Ebbw Valley
History
Forming in September 2011, Ebbw Valley Brass was born following the merger of Cwm Town Band and Ebbw Vale Town Band.
Both of the former bands experienced low points in recent history following a decline in player numbers and general interest. With the two bands being in close proximity, the Committees openly expressed a desire to work together in order to ensure a sustainable future for brass banding in the Ebbw Valley and ensure that the heritage of music is maintained and developed. Ebbw Valley Brass was born and a new logo commissioned and designed to reflect the band’s new thinking and identity.
Under the leadership of the band’s Musical Director, Gareth Ritter, the band has built strong foundations on which to build a robust organisation that caters for everyone. The primary focus is to work with the community and develop these links in order to deliver a wide range of concerts and increase the image of brass banding.
The band has experienced considerable development in a short space of time. The band won over 35 trophies in its first year of competing, and continued the high levels of success with successive promotions across the decade, including a welcome return to the Championship Section from 2024. Ebbw Valley Brass had a prestigious invite to The Spring Festival at Blackpool in May 2023 and this will be the band's 7th appearance at the National Finals out of a possible 10!
Ebbw Valley Brass completed a historic triple of National Final titles by winning Section 4 in 2013, Section 3 in 2014 and Section 2 in 2015. The band is the first Welsh outfit to complete the triple in progressive sections in consecutive years. In addition to this, the band won the Best Instrumentalist Prize at each of the three finals during the same timescale - an incredible feat for any band.
Principal Players
Cornet - Charlotte Hann
Soprano - John Smith
Flugel - Ffion Williams
Horn - Evan Key
Baritone - John Jones
Euphonium - Huw Davis
Trombone - Stephen Sykes
Eb Bass - Will Marston
Bb Bass - Andy Jones
Percussion - Phil Davies
