Aberteifi 850
In the year 1155, following years of battles with the English King Henry II, Rhys ap Gruffydd became ruler of Deheubarth, uniting the whole of the region now covering modern day South West Wales.
Rhys was made Lord of Ystrad Tywi or, commonly, the Lord Rhys, and his rule brought a period of relative peace and security to the region. In the early 1170s, Henry II sought friendship with Rhys and confirmed his leadership of Deheubarth. In 1171, Rhys rebuilt his fort of Castell Aberteifi (Cardigan Castle) in stone, as a political and military statement, and made it his chief residence.
Five years after the rebuild, the castle then hosted the famous 1176 Cardigan eisteddfod. It was a cultural tournament involving bards and musicians, held in the grounds of Cardigan Castle by Rhys ap Gruffydd. Though the term 'Eisteddfod' was not commonly used until several centuries later, the 1176 gathering is commonly claimed to be the earliest recorded forerunner of the modern national cultural festival
Rhys was made Lord of Ystrad Tywi or, commonly, the Lord Rhys, and his rule brought a period of relative peace and security to the region. In the early 1170s, Henry II sought friendship with Rhys and confirmed his leadership of Deheubarth. In 1171, Rhys rebuilt his fort of Castell Aberteifi (Cardigan Castle) in stone, as a political and military statement, and made it his chief residence.
Five years after the rebuild, the castle then hosted the famous 1176 Cardigan eisteddfod. It was a cultural tournament involving bards and musicians, held in the grounds of Cardigan Castle by Rhys ap Gruffydd. Though the term 'Eisteddfod' was not commonly used until several centuries later, the 1176 gathering is commonly claimed to be the earliest recorded forerunner of the modern national cultural festival
The Project
850 years following the building of Cardigan Castle, the birthplace of the national cultural festival of Wales, a special concert will be held, next summer on Sunday July 11th, 2021. The performance is supported by Cardigan Castle and Theatr Mwldan, and will feature former Royal Harpist Claire Jones, composer & percussion soloist Chris Marshall together with the Lewis Merthyr Band, conducted by Craig Roberts.
Repertoire for the performance will include a transcription for brass of Marshall's Double Concerto for Harp & Percussion and it is hoped that a new work, to mark the 850th anniversary of Cardigan Castle - Aberteifi 850 - can be commissioned for the event, with the support of the Performing Rights Society Foundation (PRSF)
Repertoire for the performance will include a transcription for brass of Marshall's Double Concerto for Harp & Percussion and it is hoped that a new work, to mark the 850th anniversary of Cardigan Castle - Aberteifi 850 - can be commissioned for the event, with the support of the Performing Rights Society Foundation (PRSF)
The Work
Marshall's is a unique compositional voice, and with extensive experience in the sphere of brass as a performer (Chris was a former member of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales, and performed with a number of leading brass bands in his formative years), as a composer, Chris would be an important, fresh compositional voice for a genre in which the repertoire has become increasingly stale and formulaic of late.
With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the proposal is that Chris would liaise with Lewis Merthyr Musical Director Craig Roberts to craft the new work remotely initially, with live interaction and rehearsal hopefully possible in early 2021.
Should the current situation either not have altered, or perhaps regressed at that time, virtual interaction will be used to interact with the musicians of the band. The Arts Council of Wales have recently awarded support to Lewis Merthyr Band to both enhance their remote interaction, and to work with a number of composers to create new music during lockdown. Part of that funding will be allocated toward this project
In the event that major events remain prohibited in summer 2021, this new work will be recorded remotely to click track, by the artists individually, and a "virtual choir" style performance will be made undertaken and made available for free public consumption online. Again, support from the Arts Council of Wales has been provided to realise this aspectof the project.
With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the proposal is that Chris would liaise with Lewis Merthyr Musical Director Craig Roberts to craft the new work remotely initially, with live interaction and rehearsal hopefully possible in early 2021.
Should the current situation either not have altered, or perhaps regressed at that time, virtual interaction will be used to interact with the musicians of the band. The Arts Council of Wales have recently awarded support to Lewis Merthyr Band to both enhance their remote interaction, and to work with a number of composers to create new music during lockdown. Part of that funding will be allocated toward this project
In the event that major events remain prohibited in summer 2021, this new work will be recorded remotely to click track, by the artists individually, and a "virtual choir" style performance will be made undertaken and made available for free public consumption online. Again, support from the Arts Council of Wales has been provided to realise this aspectof the project.
