Band Pres Hŷn Gwasanaeth Cerdd Ysgolion Gwynedd a Môn {Gwynedd and Môn’s Schools Music Service Senior Brass Band}
Formed of talented pupils aged 14 – 18 from a variety of high schools, the Gwynedd and Môn Senior Brass Band is one of the leading Youth Brass Bands is the UK. They have won several prizes at Eisteddfods, Festivals and UK competitions. Their conductor, Mr Dylan Williams has over 25 years experience as a peripatetic tutor and ensemble leader, having taught thousands of pupils in North-West Wales over the years. Last year, he received the highest honour by the National Eisteddfod of Wales, by being accepted into the Gorsedd of Bards for his services to music and youth in Wales. The Gorsedd is made up of poets, writers, musicians, artists and other people who have made a distinguished contribution to the Welsh nation, the language, and its culture.
Parti Cerdd Dant a Gwerin Gwasanaeth Cerdd Ysgolion Gwynedd a Môn {Gwynedd and Môn’s Schools Music Service Folk Choir}
This small choir was formed in 2023 specifically to compete at the National Eisteddfod of Wales that was held in Gwynedd that year. Since then they have gone on to win several competitions at Welsh Eisteddfods and Festivals including the Youth Folk Choir competition at Llangollen International Eisteddfod in 2025.
They are led by conductor, composer and vocal arranger Mrs Gwennant Pyrs. She is a hugely respected authority on Welsh traditional folk and cerdd dant music.
City of Waterford Brass
Musical Director: Ms Julie Quinlan
City of Waterford Brass are now 94 years providing music for the people of Waterford and much further afield. The band use their purpose-built premises in Five Alley Lane to prepare and perfect the music for a very broad range of musical occasions, and they are very proud to be involved with such a variety of opportunities to express their musical talents for the varying audiences. Over the last twelve months we have enjoyed our various Spraoi and Culture Night performances, both of which we collaborated with the Waterford Centre of Music Adult Choir for ‘Vox & Valves’, Summer in the City, Lions Club Concert in the Lafcadio Hearn Gardens, Winterval, Songs of Praise and Civic Carol Service. The band are thrilled to be invited to be a part of the SCOW 2026 programme, and would like to thank them for asking!
Our training players of all ages are continuing to achieve excellent results in their exam grades and continue to make good progress within the band ranks. During the past number of years we have been delighted to have band members compete successfully at the Arklow Music Festival and Feis Ceoil, Dublin including being awarded 1st place in the u17, Senior Brass and uniquely, the Mernin Family Quartet winning the Senior Brass Quartet competition at the Arklow Music Festival in 2025 with a mark of 99/100. City of Waterford Brass continue to invest in the future of brass music in Waterford and they currently have both children and adults in training under the tutelage of Michael Quinlan, John Mernin and Daniel Mernin.
The band would like to acknowledge their Musical Director, Julie Quinlan, whose creativity, vision, professionalism and pure hard work is second to none, and she puts this into each and every performance that the band gives. Her willingness to embrace the diversity of performances, and her ability to compose and arrange music for each event is invaluable to the band.
