The Lewis-Merthyr Band has announced that they will be swapping conductors ahead of their appearance at the Welsh Regional Championships in Swansea next month — although it's just for a week.

Wales finest

The band will be teaming up with the renowned orchestral conductor Owain Arwel Hughes CBE this Saturday in a St David's Day concert at the Brangwyn Hall alongside the famous male voice choirs of Pendyrus and Morriston Orpheus — and as a result MD Craig Roberts has temporarily stepped down to allow the band to benefit from working with one of Wales' finest musicians.

Owain Arwel Hughes CBE has conducted leading orchestras throughout the musical world and has been the inspirational force behind the Welsh Proms. He is also no stranger to brass banding, having worked regularly with the likes of Cory.

Explore

He told 4BR: "I thoroughly enjoy working with brass bands. They love playing music, which is vital and their level of preparation is excellent.

Many orchestral transcriptions work so well and I also admire many of the original works for the genre — which is something I intend to explore further over the coming years."

I thoroughly enjoy working with brass bands. They love playing music, which is vital and their level of preparation is excellentOwain Arwel Hughes CBE

Looking forward

He added: "I'm looking forward to this weekend's performance as the combination of band and male voices go so well together. This will also be the first concert I've conducted at the Brangwyn Hall since its multi-million pound refurbishment in 2014."

Musical Director Craig Roberts added: "It's a delight to have such a maestro working with the band this week. The benefits for the band will be huge as we look forward to the Welsh Regional Championships."