Additional Works and Legacy
Only two other works for Harp & brass band currently exist. The first work for the combination was Gareth Wood's Concerto for Harp and Brass Band, commissioned and premiered by James Watson and the National Youth Brass Band of Wales in 1999. Both Craig and Chris were members of the band at that time, and featured in that premiere performance.
A second work, Edward Gregson's The Sword & The Crown - later retitled An Age of Kings - was commissioned and premiered by the Welsh Brass Arts Festival in 2002.
Together with the transcription of the Double Concerto for Harp & Percussion, this new commission - Aberteifi 850 -would result in a full concert programme of works for the combination of harp and brass band being available.
Aberteifi 850 marks an important occasion in the history of Wales and the wider nation, and the realisation of the work will likely lead to a greater number of performances of the combination of harp and brass, and all of the works outlined above, in future years.
A second work, Edward Gregson's The Sword & The Crown - later retitled An Age of Kings - was commissioned and premiered by the Welsh Brass Arts Festival in 2002.
Together with the transcription of the Double Concerto for Harp & Percussion, this new commission - Aberteifi 850 -would result in a full concert programme of works for the combination of harp and brass band being available.
Aberteifi 850 marks an important occasion in the history of Wales and the wider nation, and the realisation of the work will likely lead to a greater number of performances of the combination of harp and brass, and all of the works outlined above, in future years.
Chris Marshall, composer
Chris Marshall hails from from Cardiff, and has performed extensively as a percussionist specialising in world music. He has appeared and recorded with many prestigious orchestras and artists, and has performed on numerous productions in London’s West End.
Chris balances his performance schedule with his flourishing career as a composer and arranger. His growing portfolio of compositions, includes the music for "Heartstrings" (no 1 download on iTunes) which was recorded for Classic FM/Decca in 2012 and was featured on Claire Jones’ album, "The Girl With The Golden Harp". Chris has also composed "Bluestone" and arranged many tracks on Claire’s additional chart topping album "Journey". He has also composed music for numerous television commercials, including a track for Clogau, screened internationally, and for ‘Fishermans Friends’, currently being shown in the USA. Chris is now working on the next television promotion for Clogau, which will be released later this year.
Many of Chris's works have been performed and recorded by some of the worlds leading orchestras, including the BBC Concert Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Welsh National Opera, and Ulster Orchestra.
In 2017, Chris was commissioned to arrange and conduct a new album with the Portuguese singer sensation, Yolanda Soares, with whom he has performed recently with at the Tivoli Theatre Lisbon and Colisseum in Porto. He has also been commissioned by the American Youth Harp Ensemble and choir to compose a special set of works which will be premiered on PBS television in the USA and at Carnegie Hall, New York in 2020.
Chris's career highlights as a professional percussionist include appearances with the BBC symphony Orchestra, English National Ballet, London Mozart Players, The Royal Shakespeare Company and BBC National Orchestra of Wales. He has also worked on many productions in London's West End and international touring shows in the UK and China. These include We Will Rock You, Wizard of Oz, Zorro, Carousel, West Side Story, Evita, Love Beyond, Big, and Elf the Musical.
Chris has a passion for playing instruments from all around the world, and it has resulted in seeing him perform on numerous recording sessions for TV and film. He also performs as part of C2 duet with his wife, and former Official Harpist to HRH Prince Charles, Claire Jones. This unique duo has travelled extensively throughout the UK and in the USA
Chris balances his performance schedule with his flourishing career as a composer and arranger. His growing portfolio of compositions, includes the music for "Heartstrings" (no 1 download on iTunes) which was recorded for Classic FM/Decca in 2012 and was featured on Claire Jones’ album, "The Girl With The Golden Harp". Chris has also composed "Bluestone" and arranged many tracks on Claire’s additional chart topping album "Journey". He has also composed music for numerous television commercials, including a track for Clogau, screened internationally, and for ‘Fishermans Friends’, currently being shown in the USA. Chris is now working on the next television promotion for Clogau, which will be released later this year.
