Players and ensembles from the BTM Band Society recently performed at its annual Christmas Concert at a packed Bedwas Workmen’s Hall in South Wales.

7 — 70

The local community came out in force to support the organisation, which now consists of four ensembles and provides musical opportunities for well over 70 brass and percussion players aged 7 to 70 — from the senior BTM Band, through the BTM Band: ‘Next Generation’, BTM ‘Learners’ and BTM ‘That’s Brass’.

‘That’s Brass’, their popular 10-piece brass ensemble provided the pre-concert entertainment as the audience arrived, performing several popular carols to everyone in the festive mood, whilst first on stage was BTM Learners, ably conducted by tutor Kirsty Jones.

Although some of the players had only been playing for a matter of weeks, they thoroughly enjoyed the experience!

Regional debuts

BTM Band: Next Generation, under MD Mark Hutcherson showed just why they are ready to make their Fourth Section Regional debuts at the Welsh Area contest in March next year.

Playing with confidence, style, quality and consistency, their set of traditional brass band repertoire, contemporary arrangements and Christmas classics went down a treat with an appreciative audience.

BTM Band: Next Generation, under MD Mark Hutcherson showed just why they are ready to make their Fourth Section Regional debuts at the Welsh Area contest in March next year4BR

Confident rebuild

The second half of the concert belonged to the senior BTM Band, which continues to rebuild confidently.

Their programme included the jazzy arrangement of ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, the euphonium/baritone duet ‘Softly As I Leave You’, ‘Reunion and Finale from Gettysburg’ and finishing with ‘An American Trilogy’.