31 January 2014
The twelve shortlisted groups which are to compete in a new brass, wind and jazz band competition have been announced.
Band Cymru 2014 is the first competition held by S4C and Rondo Media production company especially for Welsh brass, wind and jazz bands, with a £10,000 prize for the overall winner.
The competition received 50 entries from groups of varying size and genre from the length and breadth of Wales and following a round of auditions the international judging panel has selected twelve to compete in the final rounds. The final rounds will be held in April and will be broadcast on S4C.
The bands are:
Northop Silver Band
Band BTM
Cory Band
James Clark’s Lonely Hearts Rugby Club Band
Band Jazz Tryfan
Liberty Big Band
Teddy Smith Big Band
Tongwynlais Temperance Band
Tredegar Town Band
Capital City Jazz Orchestra
Chamber Winds
Royal Welsh College Symphonic Brass
The shortlist was announced live on S4C's Heno programme on Friday 31 January. Watch the announcement online, on demand at s4c.co.uk/clic
The final rounds will be broadcast on S4C over four programmes and after selecting a winner from each programme, the judges will then consider each winning performance in order to award an overall winner of the title Band Cymru 2014, to be announced in a special final episode at the end of the series.
With emphasis on setting the standard and ensuring impartiality, the judging panel consists of three experts who are highly respected in their field and the audition process was held anonymously. The names of the three judges will not be revealed until the final rounds are held.
During the adjudication, the judges will not only mark the bands on technique and skill but also on the entertainment value of their performance.
One of the competition organisers, Hefin Owen, from Rondo Media, is looking forward to the contest.
Hefin Owen says, "Welsh band members are a community of dedicated, hardworking and passionate musicians, and their competitions are always hotly contested. By holding Band Cymru, and its broadcast on S4C, the hope is to provide a new platform which will draw a wider audience to a tradition which is thriving in Wales, among adults and the younger generation alike."
Gaynor Davies, S4C Content Commissioner for Music and Entertainment, says, "The response to the competition in its first year has been phenomenal. The final rounds will be exciting competitive events, which will offer S4C viewers a slightly different entertainment programme."
The competitions will be held at one of the strongholds of the Welsh band tradition, Parc and Dare Theatre Treorchy on 12 and 13 April. The rounds will be broadcast on S4C at a later date, which is yet to be confirmed, and the final episode in the series will announce the overall winner live.
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