Many of Chris's works have been performed and recorded by some of the worlds leading orchestras, including the BBC Concert Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Welsh National Opera, and Ulster Orchestra.
In 2017, Chris was commissioned to arrange and conduct a new album with the Portuguese singer sensation, Yolanda Soares, with whom he has performed recently with at the Tivoli Theatre Lisbon and Colisseum in Porto. He has also been commissioned by the American Youth Harp Ensemble and choir to compose a special set of works which will be premiered on PBS television in the USA and at Carnegie Hall, New York in 2020.
Chris's career highlights as a professional percussionist include appearances with the BBC symphony Orchestra, English National Ballet, London Mozart Players, The Royal Shakespeare Company and BBC National Orchestra of Wales. He has also worked on many productions in London's West End and international touring shows in the UK and China. These include We Will Rock You, Wizard of Oz, Zorro, Carousel, West Side Story, Evita, Love Beyond, Big, and Elf the Musical.
Chris has a passion for playing instruments from all around the world, and it has resulted in seeing him perform on numerous recording sessions for TV and film. He also performs as part of C2 duet with his wife, and former Official Harpist to HRH Prince Charles, Claire Jones. This unique duo has travelled extensively throughout the UK and in the USA
Examples of Work
Sample Scores
Please note, all works are copyright © Marshall Music UK. Any unauthorised copying or distribution is prohibited. All rights reserved
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Claire Jones
Britain’s best selling classical harpist, Claire Jones was born and lives in Wales. Following her appointment as Official Harpist to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales (2007-11), she became a household name for her esteemed performance at the Royal Wedding for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Solo career highlights include solo and concerto appearances with the World’s top orchestras and artists such as the English Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Mariinsky Theatre Ballet Orchestra, Zurich Chamber Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir James Galway; Maestro Gergiev, Joshua Bell, Reniee Fleming, Sir Neville Marriner, Sir Bryn Terfel, and Alfie Bow to name only a few. She has performed prestigious recitals at Wigmore Hall and Cadogan Hall (London), Capitol Hill (USA), City Hall (Hong Kong), International Harp Festival (Brazil) and at the Millennium Stadium for and audience of 75,000.
Claire is no stranger to the classical charts with her albums ‘Girl With The Golden Harp’, ‘Journey’, 'Highrove Suite', and ’This Love’ reaching the top of the classical charts. Claire is a firm favourite on Classic FM playlists, and her albums have been released worldwide.
Claire has a first class BMus(hons) degree from The Royal College of Music and studied as an MA (Scholar) at the Royal Academy of Music, London. In 2016 she was awarded an honorary Associateship from the Royal Academy of Music London for her significant contribution to her profession,and is an international ambassador for jewellery company, Clogau
Solo career highlights include solo and concerto appearances with the World’s top orchestras and artists such as the English Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Mariinsky Theatre Ballet Orchestra, Zurich Chamber Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir James Galway; Maestro Gergiev, Joshua Bell, Reniee Fleming, Sir Neville Marriner, Sir Bryn Terfel, and Alfie Bow to name only a few. She has performed prestigious recitals at Wigmore Hall and Cadogan Hall (London), Capitol Hill (USA), City Hall (Hong Kong), International Harp Festival (Brazil) and at the Millennium Stadium for and audience of 75,000.
Claire is no stranger to the classical charts with her albums ‘Girl With The Golden Harp’, ‘Journey’, 'Highrove Suite', and ’This Love’ reaching the top of the classical charts. Claire is a firm favourite on Classic FM playlists, and her albums have been released worldwide.
Claire has a first class BMus(hons) degree from The Royal College of Music and studied as an MA (Scholar) at the Royal Academy of Music, London. In 2016 she was awarded an honorary Associateship from the Royal Academy of Music London for her significant contribution to her profession,and is an international ambassador for jewellery company, Clogau
Craig Roberts
Craig studied at the United Kingdom's University of Salford, then Europe's leading centre for specialist musical education in band musicianship. He gained first his BA (Hons) then Masters degree there, studying with Dr Roy Newsome, Dr Peter Graham and Prof David King. Whilst at the university, Craig was awarded the Roy Newsome conducting prize as the outstanding undergraduate conductor of the academic year 2000.
