Welsh champion Cory recently spent time in the north of their home country as part of their extensive concert tour schedule, working and performing with the youngsters of the Gwynedd & Mon Youth Band.

Massed bands

The band headed to the Neuadd Pritchard Jones Hall at Bangor University in north Wales where during the day stars such as Helen Williams, Chris Thomas, Glyn Williams and Nathan Cole gave masterclass and workshop sessions as well as preparing the youngsters for their massed band performance of 'The Journal of Phileas Fogg' on the night.

That was directed by MD Dylan Williams, who later thanked his Cory counterpart Philip Harper and the band for giving the youngsters such a wonderful musical opportunity.

He told 4BR: "The kids loved every second of the day and this is an experience they will cherish forever. Due to cuts in music provision it's more important now that we look after our young brass players.

Cory was brilliant and such a great bunch of people to meet and work with — the best in the world on all fronts!"

Cory was brilliant and such a great bunch of people to meet and work with — the best in the world on all fronts!Dylan Williams

Real pleasure

In response Philip Harper added: "It was an excellent gig and a real pleasure working with the Gwynedd and Mon Youth Band and Dylan.

They are a very talented band with some truly stand-out players, and at Cory we always love the extra buzz of energy which comes with sharing the platform with such a committed group and conductor. We're looking forward to the next time!"