Welsh banding will receive a substantial national media boost in the next few weeks with broadcasting of the televised Band Cymru competition.

With the Welsh Regional contest taking place in Swansea this weekend, it is another major boost for the banding movement, with the series beginning on the Welsh language S4C channel on Sunday 25th March with the first of four pre-recorded programmes from the Arts Centre, Aberystwyth.

Live broadcast

It culminates with the live broadcast of the Grand Final from Swansea University's Great Hall on 22nd April, where the winning band could walk away with a massive £10,000 first prize.

12 wind, jazz and brass bands competed in the four semi-finals, with the identity of the four best bands (not necessarily the winner of each heat) being revealed after the last broadcast. The competition rules meant 2016 champion Tredegar was not allowed to enter the event.

The competition is presented by actor and musician Elin Llwyd and singer Trystan Ellis-Morris, who has a brass banding background in her own youth with Deiniolen Band.

Striking quality

She told 4BR: "The quality of the competition is incredibly high and the variety is striking. They range from a world championship winning band to college students, but they all know how to create a repertoire full of entertainment and that's the most important thing.

Presenting the competition gives me a real buzz. The brass, jazz and woodwind fraternity is a close one and Band Cymru is a much talked-about event. The variety of genres makes it special as well as the prize money."

First semi-final

The first broadcast features 2014 Band Cymru champion Cory Band alongside the Royal Welsh College Big Band and Northop Silver.

They are followed by another three semi-finals featuring City of Cardiff (Melingriffith), 3DBrass and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama Band; Tylorstown, Brass Beaumaris and BTM, and finally Tongwynlais Temperance, Cardiff University Big Band and Burry Port Town.

It culminates with the live broadcast of the Grand Final from Swansea University's Great Hall on 22nd April, where the winning band could walk away with a massive £10,000 first prize4BR

Youth final

Meanwhile, the four bands competing in the prestigious youth band final, Band Ieuenctid Cymru S4C 2018 will battle for their title on 21st April at the same venue.

The finalists have been announced as Band Jazz Tryfan, Cardiff & Vale Music Service Jazz Orchestra, Torfaen Youth Big Band and the Greater Gwent Youth Brass Band.

Band Cymru Final

Band Cymru 2018
Sunday 25th March 8.00pm
S4C (English subtitles)

Available on demand on s4c.cymru, BBC iPlayer and other platforms

A Rondo Media production for S4C