Within the UK, Craig has performed in most of the country’s finest concert halls including the Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall and Royal Academy of Music, London; Symphony Hall, Birmingham; Bridgewater Hall, Manchester; Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool; Brangwyn Hall, Swansea; Wales Millennium Centre, St David’s Hall, RWCMD Dora Stouzker Hall, BBC Hoddinott Hall, and Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Craig has also frequently worked overseas, touring to Australia, Belgium, Canada, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Libya, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Ukraine and the United States of America.
Craig has worked on a wide variety of large scale and innovative concert projects both at home and abroad, ranging from the closing event of the London 2012 Olympic Park through a wide variety of major international performances and festivals. He has worked with some of the world's leading orchestras, bands, soloists, composers and more, including the Stadtorchester, Kreisverband & Jugendblasorchester Ravensburg, Stadtkapelle Nurtingen and Musikkapelle Thanheim of Germany; the Don Cossack, Russian Cossack & Nalmes State Dance Companies and Russian State Ballet Company; Errollyn Wallen and the Welsh National Opera Company, Joji Hirota & the Japanese Taiko Drummers; Tim A. Duncan and the Russian Imperial Ice Stars. With the Welsh Proms, Craig has also worked on events featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Philharmonia, Bournemouth Symphony, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Welsh National Opera Orchestra. He also worked on the 2014 Dylan Thomas centenary concert with Camerata Wales at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank.
Soloists Craig has worked with include Sir Bryn Terfel, Shan Cothi, Rebecca Evans, Catrin Finch, Lesley Garrett, David Childs, Kerry Ellis, Claire Jones, John Owen-Jones, Peter Karrie, and James Watson. He has also commissioned a wealth of music by leading composers including Paul Mealor, Sir Karl Jenkins, Philip Wilby and many more.
Craig has directed numerous leading bands and choirs in performance, including Black Dyke, Brighouse & Rastrick, Cory and Leyland brass bands, a wealth of international military bands, including the Band of Her Majesty’s Grenadier Guards, and choirs ranging from Only Men Aloud to the Yurlov Russian State Academic Chorus. Within Wales, Craig has conducted the majority of the top brass bands, including world number one brass band, the Cory Band, who he guest conducted for the Golden Jubilee procession through London of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Craig has been successful in musical competition at the highest level, winning the overall Welsh League Championship on three occasions (2006, 2009 and 2011) with three different bands, and has won every contest in the Welsh Brass Band League at Championship level. Craig was named Conductor of the Year by the SEWBBA and WWBBA in 2004. In 2017, he led both Lewis-Merthyr Band to the Welsh League First Section Championship title for the first time in 21 years, and Seindorf Arian Crwbin to the National Eisteddfod of Wales Second Section Championship.
For a number of years Craig was Director of Music of the Woods Mfg Co Brass Band based in Stittsville, Ontario, Canada. He directed the band at several of the world’s largest military shows including the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo in Halifax, Canada; the Virginia International Tattoo in Norfolk, USA; the Netherlands Nationale Taptoe in Breda, Holland and the Polizei Show in Hamburg, Germany. Craig later became Assistant Director of the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, the world’s largest annual indoor show, and worked with the Tattoo for a period of 20 years until resigning his position in 2018.
Craig has also worked as Production Consultant to a wide range of additional large scale military events, including the Canadian Beating Retreat “Fortissimo”, held annually on Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ontario (2007-10) and the Kremlin Zoria Festival, the first Tattoo to be held in Moscow's Red Square, Russia (2007). Craig was also Director of Music and Production Consultant for the World Military Music Festival held in Green Square, Tripoli, Libya in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Libyan Arab Jamahereya and 10th anniversary of the African Union (2009). The performance featured 1000 performers from 18 different nations and was attended by 200 international heads of state. Craig was also Director of Music and Production Consultant for the first Crete International Tattoo and Mediterranean International Festival of Arts in Crete, Greece (2010 & 2011) and in 2013 visited Kharkiv, Ukraine to undertake a major parade and performances in the presence of the then Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the city and region in 1943.
