Welsh Open Title Defence

The band kicked off its 2023 contesting season, hoping to defend its title of ‘Welsh Open Champions’, with an appearance at the Welsh Open Entertainment Contest, held at The Riverfront in Newport on February 18^th 2023.

Fourteen Championship and First Section bands competed, with adjudicator Glyn Williams given the task of selecting a winner. Unfortunately, the band was unable to hold onto the CISWO Challenge Trophy, but was pleased with its performance, once again narrated by radio DJ and local Swansea personality, Kev Johns. The band choose to present the following programme:

• A Fantasy of Joy, Fredrick Schjelderup
• O Verona, Craigh Armstrong arr. Philip Harper
• Banana Island, Etienne Crausaz
• Ar Lan y Môr, Welsh Traditional arr. Leigh Baker
• Enchanted Kingdom, Paul Lovatt-Cooper

Full results for the contest ar shown below.

Position	Band	Conductor	Draw	Points
1	Ebbw Valley Brass	Gareth Ritter	12	198
2	Llwydcoed Band	Joshua Ruck	7	197
3	City of Cardiff (M1) Band	Chris Bond	14	196
4	Burry Port Town Band	Andrew Jones	13	194
5	Parc & Dare Band	Dewi Griffiths	2	193
6	Brunel Brass	Daniel Hall	5	192
7	Filton Concert Brass	Nathan Jenkins	3	191
8	Tongwynlais Temperance Band	Owen Farr	9	190
9	Pontardulais Town Band	Paul Jenkins	4	189
10	Jackfield Brass Band	Ryan Richards	10	188
11	Michelmersh Silver Band	Melvin White	11	187
12	Tylorstown Band	Gary Davies	8	186
13	B. T. M. Band	Jeff Hutcherson	6	185
14	Lewis Merthyr Band	Craig Roberts	1	184

Highest Placed First Section Band not in Prizes: B. T. M. Band

Most Entertaining Stage Presentation: Llwydcoed Band

Best Soloist: Philip Howells – Xylophone (Ebbw Valley Brass)

Best Cornet Player: Andrew Smith (Llwydcoed Band)

4BR Best Soprano Player: Tom King (Llwydcoed Band)

Best Horn Section: Brunel Brass

Best Percussion Section: Ebbw Valley Brass

Youngest Instrumentalist: Sioned Evans (Burry Port)

Invitation to compete at the 2023 Spring Festival: Burry Port