Gwent Music Support Service - Music for All
Ensemble Activity
Within the music service we organise a wide range of orchestras, bands and other music groups at our music centres, within each Local Education Authority, and across the whole Gwent area.
Music Centre Ensembles
All students are invited to attend our regular ensemble rehearsals at our six music centres. The music centres cater for students of all abilities and everybody is welcome to take part. Students do not have to sit an entry examination or pass a test to join in the activities, and ensembles are organised at junior, intermediate and senior levels to ensure that students are able to join in at a level appropriate to their own development and learning needs. Within music centres a range of string, wind, brass and percussion ensembles are organised, and some music centres offer other ensemble activities such as guitar, steel pans, big band, world musics and choral activities.
Local authority ensembles
Within each local authority area, students are selected to take part in local authority ensembles. Each of our local authority boasts its own orchestra, wind band, big band and string ensemble, and in some authorities this is extended to include chamber groups and other instrument mixes. The standard of performing within our LEA ensembles is generally very high, with some of our groups regularly achieving awards for their excellence.
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Newport City Youth Big Band |
Monthly during term-times Sep 25,Oct 9,Nov 20,Jan 15, 22,Feb 26,Apr 23,May 7,June 11 |
Fridays 6.00pm-8.00pm Brynglas House |
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Torfaen CB Big Band |
Monthly during term-times Oct 2,16,Nov 20,Jan 8,29,Mar 5,Apr 16,May 14,May 28 |
Fridays 5.00pm-7.00pm Croesyceiliog Comp |
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Blaenau Gwent Big Band |
Monthly during term-times Sep 25,Oct 9,23,Nov 6(Remembrance Concert),Jan 15, 22,Feb 26,Apr 16,May 14,June 11 |
Fridays 4.30pm-6.30pm (Big Band) Abertillery Comprehensive School |
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Blaenau Gwent Brass Band |
Monthly during term-times TBC |
Saturdays 9.00am-10.00am Abertillery Comprehensive School |
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Monmouthshire Big Band |
Monthly during term-times Sep 19,Oct 10,Nov 7,Jan 9,Jan 23,Feb 20,May 8,22,June 12 |
Saturdays 1pm-3pm King Henry VIII Comp |
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15 Local Youth Brass Bands |
Weekly |
Various evenings (full list available on request) |
Greater Gwent Youth Ensembles
Our Greater Gwent Youth Ensembles form the top of the pyramid of performing experiences for students within our area. There are over 15 different Greater Gwent youth ensembles including the Greater Gwent Youth Orchestra, Choir, Brass Band, Symphonic Winds, Big Band and Percussion Ensemble. These are usually organised at Senior and Intermediate levels, and our senior ensembles have a national and international reputation for superb standards of musicianship, having achieved many awards and accolades at events such as the National Festival of Music for Youth, the BASBWE festival, and at National and International competitions. There is also a wide range of other ensembles catering for different combinations of instruments or for families of the same instrument.
Greater Gwent Ensemble Programme 2009/10 |
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Greater Gwent Youth Choir |
Monthly in term time Oct 4,25,Nov 15,29( 9.30am-1.00pm ),Dec 5( 1pm-6pm )Dec 6( 1pm-5.30pm ) (Christmas Concert with GG Strings) Other dates TBC |
10.00am-4.00pm Malpas Court HQ |
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Greater Gwent Symphonic Winds course |
October 23( 5pm-9pm ),Oct 24,25,26,27, December 18( 6pm-9pm ),19,20(Concert) |
9.00am-3.30pm Bassaleg School County Hall, Cwmbran Concert December 20 (County Hall, Cwmbran) |
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Greater Gwent Schools Brass Band |
Monthly in term time ( Bassaleg School ) Sep 26,Oct 17,Nov 14,Jan 16,Feb 6, 27, Apr 24,May 22,June 12 |
Saturdays 1.00pm-3.00pm Bassaleg School |
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Greater Gwent Youth Orchestra Strings sectionals |
November 13,January 8,February 5, March 5 |
Fridays, 6.30pm-9.00pm Brynglas House |
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Greater Gwent Intermediate Brass Band course |
Dec 28,29,30,Jan 2,3 |
Dec 28-30 Jan 2 (Croesyceiliog School) TBCConcert-January 3 (Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre) 3.00pm |
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Greater Gwent Youth Brass Band |
Dec 28,29,30, Jan 2,3 |
Dec 28-30 Jan 2(Croesyceiliog School) Concert-January 3 (Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre) |
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Greater Gwent Youth Big Band |
February 12-16 |
Concert, February 16 Venue tbc |
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Greater Gwent Intermediate Orchestra |
January 15(Caerleon) February 18-21 |
Caerleon Comp( 6.00pm-8.30pm ) Residential course, Llangrannog Residential Centre TBC Concert 21 Feb (Venue TBC ) |
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Greater Gwent Youth String Symphonia |
February 18-21 |
Residential course, Llangrannog Residential Centre TBC Concert 21 Feb (Venue TBC ) |
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Greater Gwent Youth Orchestra Residential Course |
April 6-11(Llangrannog) |
Llangrannog Urdd Residential Centre, Concert, April 11 Venue TBC |
There is also a wide range of other ensembles catering for different combinations of instruments or for families of the same instrument.
