A furious row is brewing in Welsh banding following the news that young players from community based bands who do not play in education authority musical ensembles are being stopped from auditioning for a place in the National Youth Brass Band of Wales.

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The situation has been highlighted by the plight of three teenagers from the City of Cardiff (Melingriffth) M2 Band, who have been told that the National Youth Arts Wales organisation will not allow them to audition this week unless they meet the requirements which they state have been in place for a number of years.

Discrimination

However, one Band Chairman Alan Gwynant believes the youngsters are being discriminated against, and that in fact, the rule has not been universally enforced over the years, as they can prove.

"As you can imagine, the youngsters are deeply disappointed that petty bureaucracy and a complete inflexibility on a matter that requires just a modicum of common sense is stopping them from proudly representing their country.

My children can audition but only because they meet the narrow criteria now being imposed."

He added: "It’s well know that a more pragmatic approach has been used in the past to accommodate the needs of the National Youth Band – so I can’t see why things have now changed.

This ludicrous rule really does discriminate against players from community based bands when it is fully understood that the Youth Band extols an open access policy."

Talented teenagers

It is understood the three talented teenagers; flugel player Gwenno Pari-Hughes, her sister Ella who plays horn and euphonium player Elis Dafydd will only be allowed to audition if they join an education authority ensemble – even if it isn’t in the area in which they live – and even if it isn’t one that is a brass band.

Anger

Gwenno and Ella’s father Dafydd added his anger too: "As a parent and someone who is actively involved in the brass bands, it disappoints me that young people that have been nurtured in a community based band, and are totally committed to that organisation are not considered worthy of the opportunity of auditioning for the National Youth Brass Band of Wales.

This ruling from National Youth Arts Wales at the WJEC shows how far removed they are from what is going on at the grass roots of brass bands in Wales."

No service allowed

4BR also understands that if the children had lived in the Welsh county of Powys instead of Cardiff, as there is no local authority music ensemble provision there, children from community based bands are allowed to audition.

City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) MD Gareth Ritter told 4BR that he is both perplexed and annoyed at the intransigence shown by officials at the WJEC and the National Youth Arts Wales organisations who oversee the administration of the Youth Band.

"I’ve tried to explain in person and by e-mail and have come up against a level of intransigence that borders on the absurd," he said.

"At a time when leading Welsh politicians of all persuasions are extolling the desire to develop inclusiveness and community partnerships, this seems to be a decision that beggars belief."

Undermines excellence

Craig Roberts is the well known conductor and Wales Development Manager of Making Music, and he believes that the decision undermines the excellent contribution community based bands have given the National Youth Band of Wales over three decades or more.

"It’s a situation that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency," he told 4BR.

"It does seem bizarre that any of these players can audition to be a member of the National Youth Band of Great Britain, but not of their home country. Community bands are the backbone of Welsh banding – and are so successful too."

Working together

He added: "I will be working with Brass Band Forum Chairman Iestyn Davies and Ty Cerydd to try to resolve this matter as quickly as possible. We cannot be seen to be denying talented Welsh youngsters the opportunity to represent their country."

Any rule that denies a talented youngster opportunity to represent their country is a bad rule – and this is oneMD, Gareth Ritter

Concern

Iestyn Davies added: "The South East Wales Association asked the Forum to express to the Arts Council of Wales, Ty Cerdd and to National Youth Arts Wales its concern about the current ruling and to seek a resolution of what is clearly an unfair position.

I don't believe that the organisers of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales have set out to discriminate deliberately against young players from a community banding background, but this is what they have done."

He continued: "The decision also shows a lack an understanding of the role played by community groups alongside projects run by the local Education Authority and the fact that we all have a common goal; namely seeing more young people attaining the highest possible standard in their music making.

The other national youth arts organisations funded by the Arts Council of Wales do not enforce such a narrow-minded policy and I'm pleased to hear that their initial discussions with their clients at National Youth Arts Wales and Ty Cerdd have led to a commitment to review the ruling for future years."

Miss out

He concluded: "However, there are still three young musicians who are likely to miss out this year on an opportunity to play with the NYBB, simply because an unfair and inflexible ruling has been invoked. I know that this too is something that the Arts Council of Wales is also concerned about."

Bad rule

The final word went to Gareth Ritter: "I’m a great advocate for the excellence of the local authority music services and what they provide for youngsters, but this rule denies a legitimate alternative route for others to be able to represent Wales at the highest level.

Any rule that denies a talented youngster opportunity to represent their country is a bad rule – and this is one."

Ultimate decision

4BR understands that the ultimate decision over the matter now rests with the National Youth Arts Wales body – although even if the decision is reversed it may be too late for the three young players to be able to attend the auditions which are due to take place this week.