Pontarddulais Town Band is proud to mark the 80th anniversary of its reformation after the war with a special concert on Saturday 13th June 2026 at Pontarddulais Sports Hall.
While the band’s history stretches back even further, this milestone celebrates 80 years of continuous music-making at the heart of the community. Under Musical Director Paul Jenkins, the programme will reflect both our heritage and our ongoing commitment to the future.
We are delighted to welcome Garry Owen as compere, with special guests Cor Meibion Pontarddulais, and performances from our own Brass@Bont Academy Band—showcasing the next generation of local talent.
Doors open at 5:30pm, with the concert starting at 6:00pm. Tickets are £12, with free entry for primary school pupils.
Join us for an evening celebrating 80 years of music, community, and tradition.
Saturday November 18th 2023 saw the band head over the Severn Bridge to take part in a concert outside Wales for what is believed to be the first time!
Held at the Salvation Army Hall in Easton, Bristol, the ‘Best of Brass’ concert featured Filton Concert Brass and Pontardulais Town Band, along with guest Euphonium soloist Daniel Thomas, of the Cory Band.
Filton Concert Brass, with guest conductor Anri Adachi, opened the concert and chose to perform their recent Wychavon Festival of Brass set, before accompanying Daniel on ‘Rhapsody for Euphonium and Brass Band’.
The second part of the concert saw Pontardulais Town Band, conducted by Paul Jenkins, take to the stage to perform their own selection of pieces and to accompany Daniel on ‘In Gardens of Peace’ and ‘Fantasie Originale’.
The final part of the concert saw both bands combine to perform four pieces together, with Anri and Paul sharing conducting duties, appropriately closing with a rendition of ‘Fire in the Blood’ – a piece which was originally commissioned to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the International Staff Band of the Salvation Army.
All proceeds from the concert went towards the Salvation Army’s work in the Easton region of Bristol.
The full programme of music from the concert is below.
Filton Concert Brass (Anri Adachi)
Clans Collide
Philip Harper
Cry Me a River Cornet Soloist: Neil Allen
Arthur Hamilton arr. TBC
Adagio
Samuel Barber arr. Keith Griffin
I Got Rhythm
George Gershwin arr. Alan Fernie
Thunder and Lightning
Johann Strauss arr. Frank Wright
Rhapsody for Euphonium and Brass Band Euphonium Soloist: Daniel Thomas
Johan Evenepoel
Pontardulais Town Band (Paul Jenkins)
Amazonia (from Windows of the World)
Peter Graham
Sosban Fach
Gareth Wood
In Gardens of Peace Euphonium Soloist: Daniel Thomas
Philip Harper
Fantasie Originale Euphonium Soloist: Daniel Thomas
Ermanno Picchi/Simone Mantia arr. Margaret Antrobus
Finale from Symphony No IV
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky arr. William Gordon
Massed Bands
March – Praise
Wilfred Heaton
Banana Island
Etienne Crausaz
Nimrod (from Enigma Variations)
Edward Elgar arr. Eric Ball
Fire in the Blood
Paul Lovatt-Cooper
ENCORE – Climb Every Mountain
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein arr. Philip Harper
We regret to advise that due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, the concert arranged for 1st October at Morriston Tabernacle has been cancelled. All tickets sold will be refunded.
As the ongoing COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic has once again resulted in the cancellation of most of the band’s Christmas performances, the band instead has a very special treat for you – a joint virtual concert from Pontardulais Town Band and the incredible Pontarddulais Male Choir, with an introduction by the choir’s President, Mr Eric Jones.
The band are incredibly grateful to both for their contributions and are honoured to be sharing a stage with them, albeit a virtual one! The band sincerely hope Christmas 2022 will see the return of the much loved community Christmas Concert and the opportunity for all musical organisations in Pontarddulais to perform together once again.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
The ongoing COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic has unfortunately restricted our ability to spread some much needed Christmas cheer in the local community.
Instead of public performances at local supermarkets, pubs, in the community and of course our annual Christmas concert, we are delighted to share a selection of past performances of our favourite Pontardulais Town Band Christmas pieces to put you in the festive mood.
As we countdown to the big day, we will be posting a new piece every day, including something VERY special on the weekend of the 19th/20th.
Keep an eye on our Facebook page, or check this page for updates!
24th December – We Wish You A Merry Christmas
For our final video, a socially distanced offering of the piece we normally finish our carol playing sessions with.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our Christmas videos, we end with a message from the Chair of Pontardulais Town Band:
This year has proved to be a difficult one for us all. We are very grateful to all of you for your support in these very challenging times and value your continued assistance. The committee has been busy in working together and collaborating in keeping our members safe. We are now looking forward to the future in 2021 and would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Sue Aldrich Chairperson, Pontardulais Town Band
23rd December – The Twelve Days of Christmas
Time for a sing-along! This has become a bit of a tradition at our annual Christmas Concert!
22nd December – (Not So) Silent Night
Now a different take, by Jonathan Mead, on the classic Silent Night, performed by the Senior, Training and Beginner Bands. Definitely another one to watch until the end…
21st December – Mary, Did You Know?
