

Graham Howe, the Band’s Chairman commented how “we were very lucky with support from the Burry Port & Pembrey Town Council, Ty Cerdd, Treveda Music, Wiltshire Farm Foods and Parsons Pickles and parents of the performers all supporting the event. Thanks also to Jenkins Photography who captured many memories for the young players involved. It was especially pleasing to see not only the young players performing, but all young conductors being given opportunities too, something we will try to encourage more of for future events.” 

Geraint Thomas, the Solo & Ensemble Day Coordinator added “Preparations for next year’s event have already started, with a provisional date either at the end of January or the beginning of February being discussed and will also include percussion sections in addition to this years classes. We look forward to sending out invitations towards the end of the summer for this event.” 

Results 

Under 10s Class 
Maddie Denny – Bronze (Penclawdd) 
Oliver Davies – Silver (Tylorstown) 
William Evans – Gold (Parc & Dare) 
Cari Jones – Silver (Tylorstown) 
Kayleigh Lewis – Silver (Parc & Dare) 
Carys Lewis – Gold (Parc & Dare) 

Under 12s Class 
Ellie Carlsen – Silver (Penclawdd) 
Thomas Davies – Gold (Burry Port) 
Nathan Davies – Bronze (Tylorstown) 
Eloise Denny – Silver (Penclawdd) 
Iwan Hill – Silver (Tylorstown) 
Jessica Lewis – Silver (Penclawdd) 
Emily Lewis – Silver (Penclawdd) 
Rhydian Tiddy – Silver (Ammanford) 
Amy Tomkins – Bronze (Penclawdd) 
Alice Tracey – Bronze (Penclawdd) 

Under 14s Class 
Katie Hill – Gold (Tylorstown) 
Charlotte Lewis – Gold (Parc & Dare) 

Under 16s Class 
Rhodri Thomas – Gold (Burry Port) 

Open Class 
Pete Greenwood – Bronze (Burry Port) 
Ceri John – Gold (Burry Port) 
Andrea Lewis – Gold (Parc & Dare) 

Trevada Music Award for the most promising Under 12 – Carys Lewis 
Tim Bourne Memorial Award for the most promising Under 16 – Charlotte Lewis 

Duets and Trios Class 
Eloise Denny & Ellie Carlsen – Silver (Penclawdd) 
Jessica Lewis & Emily Lewis – Gold (Penclawdd) 
Cari Jones, Katie Hill & Iwan Hill – Silver (Tylorstown) 
Jessica Lewis, Emily Lewis & Ellie Carlsen – Gold (Penclawdd) 

Youth Band Class Under 19s 
Carmarthenshire Intermediate Brass Band – Silver 
Aberystwyth Youth Band – Gold 

Large Ensemble Under 14s Class 
Penclawdd Junior Brass Band – Silver 
Rhondda Cynon Taf Junior Brass Band – Silver 
Aberystwyth Youth Ensemble PG – Gold 

Large Ensemble Under 19s Class 
Milford Haven Town Band (Junior Section) – Silver 
Aberystwyth Youth Ensemble PW – Gold 

Ted Mayb Memorial Cup for the most promising Youth Ensemble – Aberystwyth Youth Ensemble PG 
Trevada Music Trophy for the most promising Youth Band – Aberystwyth Youth Band