In 2015, Craig featured in and tour-managed Grimethorpe Colliery Band's 10 date nationwide concert tour of Australia. In both 2017 and 2019 he then returned to Russia to work on the famous May 9th Immortal Regiment Parade in Red Square, Moscow. This parade consisted of over a million people in Moscow alone, and over 2 million people nationwide. In addition to Moscow, Craig has also travelled to Krasnodar and the Crimean Peninsula, and in 2020 will again return to the Russian Federation as Director of Music to a major festival to be held across Moscow, Crimea and Kazan. In September 2020, he will also take up the position of Principal Director of Music to the Estes Park Tattoo in Colorado, USA.
Craig has been the recipient of a number of awards and honours including the Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf's Good Citizen Award for Artistic Achievement, which he was presented for services to music, the arts, education and charitable causes in May 2018. In August 2018, he was then awarded the Talent & Vocation Medal as a Worldwide Charitable Alliance Peacemaker by the International Coordination Council for the Development and Promotion of the Ideas of Peace in a ceremony at the iconic Vorontsov Palace in Alupka. In May 2019, Craig accepted a second award from the Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf for the pioneering work of the Rhondda Arts Festival (RAFT).
Having formerly held positions as Artistic Director of the Welsh Brass Arts Festival, Wales Development Manager to Making Music, the national support body for UK voluntary music, and Executive Officer of the UK National School Band Association (NSBA), in November 2018, Craig took up the post of Director with the Rhondda Arts Festival (RAFT) which has seen him work with artists such as Sir Tony Robinson, Kerry Ellis, Omid Djalili and many more. He is also a leading freelance arts management consultant, who has worked with organisations such as Wales' national classical music festival, the Welsh Proms Cymru, the chamber orchestra Camerata Wales and more.
Craig has been a member of the Executive Council of Music Centre Wales, Ty Cerdd, of the Board of Directors at Community Music Wales, and a Trustee of the famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Sound Affairs, Musical Director of both Lewis Merthyr Band and Symphonic Brass Wales, and Vice Chair of Rhondda Cynon Taf International Twinning.
Further information on Craig can be found at www.croberts100.com
Within the UK, Craig has performed in most of the country’s finest concert halls including the Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall and Royal Academy of Music, London; Symphony Hall, Birmingham; Bridgewater Hall, Manchester; Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool; Brangwyn Hall, Swansea; Wales Millennium Centre, St David’s Hall, RWCMD Dora Stouzker Hall, BBC Hoddinott Hall, and Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Craig has also frequently worked overseas, touring to Australia, Belgium, Canada, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Libya, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Ukraine and the United States of America.
Craig has worked on a wide variety of large scale and innovative concert projects both at home and abroad, ranging from the closing event of the London 2012 Olympic Park through a wide variety of major international performances and festivals. He has worked with some of the world's leading orchestras, bands, soloists, composers and more, including the Stadtorchester, Kreisverband & Jugendblasorchester Ravensburg, Stadtkapelle Nurtingen and Musikkapelle Thanheim of Germany; the Don Cossack, Russian Cossack & Nalmes State Dance Companies and Russian State Ballet Company; Errollyn Wallen and the Welsh National Opera Company, Joji Hirota & the Japanese Taiko Drummers; Tim A. Duncan and the Russian Imperial Ice Stars. With the Welsh Proms, Craig has also worked on events featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Philharmonia, Bournemouth Symphony, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Welsh National Opera Orchestra. He also worked on the 2014 Dylan Thomas centenary concert with Camerata Wales at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank.
Soloists Craig has worked with include Sir Bryn Terfel, Shan Cothi, Rebecca Evans, Catrin Finch, Lesley Garrett, David Childs, Kerry Ellis, Claire Jones, John Owen-Jones, Peter Karrie, and James Watson. He has also commissioned a wealth of music by leading composers including Paul Mealor, Sir Karl Jenkins, Philip Wilby and many more.
