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

Burry Port Town Band travelled to Cheltenham to compete against the best First Section bands in the country in the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain. All 17 bands performed the set test piece “Vivat!”, a specially commission work from the pen of former Burry Port junior and senior band member Tom Davoren.  Having been drawn to play 16th out of the 17 bands, Burry Port had to endure a very long wait to perform, and did not take the stage until just after 8pm. However, the hanging around proved to be worth it with the band delivering a majestic performance of the piece, all the way through from the quiet, exposed opening movement “In Memoriam”, a test of nerves for even the most experienced players, to the pomp and thrills of the “Coronation” and “Jubilate” movements, with the final note drawing enthusiastic applause from the large audience.  In their general remarks, adjudicators Frank Renton and Kevin Wadsworth commented that although many bands were...

Burry Port Town Band have been crowned Welsh First Section Champions, after beating off the challenge of six other bands at the Welsh Regional Brass Band Championships in Swansea’s Brangwyn Hall. Having finished the 2011 season in fine style, winning the last two contests of the year, the band maintained their fine run of form in a result which earned them a qualifying place at the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain in Cheltenham in September, and which also ensured that they regained their Championship Section status after just two years in the First Section. The band’s Soprano Cornet player Jayne Thomas also added to her growing collection of “Best Instrumentalist” awards, picking up where she left off at the Blaenavon contest in November. Gareth John, the band’s spokesman, said, "The band has really been building towards this performance over the last two months or so. We finished the 2011 season in good form, winning the last two contests of the year and w...