London 2012
Some of the key highlights of 2012 for Craig must be the various events he was engaged in, connected with the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad and Olympic Games.
This involvement began in September 2011 when Making Music, the national support body UK voluntary music (for which Craig was Wales Development Manager) partnered with Superact! to deliver the 2011 Bandstand Marathon.
This involvement began in September 2011 when Making Music, the national support body UK voluntary music (for which Craig was Wales Development Manager) partnered with Superact! to deliver the 2011 Bandstand Marathon.
Craig's involvement continued into March 2012 with the Music Nation Cymru weekend on March 3/4. A BBC led project, Music Nation saw orchestras and ensembles across the UK unite in musical performance. In Wales, working in partnership the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Welsh National Opera, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Making Music and additional partners, some 16 000 people witnessed or performed in events such as the BBC NOW Music Marathon at Hoddinott Hall, the National Flash Mash at Wales Millennium Centre and St David's Hall and the National Cymanfa Ganu led from Wales Millennium Centre.
These events were followed by concerts to welcome and mark the passing of the Olympic Torch into Wales in May. "Flaming Brass!" featured Welsh League Champions Abergavenny Borough Band and the Jugendsinfonieorchester und Oberschwaben Symphonic Brass der Musikschule Ravensburg in concert with firework display at Abergavenny Castle, and then "Passing the Torch" saw a gala celebratory concert featuring veteran musical theatre performer Peter Karrie, full symphony orchestra and three choirs take place in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf.
The Olympic events came to a thrilling conclusion in September with Abergavenny Borough Band winning the Last BandStanding competition to perform at the final event in the Olympic Park, London. Leading the nationwide Bandstand Marathon of 180 performances across the whole of the UK, the event saw the band performing once again with Peter Karrie in the final event held in the Olympic Park.
For this performance special permission was granted by rock sensation Coldplay for bands across the UK to unite in performing, at exactly 15:00, their hit song "Viva La Vida". This was specially arranged by Craig and Superact's Thomas Hamill. Coldplay then reprised the song in their performance of the official Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games later that evening.
For this performance special permission was granted by rock sensation Coldplay for bands across the UK to unite in performing, at exactly 15:00, their hit song "Viva La Vida". This was specially arranged by Craig and Superact's Thomas Hamill. Coldplay then reprised the song in their performance of the official Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games later that evening.
A week later, the Olympic journey was not yet over. Craig and Abergavenny were back in Wales, and were invited to lead the homecoming celebrations for the Welsh Olympic and Paralympic athletes at the Senedd, Cardiff Bay. The event, hosted by BBC's Jason Mohammed, took place in the presence of the athletes, First Minister Carwyn Jones AM, Presiding Officer Rosemary Butler AM, a crowd of more than 3000 people, plus nationwide Wales and UK radio and television audiences.
2012 was an epic year for the UK and it was a great pleasure and privilege for all involved to be a part of the once in a lifetime experience that was the London 2012 Olympic Games.
2012 was an epic year for the UK and it was a great pleasure and privilege for all involved to be a part of the once in a lifetime experience that was the London 2012 Olympic Games.
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