Greater Gwent Chamber Ensemble Programme 2009/10 |
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Greater Gwent Cello/Bass Ensemble |
Monthly in term time ( Caerleon Comprehensive School )) Oct 11,Nov 15,Jan 17,Feb 7,28,April 25,May 16,June 13,27 |
Sundays 10.00am-12.30pm |
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Greater Gwent Saxophone Ensemble |
Once a term ( Bassaleg School ) Nov 22,Feb 7,June 13 |
Sundays 10.00am-4.30pm |
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Greater Gwent Horn Ensemble |
Monthly in term time ( Henllys Primary School ) Dates to be confirmed |
To be confirmed |
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Greater Gwent Clarinet Ensemble |
Once a term ( Bassaleg School ) Nov 22,Feb 7,June 13 |
Sundays 10.00am-4.30pm |
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Greater Gwent Flute Choir |
Once a term ( Bassaleg School ) Nov 22,Feb 7,June 13 |
Sundays 10.00am-4.30pm |
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Greater Gwent Percussion Ensemble |
Dates to be confirmed |
Thursdays 5.30pm-7.30pm |
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Greater Gwent Schools Brass Ensemble |
Monthly in term time (Brynglas House) Sep 20,Oct 11,Nov 22,Jan 10,24,Feb7,April 18,May 9,June 6 |
Sundays 10.00am-12.00pm |
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Greater Gwent Lower Brass Ensemble |
Monthly in term time (Brynglas House) Sep 20,Oct 11,Nov 22,Jan 10,24,Feb7,April 18,May 9,June 6 |
Sundays 12.30pm-2.30pm |
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Greater Gwent Uberjam/Cajun Spice |
Monthly in term time (Brynglas House) Dates to be confirmed |
To be confirmed |
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Greater Gwent Double Reeds Ensemble |
Once a term ( Bassaleg School ) Nov 22,Feb 7,June 13 |
Sundays 10.00am-4.30pm |
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Greater Gwent Modern Ensemble |
Weekly in term-time ( Bassaleg School ) |
Saturdays 12pm-1.15pm |
The Ensemble Activity Programme.
Our youth ensembles undertake a wide programme of activities and concert events. Most of our ensembles have enjoyed performances at the major venues in the UK , including the Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall, London, Symphony Hall, Birmingham and St. David's Hall in Cardiff . A number of our groups have also toured extensively. In recent years, our students have experienced the excitement of performing in a number of European countries, including France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Czech Republic and Poland and they have also travelled further afield to the USA, Australia and New Zealand.
Greater Gwent Events & Activities 2009/10 |
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Battle of the Bands Rock & Pop Competition |
Date TBC |
Venue TBC |
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Schools Proms Monday November 9 (Open Mind and Greater Gwent Youth Orchestra) Tuesday November 10 (Greater Gwent Youth Modern Ensemble) |
Nov 9,10,11 TBC |
Royal Albert Hall, London |
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National Concert Band Festival Regional Round (for information) |
Date TBC |
Venue tbc |
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Greater Gwent Youth Brass Bands Festival |
January 30 |
Coleg Gwent, Crosskeys Campus |
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National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Wales |
TBC |
TBC |
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National Youth Training Choir Wales |
TBC |
TBC |
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Music For Youth Regional Festival |
March (5) 6 & 7 |
County Hall, Cwmbran |
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National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain |
April 18 |
Royal Northern College of Manchester |
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National Concert Band Festival |
TBC |
Venue tbc |
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National Youth Wind Orchestra of Wales |
TBC |
Residential Course |
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Greater Gwent Junior & Senior Young Musician Competitions |
May 9 |
Caerleon School |
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Greater Gwent Solo & Quartet Contest |
June 5 |
YMCA |
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Gwent Summer Showcase |
July 5 |
St David’s Hall, Cardiff |
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National Festival of Music for Youth |
July 5-10 |
Birmingham venues |
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National Youth Choir of Wales |
July 16-29 |
Residential course, TBC |
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National Youth Brass Band of Wales |
July 17-24 |
Residential course, TBC |
Student Selection
Entry into our LEA and Greater Gwent ensembles is by invitation, and is open to all students up to the age of 21 who either live or attend school in the area and who are in full time education. For students receiving tuition through the Gwent Music Support Service, selection is based on tutor assessment and recommendation. For those students in higher education and who have previously been members of an ensembles, participation is based on continuous assessment which occurs during each course. For all other students auditions are held annually, usually at the end of the summer term, or at the start of the autumn term. Students may apply for an audition, and LEA schools are also invited to nominate students for audition. We look forward to hearing from any students who wish to put themselves forward for audition into the Youth Ensemble programme.
For further news and details about the activities of our different ensembles, click on the links to their individual websites.
Click here to learn more about the Greater Gwent Youth Big Band or the Greater Gwent Youth Symphonic Winds.
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