Craig has directed numerous leading bands and choirs in performance, including Black Dyke, Brighouse & Rastrick, Cory and Leyland brass bands, a wealth of international military bands, including the Band of Her Majesty’s Grenadier Guards, and choirs ranging from Only Men Aloud to the Yurlov Russian State Academic Chorus. Within Wales, Craig has conducted the majority of the top brass bands, including world number one brass band, the Cory Band, who he guest conducted for the Golden Jubilee procession through London of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Craig has been successful in musical competition at the highest level, winning the overall Welsh League Championship on three occasions (2006, 2009 and 2011) with three different bands, and has won every contest in the Welsh Brass Band League at Championship level. Craig was named Conductor of the Year by the SEWBBA and WWBBA in 2004. In 2017, he led both Lewis-Merthyr Band to the Welsh League First Section Championship title for the first time in 21 years, and Seindorf Arian Crwbin to the National Eisteddfod of Wales Second Section Championship.
For a number of years Craig was Director of Music of the Woods Mfg Co Brass Band based in Stittsville, Ontario, Canada. He directed the band at several of the world’s largest military shows including the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo in Halifax, Canada; the Virginia International Tattoo in Norfolk, USA; the Netherlands Nationale Taptoe in Breda, Holland and the Polizei Show in Hamburg, Germany. Craig later became Assistant Director of the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, the world’s largest annual indoor show, and worked with the Tattoo for a period of 20 years until resigning his position in 2018.
Craig has also worked as Production Consultant to a wide range of additional large scale military events, including the Canadian Beating Retreat “Fortissimo”, held annually on Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Ontario (2007-10) and the Kremlin Zoria Festival, the first Tattoo to be held in Moscow's Red Square, Russia (2007). Craig was also Director of Music and Production Consultant for the World Military Music Festival held in Green Square, Tripoli, Libya in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Libyan Arab Jamahereya and 10th anniversary of the African Union (2009). The performance featured 1000 performers from 18 different nations and was attended by 200 international heads of state. Craig was also Director of Music and Production Consultant for the first Crete International Tattoo and Mediterranean International Festival of Arts in Crete, Greece (2010 & 2011) and in 2013 visited Kharkiv, Ukraine to undertake a major parade and performances in the presence of the then Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the city and region in 1943.
In 2015, Craig featured in and tour-managed Grimethorpe Colliery Band's 10 date nationwide concert tour of Australia. In both 2017 and 2019 he then returned to Russia to work on the famous May 9th Immortal Regiment Parade in Red Square, Moscow. This parade consisted of over a million people in Moscow alone, and over 2 million people nationwide. In addition to Moscow, Craig has also travelled to Krasnodar and the Crimean Peninsula, and in 2020 will again return to the Russian Federation as Director of Music to a major festival to be held across Moscow, Crimea and Kazan. In September 2020, he will also take up the position of Principal Director of Music to the Estes Park Tattoo in Colorado, USA.
Craig has been the recipient of a number of awards and honours including the Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf's Good Citizen Award for Artistic Achievement, which he was presented for services to music, the arts, education and charitable causes in May 2018. In August 2018, he was then awarded the Talent & Vocation Medal as a Worldwide Charitable Alliance Peacemaker by the International Coordination Council for the Development and Promotion of the Ideas of Peace in a ceremony at the iconic Vorontsov Palace in Alupka. In May 2019, Craig accepted a second award from the Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf for the pioneering work of the Rhondda Arts Festival (RAFT).
Having formerly held positions as Artistic Director of the Welsh Brass Arts Festival, Wales Development Manager to Making Music, the national support body for UK voluntary music, and Executive Officer of the UK National School Band Association (NSBA), in November 2018, Craig took up the post of Director with the Rhondda Arts Festival (RAFT) which has seen him work with artists such as Sir Tony Robinson, Kerry Ellis, Omid Djalili and many more. He is also a leading freelance arts management consultant, who has worked with organisations such as Wales' national classical music festival, the Welsh Proms Cymru, the chamber orchestra Camerata Wales and more.
Craig has been a member of the Executive Council of Music Centre Wales, Ty Cerdd, of the Board of Directors at Community Music Wales, and a Trustee of the famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Sound Affairs, Musical Director of both Lewis Merthyr Band and Symphonic Brass Wales, and Vice Chair of Rhondda Cynon Taf International Twinning.
