Welsh hopes of bringing the European Brass Band Championships back to the Principality by the end of the decade, received a substantial boost at the official launch of the international Ty Cerdd Conference on Friday evening.

Support

Held at the Senedd Assembly Building in Cardiff Bay, where politicians meet to decide on future Welsh Government spending plans, the prospect of the festival coming to the capital city in either 2019 or 2020 received significant high profile political and artistic support.

Well received speeches made by Welsh Culture Minister John Griffiths, Lord Elis-Thomas, the former Presiding Officer of the National Assembly of Wales and currently a highly influential Assembly Member, as well as Dr Lyn Davies, the current Chairman of the Ty Cerdd organisation, which has an international remit to promote the amateur and professional music making of the country, contained significant declarations of support towards any future hosting bid.

Active role

John Griffiths praised the 'world class' standard of Welsh banding and spoke of his hopes to see them 'compete against the very best', whilst Dr Lyn Davies hoped that Ty Cerdd would ‘be able to play an active role and be a catalyst in bringing the Championships to Wales’.

Lord Thomas added that he felt it would be ‘a wonderful achievement if such an important event could once again be hosted in Wales’.

With EBBA President Ulf Rosenberg in attendance, the encouraging declarations come soon after Wales made a ‘strong expression of interest’ to host a future event to the EBBA Executive Committee at the recent European Championships in Perth.

Dr Lyn Davies hoped that Ty Cerdd would ‘be able to play an active role and be a catalyst in bringing the Championships to Wales’4BR

EBBA President

Ulf Rosenberg also took time to meet up once again with Ty Cerdd Director Gwyn L Williams, who made the Welsh presentation in Scotland, and to see the facilities that could be available for use at the iconic Wales Millennium Centre and Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.

Banding representatives

The declarations of support certainly boosted the hopes of the Welsh banding fraternity, who were represented on the night by performances by British Open winners Tredegar and National Champions Cory, who added to their CV of achievement by jointly winning the prestigious WS Gwynn Williams Award for their pioneering work with the Cory Academy.