The Blaenavon Town Junior Band were awarded a Silver Award at this years Ebbw Vale Contest by Adjudicator Tom Davoren. 

The Band started their programme with the march Portsmouth and continued with the Cornet Solo 'Share my Yoke'.  Next came Pastime with Henry and the programme completed with the Final Countdown.

Gold Awards were given to BTM and Cwmtawe.  A Bronze award was given to Blaenavon Concert.

Rehearsal Schedule for Youth Band Contest

• Monday 9^th January 6.30 – 7.30pm
• Thursday 12^th January 6.30 – 7.30pm
• Monday 16^th January 6.30 – 7.30pm
• Thursday 19^th January 6.30 – 8.30pm
• Sunday 22^nd January (in the afternoon, exact time to be confirmed)
• Monday 23^rd January 6.30 – 8.30pm
• Thursday 26^th January 6.30 – 8.30pm
• Friday 27^th January 7.30 -9.00pm
• Saturday 28^th January (in the morning, exact time to be confirmed)

January 2012 Newsletter

• Greater Gwent Youth Band Contest Saturday 28th January
• Possible concert for the 200th Anniversary ofthe Brecon and Monmouthshire Canal

In May the Band took part in the filming of an episode of the Reel History of Britain at Big Pit, Blaenavon.

After a long afternoon of waiting, Melvin Bragg interviewed Muiscal Director, Andrew Protherough-Jones and introduced the Band as they played David of the White Rock.

The Band will see whether the music is played or if shots are used when the episode about the coal mining industry is shown on Thursday 8th September, 2011, on BBC2 at 6.30pm.

This years Junior Band Annual Summer School has been hailed a great success following the Summer School Concert held in the Workmens Hall on Wednesday 3rd August 2011.

In the run up to the Band's appearance at the South Wales Miners' Eisteddfod, in Porthcawl on Staturday 17th September, its 2011 summer rehearsal schedule has been announced.

Summer Rehearsal Schedule 2011
Tuesday 26th July, 2011	Trombone Sectional
Monday 1st August	Percussion Sectional
Thursday 4th August	Bass Sectional
Monday 22nd August	Full Band
Thursday 25th August	Horn Sectional
Tuesday 30th August	Solo / Rep / Sop Cornet Sectional
Thursday 1st September	2nd & 3rd Cornet Sectional
Sunday 4th September	Bari / Euph Sectional
Monday 5th September	Full Band
Thursday 8th September	Full Band
Sunday 11th September	Full Band
Monday 12th September	Full Band
Thursday 15th September	Full Band
Friday 16th September	Full Band

The Band hopes everyone will do their best to attend their scheduled sectionals and full rehearsals.

Ethan Hall and Tia Wood were the winners on Thursday 2nd June at the Seniors Hall in Blaenavon .

Last place in Section 2 was the reward for the trip to Somerset.  Adjudicator Malcolm Brownbill didn't think much of our performance which was hampered by being 2 Solo Cornets down.

Second Section Results

1. Leicestershire Co-op (Graham Jacklin) - 188
2. Forest of Dean (Martyn Ford) - 186
3. Lewis Merthyr (Gareth Pritchard) - 185
4. Cinderford (Clive Lewis) - 184
5. Phoenix Brass (Crewkerne) (David Hatton) - 182
6. Blaenavon Town (Andrew Protherough-Jones) - 179

Best Euphonium: Steve Barham (Leicestershire Co-op)

The Band Annual Dinner and Awards Evening was held at the Riflemans Arm's Blaenavon on Saturday evening. 

The evening was mixture of a review of the past year and a look forward to the coming year.  On the whole a very successful year with plently of high points including a clean sweep of Soloist awards in the Local Competitions. 

One notable low was of course the sad news of the death of John Ford who had been associated with the band for several decades.

Blaenavon Town Band were placed in 5th in the Section Section at the Welsh Regional Contest held in Swansea on Saturday.

The Band has been invited by the Mayor of Torfaen to a Civic Reception in recognition of the bands achievements and activities in the last few years.


This is a major honour for the band who last year came runners up in the South Wales First Section.