The brass band movement ground to a halt during the COVID-19 pandemic; almost two years have passed since the first lockdown was introduced in the UK, and there have been very few live events since.
BTM took part in the National Finals last September, and ran its successful Christmas Concert in mid-December, but as the Omicron variant emerged live events were then either postponed or cancelled, with rehearsals also impacted by COVID-19 restrictions and absences.
However, green shoots of recovery for live events are starting to appear - including the first brass band competition in South Wales since before the COVID-19 pandemic will be held on Saturday 20 February: the Welsh Open.
BTM has always been a big supporter of this event, and this year is no different. The band has historically done well at this event, winning the First Prize and Best Soloist awards on numerous occasions.
Fourteen bands from across South Wales & South West England will converge on the new venue (Newport’s excellent Riverfront Theatre) to perform a 20-minute entertainment set, and BTM is looking forward to performing live for an audience again. The band has been working hard on their classic entertainment set!
This contest is also ideal preparation for the band, as we look to defend our Welsh Regional title (Section 1), won in 2020. Work has already begun on the set test-piece for the Welsh Regional Championships 2022 (Gilbert Vinter’s “Spectrum”), which seven bands will perform at the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea on Saturday 19 March as they look to qualify for the National Finals in September.
BTM has recently gained “new blood” in the form of a few new faces around the stands, and we’ll be updating this website to reflect the recent changes in band personnel.
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