Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Burry Port Town Band are looking forward to their forthcoming Summer Concert on Saturday 29th June in the Memorial Hall, Burry Port starting at 7:30pm. Conducted by Musical Director Nigel Seaman, the programme will be varied and entertaining, featuring music from the movies together with some more traditional brass band repertoire. Pre-concert drinks will be served from 6pm and patrons benefit from a pre-concert talk with Mr Nigel Seaman. The band will be joined by our special guests, Hywel Girls Choir and Hywel Boys Singers, making it a very special evening. The Burry Port Youth Band will also be playing a key part. Tickets are available from Burry Port Premier Stores, Elgan Jones Butchers, Saith Gallery, Edmond John on 01554 833749 or online from tickets@burryporttownband.co.uk and are priced at £10 'Early Bird' prior to the concert or £12.50 on the door, with children welcome free of charge. Band Chairman, Graham Howe said: "The band have been working hard this y...

The Burry Port Town Band held their second youth music event at the Memorial Hall, Burry Port. The West Wales Brass Festival saw an encouraging field of entries, which doubled from last year's event. There was an exceptional group of adjudicators lined up for the day - Mr Alan Bourne, Mr Matthew Jenkins to adjudicate the solo, duet and trio classes; Mr Tom Davoren and Mr Nigel Seaman to adjudicate the Ensembles and Youth Band sections. It meant that all the entrants received two sets of encouraging and supportive feedback on their performances. Tom said: "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-preservation 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!” Graham Howe, the band's chairman commented; "We...

Burry Port Opera's production this year will be Bellini's Norma. Performances are Wednesday 31st October, Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd November. All performances start at 7pm at Burry Port Memorial Hall. Norma was first performed in 1831; it is an opera in two acts. The production at Burry Port will be the second time the society has performed Norma; the previous production was in 1979. Story: A secret love unites Norma, a Druid priestess with Pollione the Roman Proconsul, father of her two children. Pollione has grown tired of the aging Druid and has fallen in love with Adalgisa a young temple virgin. Despite Adalgisa 's piety and virtue she agrees to flee to Rome with Pollione. Adalgisa in her innocence tells Norma of her love. Norma curses Pollione for his deceit and treachery. In her trauma Norma contemplates killing her two children in preference to abandoning them to Adalgisa, but in her love for them she finally consigns them to the...

On Saturday 14th April, Burry Port Town Band will host their famous Twmpath at the Memorial Hall, Burry Port. Doors open at 7pm and the wonderful evening will include a Welsh Cawl (vegetarian option available) and themed Welsh dessert followed by a traditional Twmpath, which is always well received as a highlight of this convivial evening. Musical entertainment will be provided by young brass players of the Burry Port Town Band’s Tenuto group to welcome guests on arrival. Refreshments will be available from the licensed bar and Mr Huw John will lead the evening's Twmpath. Tickets cost just £12.50, which includes the cost of the meal and Twmpath and these can be obtained by contacting Mr Edmond John on 01554 833749 This Welsh Night is not limited to the people of Burry Port and we are extremely keen to welcome visitors from further afield to experience the tremendous friendship and community spirit that exists in this wonderful part of West Wales.

The Burry Port Town Band held their inaugural youth music event, the Brass Solo & Ensemble Day, at the Memorial Hall, Burry Port. Eleven soloists competed in various classes. In the 10 and Under class, Dino Caligary was awarded the Gold Award, with Ellie Carlsen, Emily Lewis and Adam Morris each achieving Silver Award and the Bronze Awards in this class being awarded to Eloise Denny and Jessica Lewis. In the 12 and Under class, both Harry McBride and Cian Murphy both achieved Gold Award as was the case in the 14 and Under class with both Harry Lloyd and Rhodri Thomas achieving Gold award with Heini Williams achieving Silver Award in the 16 and Under class. Mr Alan Bourne was joined by Mr Tom Daveron as day’s adjudicators. Tom said: "It it was a real pleasure coming back to Burry Port to adjudicate this event 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 throu...

The Burry Port Town Band will hold their inaugural solo and ensemble day on Saturday 4th February at the Memorial Hall, Burry Port. With solo, duet, trio and ensemble classes for young players and more experienced players, the band hope that the event will be well supported by brass players from schools, ensembles and bands from the South Wales area. Burry Port Town Band’s Musical Director, Michael Thorne, said: “Burry Port Town Band is to be applauded for giving youngsters a new and exciting platform to perform. The musical benefits for each individual are obvious and the experience will also enhance them educationally and socially. I look forward to a truly memorable and musically rewarding day.” The band are very excited that they’ve engaged some talented, local adjudicators, who both started their brass band careers with the Band, with Mr Tom Davoren BMus (Hons) MMus (Wales) and Mr Alan Bourne JP BMus (Wales) FLCM ARCM ADWCMD joining for the day. Geraint Thomas, the Band's ...

Burry Port Opera will be performing Donizetti’s amusing, lighthearted opera L’Elisir D’Amore at The Memorial Hall, Burry Port, in November. Tickets are available from Geoff Rudge on 01554 835659.