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.
The band was pleased to attain 2nd place in the First Section at the opening leg of the newly restructured 2019 Welsh League series. The contest was held on May 11th 2019, and once again took place at Willows High School in Cardiff.
Best Instrumentalist – Christopher Jenkins
With the contest reformatted to recognise National Gradings and with the removal of promotion and relegation, the band competed in a small field of four bands at this Own Choice contest.
The band elected to perform ‘Of Distant Memories’ by Edward Gregson, with Paul Holland adjudicating the section.
In addition to the 2nd place awarded to the band, principal cornet player Christopher Jenkins again collected the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ prize, having won the ‘Best Instrumentalist’ prize at the final Welsh League series contest of 2018 in Cardiff.
Full results for the section are below.
Position
Band
Piece
Draw
1
B. T. M. Band (Jeff Hutcherson)
Symphony of Marches (Gilbert Vinter)
3
2
Pontardulais Town Band (Paul Jenkins)
Of Distant Memories (Edward Gregson)
4
3
Markham & District Band (Matt Rowe)
Symphony of Marches (Gilbert Vinter)
2
4
Abergavenny Borough Band (Sean O’Neill)
Variations on Laudate Dominum (Edward Gregson)
1
Best instrumentalist: Christopher Jenkins – Cornet (Pontardulais Town Band)
The band would like to congratulate Neil Palmer (a.k.a. Mr. Pontardulais Town Band) on winning the Lifetime Achievement Award in the South Wales Evening Post Community Awards 2019.
The award ceremony took place at the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea on Friday 22nd March. The judges for the award were:
Leon Britton – Swansea City AFC Ambassador
Lisa Cameron – Commercial Managing Director of Media Wales
Kev Johns MBE – Actor and Broadcaster
Phillipa Mounsey – representing one of the sponsors, McDonald’s
Mathew Rees – 2018 Amabassador Award winner
Jonathan Roberts – Editor at South Wales Evening Post
The band achieved 3rd place on its return to the 1st Section at the Welsh Regional Championships 2019, held at the William Aston Hall at Wrexham Glyndwr University on 16th March 2019.
On an emotional day, and following a difficult couple of weeks for conductor Paul Jenkins after a family bereavement , the band was very proud of its performance and only narrowly missed out on an invitation to represent Wales for a second successive year at the finals of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain.
Performing the set test piece ‘Symphony of Marches’ by Gilbert Vinter, the band were placed 3rd by adjudicators Sheona Wade and Roger Webster, behind Goodwick Brass and Burry Port Town Band, to complete a West Wales 1 – 2 – 3!
Burry Port Town Band’s euphonium player and Besson Artist, Robbert Vos, won the Best Instrumentalist prize.
Full results for the section are below.
Position
Band
Conductor
Draw
1
Goodwick Brass
Matthew Jenkins
7
2
Burry Port Town Band
Ceri John
3
3
Pontardulais Town Band
Paul Jenkins
9
4
Deiniolen Silver Band
Lois Eifion
10
5
Tylorstown Band
Gary Davies
6
6
Lewis Merthyr Band
Craig Roberts
2
7
B. T. M. Band
Nigel Seaman
1
8
Markham & District Band
Matthew Rowe
5
9
Llanrug Band
Brian Connolly
4
10
Ifton Colliery Band
Scott Lloyd
8
11
Abergavenny Borough Band
Sean O’Neill
11
Best instrumentalist: Robbert Vos – Euphonium (Burry Port Town Band)
Some comments on the performance from brass band media on the day were as follow:
From 4barsrest.com –Pontardulais provide the judges with a mature, well controlled account to ponder. MD picks his tempos judiciously as well as the dynamics. The odd smudge here and there, but this had a touch of richness to compliment the wit and thoughtfulness.
From 4barsrest.com on Twitter – A mature performance of quality from Pontardulais – confident as well as considered. Odd little moment or two but such a coherent and musically authentic whole.
The band enjoyed performing at the Welsh Open Entertainment Contest, held at the Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl on February 16th 2019.
On stage at the Welsh Open 2019
Making a first appearance at the contest since 2016, and in a strong field of Championship and 1st Section bands, the band had the difficult task of catching the ear of adjudicators Philip Harper and Sarah Hayward, with a programmed entitled ‘The Eye of a Child’. The set list was as follows:
Activate, Matthew Hall (Soloist: Gareth Halfpenny)
Carnival of Venice, James Benedict/Harry James arr. Mark Freeh (Soloist: Chris Jenkins)
Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel), Billy Joel arr. Philip Harper (Soloists: Owain Evans, David Kelly, Gareth Halfpenny, Adrian Hiscock and Martyn Llewellyn)
Helter Skelter, W. G. Lemon arr. Ray Woodfield (Soloist: Sara Llewellyn)
Tale of the Dragon, Paul Lovatt-Cooper (Soloists: Kevin Shanklin, Chris Jenkins, Owain Evans, Tara Smith, Lyndon Harris and Gareth Halfpenny)
Though the band didn’t feature in the prizes on this occasion, the performance puts the band in good stead ahead of the Welsh Regional Championships in Wrexham in a month’s time.
