Massive congratulations to the Tredegar Town Band on a podium place at last weekend’s European Brass Band Championships in Linz, Austria.
The band’s combined efforts of 3rd place on the test-piece “Alienus” by Thomas Doss and 5th place in the own-choice section, having performed Gavin Higgins’ work “So Spoke Albion” ensured that Tredegar (led by their Musical Director Ian Porthouse) were awarded 3rd place overall. A fantastic achievement!
This was followed on the Sunday with an excellent performance from Seindorf Ieuenctid Beaumaris led by Musical Director Pete Cowlishaw. Their programme included “Prismatic Light” (Alan Fernie), “A Time For Peace” (Peter Graham), the set-work “Burn the Church” (Otto M. Schwarz) and “Valaisia Variants” (Tom Davoren) and earned the Band a very creditable 6th place.
Both bands are to be congratulated and commended for their efforts, not only musically, but in making the huge commitment both financially and logistically to make it to the championships in the first place.
Welsh banding also had three additional young ambassadors, who were performing with the European Youth Brass Band, performing at a variety of events during theweeklong Championships. Ellis Jones (Tuba), Dylan Savage (Cornet) and Matthew Slade (Baritone) were excellent representatives and acquitted themselves superbly. Their attendance was self-funded, however this aided by generous donations from, the West Wales Brass Band Association, South East Wales BBA and the Friends of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales. Thank you one and all!
A special thanks too, goes to our own Brass Band Wales General Manager, Graham Howe, who travelled out to Austria in his own time, to represent Wales at the European Brass Band Association (EBBA) meetings and activities held during the Championships.
Finally, we extend our congratulations to the newly crowned European Champions, the Flowers Band (representing England), who were led by Paul Holland (a Welshman!) in two stunning performances over the weekend.
Pen-Campwriaethau Bandiau Pres Ewropeaidd 2026 – Linz, Austra
Llongyfarchiadau mawr i Fand Tref Tredegar ar safle ar y podiwm ym Mhencampwriaethau Bandiau Pres Ewrop penwythnos diwethaf yn Linz, Awstria.
Sicrhaodd ymdrechion cyfunol y band o ddod yn 3ydd ar y darn prawf “Alienus” gan Thomas Doss a’r 5ed safle yn yr adran hunanddewis, ar ôl perfformio gwaith Gavin Higgins “So Spoke Albion”, fod Tredegar (dan arweiniad eu Cyfarwyddwr Cerdd Ian Porthouse) wedi ennill y 3ydd safle. Camp wych!
Dilynwyd hyn ar y Sul gyda pherfformiad rhagorol gan Seindorf Ieuenctid Beaumaris dan arweiniad y Cyfarwyddwr Cerdd Pete Cowlishaw. Roedd eu rhaglen yn cynnwys“Prismatic Light” (Alan Fernie), “A Time For Peace” (Peter Graham), y gwaith gosod “Burn the Church” (Otto M. Schwarz) a “Valaisia Variants” (Tom Davoren) ac enillodd y Band y 6ed safle clodwiw iawn.
Mae’r ddau fand i’w llongyfarch a’u canmol am eu hymdrechion, nid yn unig yn gerddorol, ond am wneud yr ymrwymiad enfawr yn ariannol ac yn logistaidd i gyrraedd y pencampwriaethau yn y lle cyntaf.
Roedd gan fandiau Cymru dri llysgennad ifanc ychwanegol hefyd, a oedd yn perfformio gyda Band Pres Ieuenctid Ewrop, gan berfformio mewn amrywiaeth o ddigwyddiadauyn ystod wythnos y Pencampwriaethau. Roedd Ellis Jones (Tiwba), Dylan Savage (Cornet) a Matthew Slade (Bariton) yn gynrychiolwyr rhagorol ac fe wnaethant eu hunain ynwych. Cafodd eu presenoldeb eu hariannu eu hunain, fodd bynnag, cynorthwywyd hyn gan roddion hael gan Gymdeithas Bandiau Pres Gorllewin Cymru, Cymdeithas Bandiau Pres De-ddwyrain Cymru a Chyfeillion Band Pres Ieuenctid Cenedlaethol Cymru. Diolch i chi gyd!
Diolch arbennig hefyd i Rheolwr Cyffredinol Bandiau Pres Cymru, Graham Howe, a deithiodd allan i Awstria yn ei amser ei hun, i gynrychioli Cymru yng nghyfarfodydd a gweithgareddau Cymdeithas Bandiau Pres Ewrop (EBBA) a gynhaliwyd yn ystod y Pencampwriaethau.
Yn olaf, rydym yn estyn ein llongyfarchiadau i Bencampwyr Ewrop newydd eu coroni, y Flowers Band (yn cynrychioli Lloegr), a arweiniwyd gan Paul Holland (Cymro!) mewndau berfformiad syfrdanol dros y penwythnos.