Further information on Craig can be found at www.croberts100.com
Lewis Merthyr Band
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"A damn fine band" - HRH Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII)
Founded in or before 1855, Lewis-Merthyr Band is the oldest brass band in South Wales' Rhondda Valleys. Originally known as the Cymmer Military and 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 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 has also won the Second and Third Section UK titles at the National Championships of Great Britain. Lewis Merthyr is currently ranked in the First Section and were the 2015 Runner-Up WWBBA Champions; 2016 Runner-Up SEWBBA Champions & overall Runner-Up Welsh League Champions in both 2015 & 2016. 2017 was a particularly successful year for the band and saw Lewis Merthyr become the WWBBA and - for the first time in 21 years - overall Welsh League First Section Champions.
The band has been equally successful on the concert stage, performing at a wide variety of locations across Wales and beyond, including the Royal Albert Hall, London; Llangollen Pavilion; St David's Hall, Cardiff & the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. Lewis Merthyr has performed for Royalty on a number of occasions, parading through the streets for the visit of His Majesty King George V and Queen Mary to Rhondda in 1912, and the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, in 1932. Throughout its history, the band has performed with numerous leading artists, including "Signor Foli" (Allan James Foley) in the late 1800's, and with Sir Geraint Evans, Glyn Houston and Sir Bryn Terfel. In the past few years, the band also recently featured in a series of concerts under the baton of the renowned Welsh orchestral conductor Dr. Owain Arwel Hughes CBE. These include a St David's Day Gala Concert at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea with Pendyrus and Morriston Orpheus Choirs; a concert in the Speech Room at Harrow School, London; and two performances at Wales' national classical music festival, the Welsh Proms, held in July 2018 & 2019 at the national concert hall of Wales, St David's Hall, Cardiff.
Lewis Merthyr has featured in a wide range of radio & television broadcasts, dating back to a recently rediscovered BBC Radio broadcast from 1927, and Pathé newsreel footage of the band marching before King Edward VIII in 1932. Most recently the band was 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 Autumn 2017, Lewis Merthyr also recorded a special television feature with the renowned international baritone soloist Sir Bryn Terfel, which was screened nationwide on Christmas Day 2017, Christmas Eve 2018 and on the opening night of the 2018 National Eisteddfod of Wales. The band featured again on nationwide television, performing live in the National Eisteddfod, on stage at the Donald Gordon Theatre in the iconic Wales Millennium Centre the following day.
Lewis Merthyr Band has featured in a wide range of major events, performing on numerous occasions at the Principality Stadium, playing to 52 981 people plus international television audience for the Wales vs Italy warm up match for the 2015 Rugby World Cup; to record Pro14 crowds of 68,262 and 62,338 for Judgement Day 2016 & 2018; and for the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 World Golden Oldies International Rugby Festival, which featured 120 participating teams representing 25 different nations from across the globe.
Lewis Merthyr was also the core of Wales' first all-female band for each of Wales' 2017 Women's Rugby Six Nations Championship home matches, and again for the 2018 Women's Suffrage Centennial "Processions" event at Cardiff Castle in July 2018. Lewis Merthyr Band also performed for the Women's Rugby Six Nations matches at Cardiff Arms Park in 2019 and 2020.
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 which was again the focus of national television broadcasts. In April 2018, the band also supported the 11.2 metre "Man Engine" events at Cyfartha Castle and Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd, and in October 2019 travelled to Ostend, Belgium to perform to over 6000 people alongside groups from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and South Korea at the Internationale Taptoe Belgie.
Lewis Merthyr Band has a long history of performing and broadcasting new work, and has held a close association with numerous major composers including Mervyn Burtch and John Golland. The band gave the premiere broadcasts of Dr. Peter Graham's "Dimensions" and Goff Richards' "Oceans" on BBC Radio in the 1980s, and in 2018 the band gave the premiere performances of Helen Wood's "Man Engine Anthem" and Dr. Christopher Wood's "Aberfan", also undertaking the premiere recording of the latter on the band's most recent commercial recording "Brass & Voices of Wales" with the massed choirs of Bridgend & Pendyrus, conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes. Through the latter half of 2020, with the support of the Arts Council of Wales, the band will explore the project New Directions, a partnership with a selection of leading composers and performers from across Wales and wider.
Lewis-Merthyr 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 their performances across the nation and beyond.
