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Mid-Rhondda Brass Band

Mid-Rhondda Brass Band is based in Tonypandy, 10 miles from Cardiff in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales, UK. We rehearse every Thursday at 7.30pm.

Founded in 1941 as the Tonypandy Silver Band, its name was changed to Mid Rhondda Brass Band in 1949. In 1995 the band became known as the Thomas Coaches Mid Rhondda Band following support from local Coach Proprietor Mr Glyn Thomas, but in recent years returning back to the formally know Mid-Rhondda Brass Band,

The band first achieved 'Championship Section' status in 1955. In 1967, the band won the HTV Band of the Year award and performed in the St. David's Day concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London following success in the National Eisteddfod of Wales. In 1991, the band represented Wales at the European Championship Challenge held in St. David's Hall, Cardiff and also competed at the National Finals at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

In total the band has appeared in 13 National Finals, Five appearances in the Championship Section at the Royal Albert Hall, Six appearances in the First Section - achieving 2nd place after a brilliant midnight performance of the test piece 'Leonardo' in 2002, and has also had an appearance in each of the Second and Third Section. The latest being in the Second Section, National Finals at Cheltenham Racecourse in 2016.

Success has also been achieved at the Grand Shield, Pontins, Blackpool Mineworkers, Porthcawl Entertainment and Local Welsh competitions. They were Champion Band of Wales runners up in 2002 and Joint Champion Band of Wales 2006.

In October 2008 due to the loss of many players the band unfortunately couldn't continue and sadly ceased playing. Ten months went by and in August 2009, following approaches to Trustee Alan Gibbs, the band re-formed. After much hard work and dedication by a core to loyal players, the band entered its first contest for three years at the 2012 Regional Contest.

Since the Area contest in March 2012 the band has gone from strength to strength benefiting from an influx of talented players which saw the band achieving 1st place at the Second Section Welsh Area with a qualification for the National Finals at Cheltenham Racecourse which aided the promotion to the First Section at a National level for 2017.

Locally competing in the Second Section in 2017 the band continued to compete at local Welsh competitions, and the band found success at the SEWBBA (Merthyr Tydfil) Contest and the West Wales BBA Festival placing 1st place at both contests.

Continuing with an active Contest and Concert Programme the band achieved more success through 2018 and 2019 gaining four podium finishes out of six contests, Including the bands 1st Place win at the West Wales BBA Contest at STP School, Haverfordwest with the test piece 'Royal Parks'.

In 2020 the band competed in the Welsh Area contest on February 29th, with their last rehearsal on March 12th due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, which affected the banding communities all around the world. All groups such as ours were not able to rehearse due to restrictions put in place to keep communities and each other safe. But this didn't stop the band keeping in touch via WhatsApp and the band looked forward to the time they could all join together again to continue playing.

The band returned to the contesting circuit in 2022 after lockdown restrictions were lifted. They competed in the Welsh Area contest and were lucky enough to achieve a second place victory in the second section, with this they also received an invitation to compete at the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain in September.

At this time the band are looking forward to attending the National Finals in September and are busy preparing a concert repertoire for their busy Christmas period full of concerts and carolling.