2019 WWBBA Festival of Brass
West Wales Brass Band Association Festival of Brass Competition, hosted by the Gwaun Cae Gurwen Brass Band took place on Saturday 5th October. It proved to be a case of the ‘home advantage’ working its magic for the hosts who claimed victory in the Fourth Section, under the relatively new leadership of MD Rob Burnett (pictured), who took over the baton just over a year ago. Regarded as one of the finest Welsh euphonium players of his generation, Rob has played for the likes of Cory, Tredegar, Parc & Dare and more latterly Mid Rhondda. He has also gained wide-ranging respect for his teaching and conducting over the years, including a highly enjoyable spell in France.
Congratulations to all the prizewinners, with a particular mention to Newport Borough Brass Band, who completed a hat trick of WWBBA wins at the weekend, with husband and wife team Robin and Amy Hackett taking the winning MD and soloist prize respectively. Not content to leave the success there, Amy also went on to run and complete the Cardiff Half Marathon the following day!
A spokesperson for the Festival stated, “Thank you all for supporting the 2019 Festival of Brass and making it the success that it was. “
Results
4th Section
1st - Gwaun Cae Gurwen Band 175 points
2nd - Cwmtawe Brass 174 points
3rd - Crosskeys Silver Band 173 points
4th - Oakdale Silver Band 172 points
Best instrumentalist - Elin Jones - Cwmtawe Brass
Winning Conductor Trophy - Robert Burnett- Gwaun Cae Gurwen Band
3rd Section
1st - RAF St Athan Voluntary Band 180 points
2nd - Briton Ferry Silver Band 179 points
3rd - Ynyshir Brass Band 178 points
4th - Upper Rhondda Brass Band 177 points
5th - Severn Tunnel Band - 176 points
Best instrumentalist - Soprano - Pauline Morgan - RAF St Athan Voluntary Band
Winning Conductor Trophy - Alan Bourne - RAF St Athan Voluntary Band
2nd Section
1st - Newport Borough Brass Band - 186 points
2nd - Mid Rhondda Brass Band - 184 points
3rd - Abertillery Town Band - 182 points
4th - Seindorf Arian Crwbin - 181 points
5th - Ammanford Town Silver Band - 180 points
6th - Penclawdd Brass - 179 points
Best instrumentalist - Flugel - Amy Hackett - Newport Borough Brass Band
Winning Conductor Trophy - Robin Hackett - Newport Borough Brass Band
Youth Section
Pontardulais Training Band - Gold Award
Gwaun Cae Gurwen Junior Band - Silver Award
Newport Borough Training Band - Silver Award
Best performance of the day: The West Wales Trophy - Pontardulais Training Band
Best Section Award: The Trevada Music Trophy - Percussion - Pontardulais Training Band
1st Section
1st - Burry Port Town Band - 188 points
2nd - Pontardulais Town Band - 187 points
3rd - Markham & District Band - 186 points
Best instrumentalist - Christopher Jenkins - Pontardulais Town Band.
Winning Conductor Trophy - Ceri John - Burry Port Town Band
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