Registered Charity No. 1000499
www.lewismerthyrband.com
Founded in or before 1855, Lewis-Merthyr Band is the oldest brass band in South Wales' Rhondda Valleys. Originally known as the Cymmer Military and 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 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 has also won the Second and Third Section UK titles at the National Championships of Great Britain. Lewis Merthyr is currently ranked in the First Section and were the 2015 Runner-Up WWBBA Champions; 2016 Runner-Up SEWBBA Champions & overall Runner-Up Welsh League Champions in both 2015 & 2016. 2017 was a particularly successful year for the band and saw Lewis Merthyr become the WWBBA and - for the first time in 21 years - overall Welsh League First Section Champions.
The band has been equally successful on the concert stage, performing at a wide variety of locations across Wales and beyond, including the Royal Albert Hall, London; Llangollen Pavilion; St David's Hall, Cardiff & the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. Lewis Merthyr has performed for Royalty on a number of occasions, parading through the streets for the visit of His Majesty King George V and Queen Mary to Rhondda in 1912, and the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, in 1932. Throughout its history, the band has performed with numerous leading artists, including "Signor Foli" (Allan James Foley) in the late 1800's, and with Sir Geraint Evans, Glyn Houston and Sir Bryn Terfel. In the past few years, the band also recently featured in a series of concerts under the baton of the renowned Welsh orchestral conductor Dr. Owain Arwel Hughes CBE. These include a St David's Day Gala Concert at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea with Pendyrus and Morriston Orpheus Choirs; a concert in the Speech Room at Harrow School, London; and two performances at Wales' national classical music festival, the Welsh Proms, held in July 2018 & 2019 at the national concert hall of Wales, St David's Hall, Cardiff.
Lewis Merthyr has featured in a wide range of radio & television broadcasts, dating back to a recently rediscovered BBC Radio broadcast from 1927, and Pathé newsreel footage of the band marching before King Edward VIII in 1932. Most recently the band was 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 Autumn 2017, Lewis Merthyr also recorded a special television feature with the renowned international baritone soloist Sir Bryn Terfel, which was screened nationwide on Christmas Day 2017, Christmas Eve 2018 and on the opening night of the 2018 National Eisteddfod of Wales. The band featured again on nationwide television, performing live in the National Eisteddfod, on stage at the Donald Gordon Theatre in the iconic Wales Millennium Centre the following day.
Lewis Merthyr Band has featured in a wide range of major events, performing on numerous occasions at the Principality Stadium, playing to 52 981 people plus international television audience for the Wales vs Italy warm up match for the 2015 Rugby World Cup; to record Pro14 crowds of 68,262 and 62,338 for Judgement Day 2016 & 2018; and for the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 World Golden Oldies International Rugby Festival, which featured 120 participating teams representing 25 different nations from across the globe.
Lewis Merthyr was also the core of Wales' first all-female band for each of Wales' 2017 Women's Rugby Six Nations Championship home matches, and again for the 2018 Women's Suffrage Centennial "Processions" event at Cardiff Castle in July 2018. Lewis Merthyr Band also performed for the Women's Rugby Six Nations matches at Cardiff Arms Park in 2019 and 2020.
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 which was again the focus of national television broadcasts. In April 2018, the band also supported the 11.2 metre "Man Engine" events at Cyfartha Castle and Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd, and in October 2019 travelled to Ostend, Belgium to perform to over 6000 people alongside groups from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and South Korea at the Internationale Taptoe Belgie.
Lewis Merthyr Band has a long history of performing and broadcasting new work, and has held a close association with numerous major composers including Mervyn Burtch and John Golland. The band gave the premiere broadcasts of Dr. Peter Graham's "Dimensions" and Goff Richards' "Oceans" on BBC Radio in the 1980s, and in 2018 the band gave the premiere performances of Helen Wood's "Man Engine Anthem" and Dr. Christopher Wood's "Aberfan", also undertaking the premiere recording of the latter on the band's most recent commercial recording "Brass & Voices of Wales" with the massed choirs of Bridgend & Pendyrus, conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes. Through the latter half of 2020, with the support of the Arts Council of Wales, the band will explore the project New Directions, a partnership with a selection of leading composers and performers from across Wales and wider.
Lewis-Merthyr 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 their performances across the nation and beyond.
Registered Charity No. 1000499
www.lewismerthyrband.com
