Following the release of the Greater Gwent Youth Brass Band's CD 'Kingdom of Dragons in 2009 for the band's 50th Anniversary in 2010, a review has now been written by Iwan Fox, Director of the Brass Band website, 4BarsRest.

The CD features many of the pieces the band has played during the last two years including Welsh favourites like All through the Night, Sosban Fach and Men of Harlech. The CD also features two more substantial works in Peter Graham's 'Renaissance' and the new commission 'Kingdom of Dragons' which was composed by Philip Harper. The band is also conducted by Philip Harper on the recording and there are still plenty of CDs available either from 4BarsRest or from the Gwent Music Support Service. The CD also reached number 1 in the World of Brass Charts in December 2009.

To read the review, either click on the dragon face above or click here.

I hope you enjoy the review and listening to the CD. Some of the tracks also feature quite regularly on the brass band radio programmes.

Our first weekend of activities in the new academic year will be performances from the Torfaen Music Centre Gospel Choir, Torfaen County Borough Big Band and the Greater Gwent Youth Jazz Orchestra at the Pontypool Jazz in the Park weekend, Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th September. There will also be performances from some of our smaller jazz combos in the 'Youth Jazz Room'. More information to follow.

The exact days and times of performances are still to be finalised and once the information is correct we will publish on the website. It will also be available on the Pontypool Jazz in the Park website.

We look forward to seeing you in Pontypool Park on the first weekend in September.

Thank you and congratulations to everyone who performed in the National Eisteddfod Concert last evening organised by the Gwent Music Support Service. The concert which featured the Greater Gwent Youth Brass Band conducted by Dr Robert Childs and featured guest Euphonium soloist David Childs, Mania da Samba (Adrian Scott), Blaenau Gwent County Borough Big Band (David Powell), Calan (Huw Williams) and the Greater Gwent Combined Choir (Alyson Jones) with the GMSS Staff Band was a great success and the organisers were delighted with the whole event and commented on the excellent standard of all the performers.

I would like to thank all the performers, staff, conductors for all their hard work in making this event happen during the school holidays and also for making it another event for us to remember for a very long time. I would also like to give a big thank you to all the parents and friends for supporting this event and also for being very patient and understanding in transporting the performers to and from the venue. This was very much appreciated!

It has been a fantastic year for everyone involved with the Gwent Music Support Service and one where more children than ever have been involved and engaged with music with the weekly tuition and activities in school and music centres and also in our County Borough, Greater Gwent activities and through to the National level programme. This is how the pyramid structure works in music through the music services in Wales and especially in Gwent and we hope to continue this fantastic work in September when the new academic year starts again.

I believe we are very privileged to live in this particular part of the United kingdom where the quality of music making and the level of opportunity afforded our children are second to none. This is only made possible by the quality of the Music Service managers, tutors and admin team, the strong partnerships we have with our parents, teachers, schools and local communities and the superb support we receive from our four councils.

However, the current financial climate puts the maintenance of our existing provision under some pressure and we are therefore very keen to hear from community or commercial organisations who may be able to support our work for the benefit of the young people in Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen.

On behalf of all the staff at the Gwent Music Support Service, may I thank for attending last night's concert and all our concerts this year and wish you all a very safe and enjoyable Summer break before all the activities commence once again in September.

Alun F Williams
Head of Service