The final of the 2016 Band Cymru competition, which was won by Tredegar Band, has been nominated for a British Academy Cymru Award.

It has been nominated in the 2017 'Live Broadcast' category alongside the 'BBC Young Musician of the Year Grand Final' and the programme, 'Catching the Abusers: A Crimewatch Special'.

The Wales BAFTA awards have been presented since 1992 to celebrate the very best of the television and film industries in Wales.

Excellent figures

The bi-annual second series of Band Cymru produced by Rondo Productions attracted excellent audience figures throughout its run on the S4C Welsh language channel.

Brass bands, wind orchestras and jazz ensembles competed against each other over a series of televised qualifying rounds, with Tredegar led by Ian Porthouse going on to claim the £10,000 first prize in the live televised final from the Parc & Dare Hall in Treorchy.

Brass bands, wind orchestras and jazz ensembles competed against each other over a series of televised qualifying rounds, with Tredegar led by Ian Porthouse going on to claim the £10,000 first prize in the live televised final from the Parc & Dare Hall in Treorchy.

A third series will take place in 2018, although the competition rules state that Tredegar will be not be allowed to defend its title.

Huge boost

MD, Ian Porthouse said: “This news is a huge boost to brass banding in Wales. The competition brings bands from all levels into homes of viewers and showcases what we have to offer against the best ensembles of other musical genres.

Our congratulations go to Rondo for helping promote the best of amateur music making in Wales in this innovative way – led of course by us winning the event!”