Lewis-Merthyr Band
Founded in or before 1880, Lewis-Merthyr Band is the oldest brass band in South Wales' Rhondda Valleys. Originally known as the Cymmer (Porth) Colliery Band, Lewis-Merthyr adopted its present title in 1949.
The band has been highly successful in competition throughout its history, becoming Champion Band of Wales, Welsh League Champions, Miner's Welfare Entertainments (CISWO) Champions and more.
Lewis-Merthyr has won the Third and Second Section UK titles at the National Championships of Great Britain, represented Wales in the Championship section on eight occasions at the Royal Albert Hall, London, and at the European Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. The band is currently ranked in the First Section and were 2015 Runner-Up WWBBA Champions; 2016 Runner-Up SEWBBA Champions and overall Runner-Up Welsh League Champions in 2015 & 2016. In October of this year, the band were pronounced 2017 WWBBA First Section Champions.
Lewis-Merthyr has been equally successful on the concert stage, performing at a wide variety of locations across Wales and beyond. Recent appearances include a special St David's Day Gala Concert at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea and at Harrow School, London under the baton of renowned Welsh conductor Owain Arwel Hughes CBE. The band also recently featured in the BBC television programme "The Taff: The River That Made Wales" which has been repeatedly screened on BBC Two, BBC Four and BBC Wales. In October of this year Lewis-Merthyr recorded a special television feature with the renowned international baritone soloist Sir Bryn Terfel which will be screened nationwide on Christmas Day.
Lewis-Merthyr has performed on numerous occasions in the national stadium, playing to 52 981 people, plus international television audience for the Wales vs Italy warm up match for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The band then returned to the Stadium to perform for the Judgement Day event and the Opening Ceremony of the World Golden Oldies International Rugby Festival, which featured 120 participating teams representing 25 different nations from across the globe. The band also provided Wales' first all-female band for each of Wales 2017 Women's Rugby Six Nations Championship matches. Lewis-Merthyr also featured in National Theatre Wales' 2016 “City of the Unexpected” Roald Dahl 100 celebrations, performing across Cardiff city centre to tens of thousands of people and again featuring on national television.
Lewis-Merthyr Band remain thoroughly committed to supporting our local community in Rhondda Cynon Taf, through the presentation of concert performances across the county borough and wider, supporting local events & functions, and providing tuition for local young brass & percussion musicians through our Youth Band programme.
The band looks forward to continuing to represent Rhondda Cynon Taf and Wales at the highest level throughout all our performances across the nation and beyond.
The band has been highly successful in competition throughout its history, becoming Champion Band of Wales, Welsh League Champions, Miner's Welfare Entertainments (CISWO) Champions and more.
Lewis-Merthyr has won the Third and Second Section UK titles at the National Championships of Great Britain, represented Wales in the Championship section on eight occasions at the Royal Albert Hall, London, and at the European Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. The band is currently ranked in the First Section and were 2015 Runner-Up WWBBA Champions; 2016 Runner-Up SEWBBA Champions and overall Runner-Up Welsh League Champions in 2015 & 2016. In October of this year, the band were pronounced 2017 WWBBA First Section Champions.
Lewis-Merthyr has been equally successful on the concert stage, performing at a wide variety of locations across Wales and beyond. Recent appearances include a special St David's Day Gala Concert at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea and at Harrow School, London under the baton of renowned Welsh conductor Owain Arwel Hughes CBE. The band also recently featured in the BBC television programme "The Taff: The River That Made Wales" which has been repeatedly screened on BBC Two, BBC Four and BBC Wales. In October of this year Lewis-Merthyr recorded a special television feature with the renowned international baritone soloist Sir Bryn Terfel which will be screened nationwide on Christmas Day.
Lewis-Merthyr has performed on numerous occasions in the national stadium, playing to 52 981 people, plus international television audience for the Wales vs Italy warm up match for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The band then returned to the Stadium to perform for the Judgement Day event and the Opening Ceremony of the World Golden Oldies International Rugby Festival, which featured 120 participating teams representing 25 different nations from across the globe. The band also provided Wales' first all-female band for each of Wales 2017 Women's Rugby Six Nations Championship matches. Lewis-Merthyr also featured in National Theatre Wales' 2016 “City of the Unexpected” Roald Dahl 100 celebrations, performing across Cardiff city centre to tens of thousands of people and again featuring on national television.
Lewis-Merthyr Band remain thoroughly committed to supporting our local community in Rhondda Cynon Taf, through the presentation of concert performances across the county borough and wider, supporting local events & functions, and providing tuition for local young brass & percussion musicians through our Youth Band programme.
The band looks forward to continuing to represent Rhondda Cynon Taf and Wales at the highest level throughout all our performances across the nation and beyond.
BBC Feature: The River TaffThe band was recently featured in the BBC television production "The Taff: The River That Made Wales" with presenter Will Millard.
The programme has been broadcast on BBC Two, BBC Four and BBC Wales. This is the central feature focusing on Lewis-Merthyr Band and Trustee Ivor England, a former miner at the Lewis-Merthyr Colliery |
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Personnel
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Musical Director: Craig Roberts
Principal Cornet: Louise Russell Solo Cornet: Gareth Hanson Solo Cornet: Neil Batten / Laura Pegg Solo Cornet: POSITION VACANT Soprano Cornet: POSITION VACANT Repiano Cornet: Sam Bridger 2nd Cornet: Fred Nicholas 2nd Cornet: Georgina Holly 2nd Cornet: Belinda Harris 3rd Cornet: Ffion Short 3rd Cornet: Allen Wells Flugelhorn: Robert Smith Solo Horn: Rhiannon Griffiths 1st Horn: David Brimble 2nd Horn: POSITION VACANT 1st Baritone: Claire Thomas 2nd Baritone: Brian Paull Solo Trombone: Brian Cleworth 2nd Trombone: Colin Lee Bass Trombone: Dave Short Euphonium: Ron Andrews Euphonium: Gareth Davies Eb Bass: Paul Williams Eb Bass: Diane Holly Bb Bass: Howell Billington Bb Bass: POSITION VACANT Percussion: POSITION VACANT Percussion: Craig Maunder Percussion: Stephen "Fly" Harris Percussion: Luned Barrett |
If you are interested in membership, please contact us via the contact page of the site here, or through our various social media channels, accessed via the icons above
Rehearsals are held on Monday & Wednesday evenings from 8:00-9:45pm at the Bandroom, 5 Office Street, Cymmer, Porth, Rhondda Cynon Taf, CF39 9AL. All membership enquiries will be dealt with in the strictest confidence. Lewis-Merthyr also operate a Youth Band, further information on which can be found here Musical DirectorLewis-Merthyr Band Musical Director Craig Roberts is one of the most well known and widely respected brass band conductors in Wales.
He has performed in some of the finest concert halls in the UK and overseas, touring across five continents of the globe and working with some of the world's finest artists. Craig has been successful in competition at the highest level, winning the Welsh League Championship on three occasions; the North Wales Championships twice; and all contests in the Welsh League Championships series. In 2004 he was named Conductor of the Year by SEWBBA and WWBBA for his achievements. Further detailed information on Craig and his activities can be found in the Musical Director section of the website here |
Trustees
Brian Paull
Paul Williams
Ivor England
Paul Williams
Ivor England
