Tystebau | Testimonials
Llwydcoed Band are one of the oldest brass bands in Wales, founded in 1912. They are a hardworking progressive band who serve their community and provide the opportunity for local people of all ages the opportunity to learn and experience music.
They run several bands, including a Learners Band, Junior Band and Senior Band. The Junior Band is conducted by Mr Richard Davies and, in addition to providing educational opportunities for local young musicians, the youth band frequently perform for senior citizens in care homes, additional young people in local primary schools, and concerts in local churches. They have close partnerships with St Fagan’s Church, Aberdare and Llwydcoed Primary School.
The Senior Band is conducted by Mr Christopher Turner, and in recent years he has transformed the band from a local enthusiastic musical group into a brass band of national prominence. Under Chris's guidance, the band have secured promotion from the Third Section through to the top of the Championship Section. The band are recognised as one of the top three brass bands in Wales and will represent the nation in the National Championships of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall London in October 2021.
Like the Junior Band, the Senior Band also support the local community. Both Mr Christopher Turner and Mr Richard Davies spend hours giving individuals tuition and rehearsing their respective Bands. The majority of their time is given voluntarily and without charge.
The Llwydcoed Brass Band, under the chairmanship of Mr Kevin Johnson, has been one of the very few Welsh bands that have remained proactive during the covid-19 pandemic. The band continue to meet every week online, and have produced some tremendous performances, which have been posted on social media in a bid to maintain the band's prominence and support of their local community. This online output even included a performance with the world's premiere percussionist soloist, Dame Evelyn Glennie.
I continue to be impressed by the incredible work this organisation continues to achieve, and the work it continues to do in encouraging and inspiring others to follow, not to say lifting the spirits and supporting the wellbeing of so many people during this torrid period of the covid-19 pandemic.
I have personally worked with the band on a number of occasions, and they remain a truly committed and talented group who not only achieve and maintain extremely high standards on a very limited budget, but who also continue to be a hardworking and thoroughly kind and motivated group of people.
I fully support the band, its current and future activities, and hope other will find it worthy to support their future artistic endeavours
Dr Robert Childs MMus (Dist) PGCE (Dist) FLCM (Hons) ARCM (Hons) FRW
Head of Band Studies
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
They run several bands, including a Learners Band, Junior Band and Senior Band. The Junior Band is conducted by Mr Richard Davies and, in addition to providing educational opportunities for local young musicians, the youth band frequently perform for senior citizens in care homes, additional young people in local primary schools, and concerts in local churches. They have close partnerships with St Fagan’s Church, Aberdare and Llwydcoed Primary School.
The Senior Band is conducted by Mr Christopher Turner, and in recent years he has transformed the band from a local enthusiastic musical group into a brass band of national prominence. Under Chris's guidance, the band have secured promotion from the Third Section through to the top of the Championship Section. The band are recognised as one of the top three brass bands in Wales and will represent the nation in the National Championships of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall London in October 2021.
Like the Junior Band, the Senior Band also support the local community. Both Mr Christopher Turner and Mr Richard Davies spend hours giving individuals tuition and rehearsing their respective Bands. The majority of their time is given voluntarily and without charge.
The Llwydcoed Brass Band, under the chairmanship of Mr Kevin Johnson, has been one of the very few Welsh bands that have remained proactive during the covid-19 pandemic. The band continue to meet every week online, and have produced some tremendous performances, which have been posted on social media in a bid to maintain the band's prominence and support of their local community. This online output even included a performance with the world's premiere percussionist soloist, Dame Evelyn Glennie.
I continue to be impressed by the incredible work this organisation continues to achieve, and the work it continues to do in encouraging and inspiring others to follow, not to say lifting the spirits and supporting the wellbeing of so many people during this torrid period of the covid-19 pandemic.
I have personally worked with the band on a number of occasions, and they remain a truly committed and talented group who not only achieve and maintain extremely high standards on a very limited budget, but who also continue to be a hardworking and thoroughly kind and motivated group of people.
I fully support the band, its current and future activities, and hope other will find it worthy to support their future artistic endeavours
Dr Robert Childs MMus (Dist) PGCE (Dist) FLCM (Hons) ARCM (Hons) FRW
Head of Band Studies
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
I was born and raised in Aberdare. Aged eleven, I went to Mardy House (C in W) Secondary School where I learned to play a brass instrument under the direction of Mr David Mabey, moving on to Aberdare Boys’ Grammar School after one year. At the age of thirteen I then joined Llwydcoed Band, under the direction of Mr. Bryn Davies, where I spent my formative playing years, until joining The Cory Band in Pentre, Rhondda, at the age of seventeen.
During my time at Llwydcoed Band, we attained much success (culminating in winning Section Two at the Coal Board National Finals). These formative years were a great foundation for me, and I went on to study music at the Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff, and going on to enjoy a successful career teaching brass instruments and as a composer / conductor. Indeed I was pleased to conduct the Llwydcoed Band itself for a period, during which time we again won the Coal Board National Finals.
