GMSS News

Sinfonia Cymru Concert at the Riverfront Theatre on Sunday 7th March

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:19:02 GMT

by Alun F Williams.

The Sinfonia Cymru will be performing at the Riverfront Theatre on Sunday 7th March 2010 at 7.30pm. The programme will be La Cenerentola Overture -Rossini, Four Concert Airs-Mozart, Ancient Airs and Dances (Suite No.1)-Respighi and Pulcinella Suite by Stravinsky.

Tickets are £10 and £7 Concessions and are available from the Riverfront Theatre box office 01633 656757 or online

The following day on Monday 8th March, 'Pulcinella' is the culmination of an education project which has been a collaboration this term between the Gwent Music Support Service, Sinfonia Cymru and the Riverfront Theatre.

KS2 children from primary schools in Newport have been involved in writing music and creating artwork using Stravinsky's ballet "Pulcinella" as a stimulus. The culmination of the project will take place on Monday 8^th March 2010, when at 11am children from the 3 participating schools will come together to share the work they have done by performing the music that they have composed, both through playing classroom instruments as well as playing music that they have created using Garage band on Apple Mac computers. The theme of the project is "old and new". Children have studied the music of Stravinsky by listening to Pulcinella, and have learnt about the Neoclassical Era, where composers used music from a long time ago, making subtle changes in order to give it a 'new look'. This follows on from the very successful ‘Carnival’ project with the Sinfonia Cymru which took place in July 2008.

They will then be joined at 1.15pm by several other Newport Primary schools for a concert by the musicians of Sinfonia Cymru who will play Pulcinella as well as Respighi Airs and Dances. The concert at the Riverfront Theatre promises to be interactive and exciting, including some of the art work that the children have done during this project. This end of project concert is for participants only.

Music for Youth Regional Festival Timetable for Sunday

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:58:06 GMT

by Alun F Williams.

Following some problems opening up the timetable on a previous news item, please find attached the timetable for the Music for Youth Regional Festival to be held on Sunday 7th March 2010.

Music for Youth Regional Festival Timetable for Saturday

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:54:06 GMT

by Alun F Williams.

Following some problems opening up the timetable on a previous news item, please find attached the timetable for the Music for Youth Regional Festival to be held on Saturday 6th March 2010.

Music for Youth Regional Festival Timetable for Friday

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:49:01 GMT

by Alun F Williams.

Following some problems opening up the timetable on a previous news item, please find attached the timetable for the Music for Youth Regional Festival to be held on Friday 5th March 2010.

GMSS & Music for Youth Regional Festival Information

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:15:51 GMT

by Alun F Williams.

The annual weekend of the Music for Youth Regional Festival organised by the Gwent Music Support Service will take place on Friday 5th, Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th March at County Hall, Cwmbran. There will be an entrance fee of £3 each day for spectators and it is always a very enjoyable and very successful three days of quality music making from the young people in this area and from other parts of Wales and the Forest of Dean.

"For nearly four decades, Music for Youth has been showcasing the eclectic and energetic mix of musical styles created and performed by young people. Every season MFY works with 100,000 performers and audience; 1300 music leaders and over 60 venues across the UK. The Regional Festival Series will provide 1,700 music groups with the opportunity to further their musical experience through performance. Please visit their website

To see a list of all the groups performing this weekend and approximate times, please look at the attached timetable. To see each day's timetable, please use the tabs on the bottom of the file. The Friday session will start at 9.30am and the Saturday and Sunday sessions will start at 9.00am.

We look forward to seeing you at the Festival weekend and good luck to all the performers in what is going to be a fantastic three days of quality music making!

GGYBB 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner Dance

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:03:43 GMT

by Alun F Williams.