Dylan Fowles on his debut contest appearance
Another positive from the day was the first contest appearance with the senior band for brothers Tom and Dylan Fowles, who have both progressed through the Junior band. While Tom already has some contesting experience under his belt, this was Dylan’s first ever contest appearance, and both brothers sportingly agreed to play percussion for the demanding final piece of the programme, which even involved playing Japanese Taiko drums!
Full results for the day are below.
Position
Band
Conductor
Draw
Points
1
Filton Concert Brass
Tom Davoren
13
193
2
City of Cardiff M1 Band
Chris Bond
4
190
3
Llwydcoed Band
Chris Turner
7
189
4
Thundersley Brass Band
Melvin White
12
188
5
Jackfield Brass Band
David Maplestone
6
187
6
Tongwynlais Temperance Band
Gareth Hann
1
186
7
Enderby Band
Ryan Richards
10
185
8
Haverhill Silver Band
Paul Filby
8
184
9
Burry Port Town Band
Ceri John
9
182
10
Pontardulais Town Band
Paul Jenkins
11
181
11
Tylorstown Band
Gary Davies
5
180
12
A.W. Parker Drybrook Band
Joshua Ruck
2
178
13
B. T. M. Band
Jeff Hutcherson
14
177
14
Abergavenny Borough Band
Sean O’Neil
3
176
Most Entertaining Band: Filton Concert Brass
Best First Section Band (not in main prizes): Jackfield Brass Band
Best Soloist: James McLeod – Euphonium (Thundersley Brass Band)
Best Cornet: Tim Pannell (Haverhill Silver Band)
Best Soprano Cornet: Adrian Williams (Burry Port)
Best Horn Section: Filton Concert Brass
Best Percussion Section: Jackfield Brass Band
Youngest Player: Dylan Rowlands – 12 (Burry Port)
Spring Festival Invitation: Thundersley Brass Band
February 9th 2019 saw the return of the Pontardulais Town Band Awards Evening, held on this occasion at Tree Tops Country Club in Swansea.
The awards were presented by new Band President, Mr. Garry Owen, and the prize winners were as follows:
Most Improved Player of the Year: Lyndon Harris (Euphonium)
Bandsperson of the Year: Carly Shanklin (Cornet)
Player of the Year: Gareth Halfpenny (Trombone)
Players’ Player of the Year: Kevin Shanklin (Soprano cornet)
A special presentation was also made to Jayne Kinnear for her tireless work ‘behind the scenes’ over the past year, which has included securing numerous grants for the band to fund Workshops, purchase instruments for the Training band and for upgrading band facilities, to name but a few. Jayne was also heavily involed in the planning of the hugely successful Festival of Remembrance Concert held in November 2018.
Most Improved Player of the Year – Lyndon Harris
Bandsperson of the Year – Carly Shanklin
Player of the Year – Gareth Halfpenny
Players’ Player of the Year – Kevin Shanklin
Special Contribution Award – Jayne Morgan Kinnear
All the prize winners, along with Band President Garry Owen, Band Chairperson Sue Aldrich and Senior Band Conductor Paul Jenkins.
The band are pleased to announce that Mr. Haldon Evans, the band’s current composer in residence, has been selected as one of eight composers to take part in Tŷ Cerdd’s new CoDI BUDDIES scheme, working with the Pontardulais Town Junior Band.
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 2nd 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.
Best Instrumentalist – Christopher Jenkins, Cornet
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 1st place, three 2nd 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.
Position
Band
Conductor
Draw
1
Llwydcoed Band
Chris Turner
1
2
Pontardulais Town Band
Paul Jenkins
5
3
Tylorstown Band
Gary Davies
2
4
Ebbw Valley Brass
Gareth Ritter
4
5
Markham & District Band
Matthew Rowe
3
Best instrumentalist: Christopher Jenkins – Cornet (Pontardulais Town Band) Best trombone: Gareth Robinson (Llwydcoed Band) Best bass section: Llwydcoed Band
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’.
On a very wet and windy day, the band were placed 6th in the Championship Section at the second leg of the 2018 Welsh League series, held at Haverfordwest High VC School on October 13th 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.
Position
Band
Piece
Draw
1
Llwydcoed Band
(Chris Turner)
Of Distant Memories
(Edward Gregson)
6
2
Goodwick Brass
(Matthew Jenkins)
A King’s Lie
(Stan Nieuwenhuis)
3
3
Markham & District Band
(Matthew Rowe)
Coventry Variations
(Bramwell Tovey)
2
4
Ebbw Valley Brass
(Gareth Ritter)
King Arthur – Scenes from a Radio Drama
(Benjamin Britten arr. Paul Hindmarsh)
1
5
Tylorstown Band
(Gary Davies)
Tallis Variations
(Philip Sparke)
5
6
Pontardulais Town Band
(Paul Jenkins)
Chivalry
(Martin Ellerby)
4
Best instrumentalist: Steve Stonelake – Baritone (Llwydcoed) Best soprano cornet: Jayne Thomas (Markham & District Band) Best percussion section: Goodwick Brass