Llwydcoed Band have gone from strength to strength by investing in the youth of the area. Many of the players that started in the band have gone on to achieve significant acclaim musically. At present the band is the best it has ever been, under the musical direction of Mr. Christopher Turner, culminating in qualifying for the National Brass Band Championship of Great Britain to represent Wales at the Royal Albert Hall among the country’s elite brass bands (of which Llwydcoed are one).
The band are to be held up as a beacon of success for the Cynon Valley, not only in musical standard, but also for its commitment to teaching and investing in youth. If any musical organisation is worthy of support, then Llwydcoed Band are true ambassadors for the area and artform, and deserve to be supported in this way. The band have done much to bring brass banding back to the fore in today’s society and long may they continue to do so.
Gareth Key
Key Signature Music
Somerset
I’ve been playing music for over 22 years with various of bands but that came to an end 4 years ago until I went to see Llwydcoed band play in their concert in 2018.
My retired music teacher’s wife introduced me to their chairman after the concert and he told me to come to band practice with Llwydcoed Junior Band on a Friday and I’ve been there ever since. They’ve taught me more about music over the years of playing with them and I really got back into music after taken a break for playing music for 2 years with my last band. It’s been great being part of a team again and to learn and play music together.
Now we’re in a critical time due to covid19 where we haven’t been able to meet up this year. Lockdown had really has taken a toll on me mentally so I am grateful Llwydcoed has brought the junior’s brass band practice via zoom on a Saturday morning for us to be able to see each other and be able to practice and continue to learn new music together it brought back a bit of light in my weeks of self-isolating.
Im looking forward to returning to playing live as soon as we are able to do so
Faithfully,
Lloyd Rowlands
Aberdare
My retired music teacher’s wife introduced me to their chairman after the concert and he told me to come to band practice with Llwydcoed Junior Band on a Friday and I’ve been there ever since. They’ve taught me more about music over the years of playing with them and I really got back into music after taken a break for playing music for 2 years with my last band. It’s been great being part of a team again and to learn and play music together.
Now we’re in a critical time due to covid19 where we haven’t been able to meet up this year. Lockdown had really has taken a toll on me mentally so I am grateful Llwydcoed has brought the junior’s brass band practice via zoom on a Saturday morning for us to be able to see each other and be able to practice and continue to learn new music together it brought back a bit of light in my weeks of self-isolating.
Im looking forward to returning to playing live as soon as we are able to do so
Faithfully,
Lloyd Rowlands
Aberdare
Cwmbach Male Choir is pleased to write a letter of support and endorsement for Llwydcoed Band. The choir have shared a long history and musical connection to the band, and are concerned at this particular moment of the current pandemic’s enforced restrictions are placíng on the future of the band.
Amazingly, the Band has been making music since its formation in the village of Llwydcoed in 1912. The community contribution of such an organisation is immeasurable, and it is thought-provoking to consider that, despite several of the stronger and larger communities in the Cynon Valley losing their Bands, Llwydcoed Band prospers, and now is the ONLY surviving Brass Band in our Valley, a valley which holds music making close to its heart.
In the current period, the band is maintaining its members’ connections to one another in weekly online practice sessions, and whilst not musically ideal, they do have value in providing comradeship and continuity, and are especially important for providing wellbeing opportunities for the members, and for maintaining the opportunities for the further development of those in the band’s Junior Section (vital of course to its future).
The periods of lockdown have robbed the band of a significant number of performance opportunities this year. The growing reputation of Llwydcoed Band in recent years, as a result of its competitive successes, means that they are currently missing out on the National Championships, after qualifying in March, and the opportunity to perform at the Royal Albert Hall. Nevertheless, they remain currently ranked Number 3 in Wales and are the current National Eisteddfod (Championship Section) champions.
Cwmbach Male Choir has always stood ready to perform alongside the Band to help their essential fund-raising, and though our most recent planned joint event, due in March sadly has to be cancelled due to the pandemic, we look forward to rescheduling as soon as circumstances permit.
We trust that alternative sources of funding will enable them, at this time of significant loss of income, to continue their cultural role in the Cynon Valley, and that they are able to continue to plan and deliver their vital music making well into the future.
I have great pleasure in enclosing this endorsement, and would be happy to be contacted at any time to provide further support as required.
Brian Williams
Chairman
Cwmbach Male Choir
I would like to offer this letter of support for the Llwydcoed Band. My daughter is a member of Llwydcoed Junior Band. They do amazing work teaching the next generation of brass band musicians. Schools have had their funding dramatically cut over the years and without Llwydcoed brass band supporting and teaching these young people then the future of bands and music in our area would be very bleak. Through Llwydcoed brass band my daughter has had amazing experiences from playing in the Brangwyn Hall Swansea, to competing with and meeting other youth brass bands. Without future investments the long tradition of bands will be seriously compromised as future generations will not have the knowledge, confidence and love of playing a musical instrument, and audiences will also not be able to enjoy the wonder of music. In the current global situation, a lot of focus is directed towards good mental health and wellbeing. Music gives a young person a sense of purpose, a challenge and a massive sense of achievement. Supporting Llwydcoed brass band would be an investment in continuing a much loved and much needed tradition
Ruth Jeffries
Aberdare