A change of pace today with this piece, arranged by our solo horn player, Tara Smith.
20th December – Santa Claus-Trophobia
Next up is the second of our special videos, recorded especially for this Christmas!
19th December – Jingle Bells
Here is the first of the special videos as promised, recorded especially for this Christmas!
18th December – Winter Wonderland
Another festive favourite today!
17th December – Christmas Overture
How many Christmas songs and carols can you count in today’s offering?
16th December – One Day I’ll Fly Away
Next up is a solo from our soprano cornet player, Kevin ‘Snowman’ Shanklin. Once again, keep watching for the hidden bonus track at the end…
15th December – A Christmas Adventure
Today’s piece feature a solo from our solo horn player, Tara Smith.
14th December – Jingle Bells
Now a joint effort from the Senior, Training and Beginners Bands.
13th December – O Holy Night
Next up, we feature our solo euphonium player, Lyndon Harris. Watch to the end for an extra treat…
12th December – Festive Intrada
Sit back, relax and enjoy our first piece, Festive Intrada – do keep a look out for a very naughty elf…
Due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic there is no Remembrance Parade in Pontarddulais this year. This video, using footage from previous years’ parades and the 2018 WW1 100 Years Remembrance Concert, as well as contributions from Pontarddulais Male Choir and Pontarddulais Town Band, has been put together as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces, veterans and their families.
The band was sadly unable to hold its Annual Concert at Pontardulais Comprehensive School, scheduled for July 4th, due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.
Instead, the band were delighted to share its first ever Virtual Concert, which included some of its highlight performances and outstanding soloists’ contributions from previous Annual Concerts. The virtual compere for the evening was Band President, Garry Owen.
The band hope you enjoy the concert and encourage you to share it with your friends and family to enjoy too.
As mentioned at the end of the video, if you enjoyed the concert and would like to make a donation to the band, please follow this link to the band’s current campaign on GoFundMe.
Programme
Men of Harlech
Traditional
1.
Ol’ Man River
Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern, arr. Mark Freeh
2015
2.
Prelude on Two Welsh Hymns
Jonathan Mead
2019
3.
Stardust Guest Soloist: Chris Thomas – Trombone
Hoagy Carmichael arr. Bill Geldard
2015
4.
Green Hornet Guest Soloist: Tom Hutchinson – Trumpet
The band was once again proud to lead the Remembrance Sunday Parade in Pontardulais on 10th November 2019. The Senior Band was pleased to be joined on Parade by members of the Training Band, some of whom were taking part in their first Remembrance Parade.
Special thanks to band member Iwan Hill for playing the Last Post at the outdoor Service held at the War Memorial in Pontardulais.
Pontardulais Town Band welcomed tenor horn star Sheona White as guest artist for the Annual Concert on July 6th 2019. Sheona entertained the audience with a selection of classic repertoire, which included ‘Demelza’, ‘Cappricio Brilliante’ and ‘The Piper O’ Dundee’, a piece originally commissioned for Sheona.
The band’s selection of pieces for the evening included the world premiere of a piece written by band member Jonathan Mead, titled ‘Prelude on Two Welsh Hymn Tunes’.
The Training Band also performed a set at the Annual Concert, which this year included a solo by trombone player Evan Kinnear, who chose to play ‘Kid Shifter’.
Following their performance, the Training Band Awards were presented to members by this year’s guest soloist, Sheona White. Congratulations to all the winners, who were as follows:
Best Attender – Eleri Huxtable Most Improved Player – Dylan Davis (Left) Player of the Year – Evan Kinnear (Centre) J. D. W. Maclean Bandsman of the Year – Ffion Llewelyn (Right)
At the Patrons’ reception prior to the concert, Band President and compere for the evening, Garry Owen, was presented with a band blazer and tie by band chairperson, Sue Aldrich.
Band President Garry Owen presented with his band blazer and tie.
A busy Remembrance weekend saw the band perform at a special ‘Festival of Remembrance Concert’ on the Saturday evening, before leading the traditional parade on the Sunday morning.
The concert, commemorating 100 years since the end of World War 1, saw the band give a world premiere performance of a composition written for the band, ‘Bugles Sang’, from the pen of local composer and current composer in residence of the Pontardulais Town Band, Mr. Haldon Evans.
Also performing at the concert were soprano soloist Adele O’Neill, local choirs Côr Glandulais and Lleisiau Lliw, and the prize-winning Pontarddulais Male Choir.
A number of performances were given by local children – choirs from Pontarddulais Primary School and Ysgol Llanedi, a choir and saxophone ensemble from Pontarddulais Comprehensive School and a dramatic presentation by Ysgol Gymraeg Bryniago.
The concert was held at Pontarddulais Comprehensive School and was compèred by Rhodri Lewis.
Llanelli online were present at the concert and have a report, along with photographs, available on their website.
Popular brass band website 4barsrest.com also have a report on their website, specifically about the premiere of ‘Bugles Sang’.
