News - Newyddion
March 2024 - Abertillery win Wales Area Section 2 title and sectional prizes
March 16, 2024
Abertillery has won the Wales Area Section 2 title for the first time at Brangwyn Hall in Swansea.
Under the direction of new MD Stephen Sykes, playing Phillip Sparke's test piece Triptych, the band has qualified as a result for the UK finals at Cheltenham in September 2024.
The band also picked up the two other first prizes available with euphonium, Andrew Thomas winning best solo instrumentalist, and percussionists David Llewellyn and Janine Brill awarded the cup for best percussion section.
Images courtesy of 4barsrest
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February 2024 - Stephen Sykes appointed as new Musical Director
Stephen has taken over as the new MD at Abertillery Band.
We are absolutely thrilled to have someone of his impeccable calibre to assume the mantle, taking over the role to build on the work of Alun F Williams in the past four years.
Steve has had a very busy 2024 already! He is an accomplished trombone soloist who has just been appointed as the new Principal Trombone at Cory Band. Congratulations, Steve!
Steve has had a very busy 2024 already! He is an accomplished trombone soloist who has just been appointed as the new Principal Trombone at Cory Band. Congratulations, Steve!
He was the first trombonist to win the BBC Radio 2 Brass soloist competition back in 2009. He has studied at the world famous Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Hons) Degree in 2013, again specialising in Trombone.
He has played in and in front of a number of exceptional brass bands over his playing career including Black Dyke, Cory, Tredegar, and Fairey, as well as having and active freelance career that has included performances with the likes of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Sting, and can be heard on TV on such programmes as “Dr Who” and “Our Girl”.
January 2024 - Alun F Williams steps down as Musical Director
Alun F Williams has stepped down as the MD at the band after four years at the helm.
During his time the band developed dramatically despite the enforced interruptions of the pandemic.
It qualified once again for the National Finals by coming 2nd at the Wales Area Brass Band Championships (second section) in Swansea in February 2020 with a growing reputation as an innovative, highly entertaining concert band.
We express our immense gratitude to Alun for his commitment over the past few years and all our best wishes for his next venture at Blaenafon Band.