News
Below can be found news on forthcoming projects and events in which
Craig is currently involved. News is posted as and when it becomes
available. This section of the site is frequently updated.
Previous news items can be found in the News Archive section of this site.
Previous news items can be found in the News Archive section of this site.
Hwiangerdd recorded by Philharmonia Orchestra
In December, composer Andrew Powell visited the famous Abbey Road Studios, together with the
Philharmonia Orchestra and Welsh soprano Elin
Manahan Thomas, to record some of his recent compositions, which included the beautiful Hwiangerdd from Y Dyn Unig, the work commissioned from Andrew by Craig and the Burry Port Town Band in 2010.
Y Dyn Unig was written by Andrew together with the Welsh poet Menna Elfyn, and was the central element and inspiration for the exciting 2010/11 arts project The Red Lady of Paviland, which was premiered at the Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen, in the presence of the composer and librettist, in April 2010.
The recording by the Philharmonia is due to be released in June. Additionally, there are plans for a concert, or series of concerts, in London next year with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Andrew, featuring several of the works on the album, together with some classics by Mozart, Debussy and Prokofiev.
Further information on Andrew Powell and the Philharmonia album can be found at his website www.andrewpowell.com while further information on The Red Lady of Paviland and Y Dyn Unig can be found in their own section of this website here
Y Dyn Unig was written by Andrew together with the Welsh poet Menna Elfyn, and was the central element and inspiration for the exciting 2010/11 arts project The Red Lady of Paviland, which was premiered at the Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen, in the presence of the composer and librettist, in April 2010.
The recording by the Philharmonia is due to be released in June. Additionally, there are plans for a concert, or series of concerts, in London next year with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Andrew, featuring several of the works on the album, together with some classics by Mozart, Debussy and Prokofiev.
Further information on Andrew Powell and the Philharmonia album can be found at his website www.andrewpowell.com while further information on The Red Lady of Paviland and Y Dyn Unig can be found in their own section of this website here
Welsh League Champions to feature in Gala Charity Concert
Welsh League Champions Abergavenny Borough are to feature in a special gala charity concert alongside West End musical theatre star Katy Treharne and additional artists in February.
The concert has been organised to celebrate the 21st Anniversary of the Hospice of the Valleys providing care in Blaenau Gwent, and will be held at the Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre, on Saturday February 11.
The concert has been organised to celebrate the 21st Anniversary of the Hospice of the Valleys providing care in Blaenau Gwent, and will be held at the Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre, on Saturday February 11.
Katy Treharne
The concert, which also features the massed male choirs of Abertillery, Beaufort, Cwm and Ebbw Vale, will commence at 7:00pm and tickets can be obtained by telephoning 01495 717 277
The gala concert will be third occasion Craig has worked with Katy, having previously performed with her at the Burry Port Town Band Summer Concert and the Rhondda Fach Gala Concert, along with Katy's fellow West End star John Owen Jones, in 2009.
Full details of the performance can be accessed via the Abergavenny Borough Band website here
The gala concert will be third occasion Craig has worked with Katy, having previously performed with her at the Burry Port Town Band Summer Concert and the Rhondda Fach Gala Concert, along with Katy's fellow West End star John Owen Jones, in 2009.
Full details of the performance can be accessed via the Abergavenny Borough Band website here
Get Involved in Music Nation Cymru!
The weekend of March 3 / 4 2012 will see events taking place across the whole of the UK under the banner of Music Nation.
Music Nation Cymru is a celebration of live music across Wales, and will bring together musicians of all levels, featuring music for and by young and old, with opportunities for everyone to join in. The weekend is built around two key participatory events held at noon each day.
Saturday March 3 sees the National Flash Mash, led by Welsh National Opera, bringing a medley of Welsh music, traditional and modern, plus themes from The Marriage of Figaro to a centre near you!
Sunday March 4 features the National Cymanfa Ganu, led by Making Music Wales and Ty Cerdd, where musicians from across Wales can join our massed performance at the Wales Millennium Centre, or open your own doors to your local community and invite them to join you in music and song. Bring your instrument, music and stand to a participating venue - or start one of your own! - and be part of a pan-Wales simultaneous performance.