Tickets are now available for the Greater Gwent Youth Brass Band's 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner Dance at the Parkway Hotel, Cwmbran on Saturday 17th April 2010. This promises to be a very enjoyable and memorable evening and the programme for the evening is:

7.30pm-8.00pm: Arrive and opportunity to look at past programmes and photographs of the GGYBB
8.00pm: Three course dinner
9.30pm: Speeches including special guests
10.30pm: Dancing to a professional band
1.00am: Carriages
Dress is black tie
Cost for all the above is £30
Hotel rooms are available at a reduced cost and are listed on the attached letter and proforma.

The letter and proforma is attached and the closing date for all forms and cheques is Friday 12th March 2010.

We look forward to seeing you on the 17th April!

Please note that this event is for over 18s only. Thank you.

Rotary Club of Pontypool Competition

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:49:08 GMT

by Alun F Williams.

The Rotary Club of Pontypool are holding their annual Young Musician Competition on Thursday 4th March at the New Inn Primary School, New Inn, Pontypool commencing at 7.00pm.

The event is open to pupils who are in Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Education and who reside in Pontypool.

The three age groups are:

Group A , 8 to under 12 years
Group B, 12 to under 15 years
Group C, 15 to under 18 years

The competition is for solo instrumentalists only. Any musical instrument can be played. Pieces chosen for Group A should be no longer than three minutes in length and up to six minutes are available for Group B and C entries. Copies of the music will have to be made available to the adjudicators and an official accompanist will be available on the evening. A competitor may bring his or her own accompanist.

All entries to be received by Friday 26th February and if you require any further details or would like to enter, please contact the organiser; Mr Robert Wilcox on 01981 240297

There will be cash prizes of £25, £15 and £10 in each section and the overall winner will go through to the next round of this prestigeous Rotary Club Competition.

Good luck!

Sinfonia Cymru Open Rehearsal

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:38:17 GMT

by Alun F Williams.

Sinfonia Cymru

Free Event at the Riverfront Theatre, Newport

Booking Essential

Open Rehearsal 26 February 2010 at 8.00pm

Come and hear the full orchestra rehearsing Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite under the baton of Musical Director Gareth Jones.

Call box office 01633 656757, call in to get your tickets or follow this link

GGY String Ensemble & GG Intermediate Strings 'In Concert'

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:18:34 GMT

by Alun F Williams.

The second concert during the half-term week will feature the Greater Gwent Youth String Ensemble and the Greater Gwent Intermediate String Ensemble on Sunday 21st February at County Hall, Cwmbran at 6.00pm.

The Youth Strings, conducted by Peter James will be performing a programme of music from 1600 - 1960 featuring two soloists - Hannah Williams (Soprano) in the Gorecki and Gareth Hansford (Cello) in the Vivaldi Cello Concerto in A minor. Other works to include Sosperi by Elgar and Consolation for strings by Jon Leifs.

The Intermediate Strings will also prepare a wide choice of programme from Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring to Khachaturian's, Sabre Dance. The Intermediate Strings will be conducted by Michael Coultas and Nicholas Steel.

The concert will start at 6:00pm and the finale will consist of a joint item 'Gaelic Gathering'. Tickets will be available on the door.

We look forward to seeing you there.

St David's Day Concert

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:46:08 GMT

by Alun F Williams.

The St David's Day Concert at St David's Hall, Cardiff on Monday 1st March will this year feature choristers from the Greater Gwent Youth Choir.

This will be a fantastic opportunity to take part in a high profile concert featuring the BBC National Orchestra, BBC National Chorus of Wales, Catrin Finch (harp), Adrian Partington (conductor) and Youth Choruses from all over Wales.

Members of the Greater Gwent Youth Choir will be joining with other Youth Choirs from all over Wales in a performance of Karl Jenkins' 'Dewi Sant' and the programme will also include Celebration Dances (Hoddinott), Land of Song (a new commission by Gareth Glyn) and a Harp Concerto with Catrin Finch.

If you would like tickets for this concert, please book them quickly as there are not many tickets left! Please follow this link to the St David's Hall online booking.

Good luck to the Greater Gwent Youth Choir!