Category: Contests

At the final contest of the year for the band, and the final leg of the three-part Welsh League series, the band were delighted to be awarded 2^nd place in the Championship Section, which also saw the band achieve the overall runner-up position in the Championship Section of the Welsh League for 2018.

In addition, the band’s principal cornet player, Christopher Jenkins, was awarded the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ prize for the section, for his fantastic contribution to the band’s performance of the set test piece, ‘Between the Moon and Mexico’, by Philip Sparke.

The result rounds off a brilliant year for the band on the contesting front, with one 1^st place, three 2^nd places, a ‘Best Instrumentalist’ prize for Christopher Jenkins, a ‘Best Percussion Section’ prize and a ‘Best Back Row Cornet Section’ prize.

This set piece contest was adjudicated by Stan Lippeatt.

Full results for the section are below.

Best instrumentalist: Christopher Jenkins – Cornet (Pontardulais Town Band)
Best trombone: Gareth Robinson (Llwydcoed Band)
Best bass section: Llwydcoed Band

On a very wet and windy day, the band were placed 6^th in the Championship Section at the second leg of the 2018 Welsh League series, held at Haverfordwest High VC School on October 13^th 2018.

Taking place only four weeks after the band’s successful appearance at the the Second Section Final of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, the band gave a good performance of ‘Chivalry’ by Martin Ellerby with only three weeks of preparation!

This Own Choice contest was adjudicated by Ian Porthouse and David Hayward, who stepped in at short notice in place of David Hirst, who was unable to attend due to travelling problems as a result of Storm Callum.

Full results for the section are below.

Best instrumentalist: Steve Stonelake – Baritone (Llwydcoed)
Best soprano cornet: Jayne Thomas (Markham & District Band)
Best percussion section: Goodwick Brass

The band is proud to have been awarded 2^nd place in the Second Section Final of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, held at The Centaur, Cheltenham Racecourse, on September 15^th 2018. The band gained the invitation to represent Wales at the contest through winning the Second Section at the Welsh Regional Championships in March.

All 18 competing bands were required to perform the set test piece ‘Firestorm’ by Stephen Bulla, with three adjudicators to impress – Roger Webster, Brian Rostron and David Hirst.

Full results for the section are below, along with a selection of comments on the band’s performance from brass band media.

On the way to Cheltenham!

Ready to head to Cheltenham Racecourse after a 7:30am rehearsal.

On stage!

Best instrumentalist: Jo Robinson – Soprano Cornet (North Skelton)

From 4barsrest.com – Purposeful intent from the off. Descriptive images of war and military right from the off. Tempos are good but occasionally the clarity drops but the confidence from all on stage is coming through.

The quality playing remains and the soloists step up to the mark. This is a real team effort and the excitement builds right to the close.

Overall: Very impressive stuff from the word go. The odd moment, but an account of real musical intent.

Star Player: The first clich’d ‘team’ effort of the weekend. Everyone stepped up there.

From the BritishBandsman.com – Solid start with a great sense of style! Lovely dynamics that colour the music so well. This band really keep you engaged. Conductor is really clear in conveying the story of this piece… This is clearly all about the music! Ensemble really tight throughout this opening section. Bravo!!

Slow section- A tiny bit of intonation creeps in. Lovely solo lines throughout. The band are taking lots of risks with their lower end dynamics and its really paying off!

Final section ticks along with the same quality as earlier and accels well. Great balance between sections and all effects are heard. Band not holding back but it works.. oozes quality. Great early marker for us!!

STAR SECTION :- Condutor (Lovely interpretation)

STAR PLAYER :- Cornet

From Brass Band World on Twitter – @bontband deliver a very convincing performance. We hear the detail of the score come across, complimented by a huge, yet always controlled band sound. Quality playing around the band and soloists do well. An early contender for sure!

The band continued its strong start to the 2018 contesting season, achieving 2^nd place in the Championship Section at the opening contest of the 2018 Welsh League series, held at Willows High School in Cardiff on April 28^th 2018.

The band’s back row cornet section brought further silverware back to the Bont in winning the ‘Terry Hill Best Back Row Cornet Section Trophy’.

In this Own Choice contest, adjudicated by Robert Childs and David Hirst, the band chose to perform ‘Sinfonietta No. 3’ by Etienne Crausaz. Full results for the section are below.

Best instrumentalist: Jeff Thomas – Flugelhorn (Ebbw Valley Brass)
Best horn: Deborah Bull (Ebbw Valley Brass)
Best back row cornet section: Pontardulais Town Band

The band has been crowned Second Section Champions at the Welsh Regional Championship 2018, held at the Brangwyn Hall on March 17^th 2018. In addition, the band has been invited to represent Wales at the finals of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, to be held at The Centaur, Cheltenham Racecourse, on September 15^th 2018.

In a strong field of 9 bands, performing the set test piece ‘Ex Terra Lucem’ by Jonathan Bates, the band’s percussion section also claimed the ‘Yorweth & Megan Gowing Memorial Trophy’ for the ‘Best Percussion Section’.

A special mention too for the band’s youngest member on the day, 2^nd Cornet player Aled Tumelty, who has progressed through the Junior Band and has now made his debut contest appearance with the senior band – what a memorable debut appearance it was!

Full results for the section are below.

Best instrumentalist: Seamus Gallaher – Cornet (Newport Borough)
Best percussion section: Pontardulais Town Band

A full report on the second section contest from 4barsrest.com can be read by following this link.

Some positive comments on the performance from brass band media on the day were as follows:

From 4barsrest.com – The bar is raised by Pontardulais to follow — with a richly courted and textured account under Paul Jenkins. A super soprano player was such a tasteful focal point, whilst the drummer went all heavy metal in the finale to bring things to a rousing close.

From 4barsrest.com on Twitter – A powerful blaze of kaleidoscopic light from Pontardulais. Cozy Powell on drums gave it the welly to close a fine show.

From the BritishBandsman.com – A bright opening, light on its feet, with soaring euphonium dominating the texture. The martial music has a touch of brilliance about it, with lovely euphonium flourishes and tightly balanced close harmony. Subtle melodic details and shapes are coming across – nicely nuanced to contrast with medieval pastiche moments and the dissonant finish – excellent work and also control in the diminuendo to the end from muted cornets.

The soprano cornet soloist excels again in shaping the principal melody, supported by a resonant accompaniment. The flugel horn and solo cornet match the soprano – nice touch. This is being carefully and respectfully delivered. The controlled pianissimo ending is so quiet we can here the conversations from the bar next door – well done band! The ending is really beautiful – measured and controlled – out of which the glitzy finale emerges naturally and also expressively from the lower band.

Paul Jenkins then gradually winds things up, but the jazz fusion music is never over done – all in style and never so loud that we can’t hear the detail. When he lets the percussion off the leash, band responds with drive and power. Percussion went ott on the last chord but lots to admire in the playing here

The band achieved 5^th place in the Championship Section at the second leg of the 2017 Welsh League series, this year held at Burry Port Memorial Hall on October 7^th 2017.

With what the band believes to be the first competitive UK performance of the chosen test piece, the adjudicator, Ian Porthouse, placed the band amongst a strong field as shown in the full results below.

Best instrumentalist: Lawrence Savage – Cornet (Ebbw Valley Brass)
Best soprano cornet: Ellen Waite (Ebbw Valley Brass)
Best percussion section: Goodwick Brass

The band are pleased to have achieved 3^rd place in the Championship Section at the opening contest of the 2017 Welsh League series, held at Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre on May 6^th 2017.

In addition, the band are delighted that solo euphonium player, Bradley Barnes, was awarded the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ prize for the section.

In this Own Choice contest, adjudicated by Melvin White, the band chose to perform ‘Alhambra’ by Jan de Haan. Full results for the section are below.

Best instrumentalist: Bradley Barnes – Euphonium (Pontardulais Town Band)
Best horn: Evan Key (Llwydcoed Band)
Best back row: Llwydcoed Band