Additional events include free performances and more formal performances at a range of venues across Cardiff and further afield in Wales, including Cardigan, Newport, Wrexham, Mold, Llandudno and Caernarfon. Visit the Music Nation Cymru area of the Festival 2012 website for further details.
For further information and to get involved in the BBC's Music Nation, uniting orchestras, musical groups, choirs and concert halls all across the UK, visit www.makingmusicwales.org.uk
Music Nation Cymru is a celebration of live music across Wales, and will bring together musicians of all levels, featuring music for and by young and old, with opportunities for everyone to join in. The weekend is built around two key participatory events held at noon each day.
Saturday March 3 sees the National Flash Mash, led by Welsh National Opera, bringing a medley of Welsh music, traditional and modern, plus themes from The Marriage of Figaro to a centre near you!
Sunday March 4 features the National Cymanfa Ganu, led by Making Music Wales and Ty Cerdd, where musicians from across Wales can join our massed performance at the Wales Millennium Centre, or open your own doors to your local community and invite them to join you in music and song. Bring your instrument, music and stand to a participating venue - or start one of your own! - and be part of a pan-Wales simultaneous performance.
Additional events include free performances and more formal performances at a range of venues across Cardiff and further afield in Wales, including Cardigan, Newport, Wrexham, Mold, Llandudno and Caernarfon. Visit the Music Nation Cymru area of the Festival 2012 website for further details.
For further information and to get involved in the BBC's Music Nation, uniting orchestras, musical groups, choirs and concert halls all across the UK, visit www.makingmusicwales.org.uk
Happy New Year!
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda - a very Happy New Year to all! 2011 was a busy year for Craig, which had many highlights that included visits to Canada, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Scotland, Sweden and Switzerland. Among these, particularly of note were the incredibly successful 2011 Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, the Mediterranean International Festival of Arts in Crete, Greece, and visiting and working with the incredible young musicians of the Kreisverbandsjugendblasorchester Ravensburg on their 2011 Jahreskonzert.
On the brass band front, 2011 saw the return of the Treherbert & District Band to contesting, and that was in fine fashion with the band claiming Runner Up spots at both the Welsh Regional Championships and South Wales Miner's Eisteddfod, and winning the third division of the National Eisteddfod of Wales in August. 2011 also saw Craig become Musical Director of the Abergavenny Borough Band who were also in fine form, winning the SEWBBA Championships in May and the overall Welsh League Championship in November (the third occasion Craig has won the title). Both bands now long forward to another successful year in 2012.
Craig's work with Making Music Wales also continues to go from strength to strength with their exciting new volunteering initiative, Music Nation Cymru, Bards of Wales, Bandstand Marathon and National Conference in Cardiff all launching in 2012. Further information on all of these can be found at the Making Music Wales website www.makingmusicwales.org.uk
2011 will also be remembered for Welsh bagpiping (who knew!), success with schools at both the Urdd National Eisteddfod and Treorchy Male Choir Young Musician of the year, plus the twinning visits of the Jugendblasorchester Ravensburg to Rhondda Cynon Taf, and the infamous visit to Disneyland Paris with Porth County Community School (#banmickey).
Craig now looks forward to 2012 and the various exciting projects that has in store which include Music Nation Cymru, the Making Music conference and The Bards of Wales, the 2012 Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, the 1812 bicentennial performances, the launch of the Rasputin project and much more.
Further information on all of these, and additional projects for 2012 can be found in the projects section of this site. Here's to a happy and successful year in 2012 for all.
On the brass band front, 2011 saw the return of the Treherbert & District Band to contesting, and that was in fine fashion with the band claiming Runner Up spots at both the Welsh Regional Championships and South Wales Miner's Eisteddfod, and winning the third division of the National Eisteddfod of Wales in August. 2011 also saw Craig become Musical Director of the Abergavenny Borough Band who were also in fine form, winning the SEWBBA Championships in May and the overall Welsh League Championship in November (the third occasion Craig has won the title). Both bands now long forward to another successful year in 2012.
Craig's work with Making Music Wales also continues to go from strength to strength with their exciting new volunteering initiative, Music Nation Cymru, Bards of Wales, Bandstand Marathon and National Conference in Cardiff all launching in 2012. Further information on all of these can be found at the Making Music Wales website www.makingmusicwales.org.uk
2011 will also be remembered for Welsh bagpiping (who knew!), success with schools at both the Urdd National Eisteddfod and Treorchy Male Choir Young Musician of the year, plus the twinning visits of the Jugendblasorchester Ravensburg to Rhondda Cynon Taf, and the infamous visit to Disneyland Paris with Porth County Community School (#banmickey).
Craig now looks forward to 2012 and the various exciting projects that has in store which include Music Nation Cymru, the Making Music conference and The Bards of Wales, the 2012 Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, the 1812 bicentennial performances, the launch of the Rasputin project and much more.
Further information on all of these, and additional projects for 2012 can be found in the projects section of this site. Here's to a happy and successful year in 2012 for all.
Llongyfarchiadau / Congratulations Derek Holvey MBE!
2012 is of to a great start with hearty congratulations to cornetist, trumpeter, conductor and tutor
extraordinaire Derek Holvey on the award of his richly deserved MBE in
Her Majesty The Queen's 2012 New Year's Honours List.
Derek has been a leading musician and much admired musical director and educator in Rhondda Cynon Taf and South Wales for many years. A fine trumpet and cornet player, and longstanding member and Bandmaster of firstly the Parc & Dare and then Treherbert & District bands, Derek has also been tutor and inspiration to innumerable brass students across South Wales.
In his capacity as Principal Conductor of the Four Counties Orchestra, Rhondda Cynon Taf Youth Orchestra and Bridgend Wind Band, as well as longstanding adjudicator of the Treorchy Male Choir Young Musician and Singer of the Year, Derek has further been - and continues to be - a leading light to many more. An incredibly well deserved award - congratulations "Mr Holvey - MBE!"
Derek has been a leading musician and much admired musical director and educator in Rhondda Cynon Taf and South Wales for many years. A fine trumpet and cornet player, and longstanding member and Bandmaster of firstly the Parc & Dare and then Treherbert & District bands, Derek has also been tutor and inspiration to innumerable brass students across South Wales.
In his capacity as Principal Conductor of the Four Counties Orchestra, Rhondda Cynon Taf Youth Orchestra and Bridgend Wind Band, as well as longstanding adjudicator of the Treorchy Male Choir Young Musician and Singer of the Year, Derek has further been - and continues to be - a leading light to many more. An incredibly well deserved award - congratulations "Mr Holvey - MBE!"
Christmas No 1 for Mealor!
Llongyfarchiadau / congratulations to composer Dr. Paul Mealor, the composer behind the Military Wives' hit Christmas No 1 single Wherever You Are. The No 1 single caps a remarkable year for Paul, whose Ubi Caritas was specially selected by the HRH The Duchess of Cambridge for her wedding to HRH Prince William in April.
The Military Wives single was part of a dual success for Paul who also topped the classical chart with his album A Tender Light, the Christmas number one in the specialist album chart.
Speaking to the BBC, Paul said "It's been an unbelievable year. Last year if I'd have talked about some of the things I could have hoped for, even I could not have dreamed of this. It has been absolutely unbelievable".
Wherever You Are was originally written in the summer for the Military Wives choir to perform at the 2011 Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, in celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion. The piece was based on the letters written by choristers who gave Paul access after Gareth Malone asked him to help when 100 wives and girlfriends of servicemen in Afghanistan were brought together for the BBC Two TV series, The Choir.
Further information on Paul and all of his music mentioned above, can be found at his website www.paulmealor.com and also in the composers / collaborators section of this site. The official youtube video for the Military Wives 'Wherever You Are' can be viewed below:
The Military Wives single was part of a dual success for Paul who also topped the classical chart with his album A Tender Light, the Christmas number one in the specialist album chart.
Speaking to the BBC, Paul said "It's been an unbelievable year. Last year if I'd have talked about some of the things I could have hoped for, even I could not have dreamed of this. It has been absolutely unbelievable".
Wherever You Are was originally written in the summer for the Military Wives choir to perform at the 2011 Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall, in celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion. The piece was based on the letters written by choristers who gave Paul access after Gareth Malone asked him to help when 100 wives and girlfriends of servicemen in Afghanistan were brought together for the BBC Two TV series, The Choir.
Further information on Paul and all of his music mentioned above, can be found at his website www.paulmealor.com and also in the composers / collaborators section of this site. The official youtube video for the Military Wives 'Wherever You Are' can be viewed below:
