Welsh Brass Arts Festival
The Welsh Brass Arts Festival was inaugurated in 2001, and initially made possible thanks to the the support of a substantial grant from the Arts Council of Wales. Craig was the festival's Artistic Director throughout it's inaugural eight years.
Initially a three day event, by 2008 the Festival had expanded to become a fortnight long series of events, which collectively encompassed a wide variety of innovative music for brass, musical theatre performances, outreach events and workshops, together with a wide range of educational and participative opportunities for young people and the community as a whole.
Aims & Objectives
Throughout its inaugural years the primary aims and objectives of WBAF remained constant and read as follows:
1) To promote the music of Wales and the music-making of Welsh artists at the highest level through the medium of brass
2) To promote the brass band as an institution and to raise the general profile of the medium
3) To encapsulate into the festival all the various aspects of the band musician – as a performer, conductor, composer and arranger – and as part of the festival to provide expert tuition of the highest quality in these fields by recognised band personalities
4) To create, through the festival, considerable further interest in brass bands and their activities within Wales, particularly with regard to youth, and to create an outside interest in Welsh bands.
*In 2005 WBAF was then expanded from its original format to encompass an additional daytime element, the Schools' Music Festival - Gwyl Gerdd Ysgolion, and thereafter a fifth element remained central to the event:
5) To provide, through the Schools' Music Festival, opportunities for young people to perform in a professional setting, individually and in groups.
As indicated, the primary purpose of this additional aim was to open the theatre up to young people, and offer young performers the opportunity to experience and perform in a professional setting, whilst engaging with and embracing something of their cultural heritage.
Outline
The Welsh Brass Arts Festival was a unique event and brought to Wales some of the finest artists and most innovative performances for brass seen in the principality. Below can be found an outline of each event between 2001 and 2008 that Craig presided over as Artistic Director and principal conductor.
Along with a brief outline of each event is a list of the truly outstanding artists involved in each performance. The commissioning and performance of new and innovative musical works for brass was also a central feature of each event, and below the outline of events, a list of the wide variety of works commissioned by Craig and the festival is also included.
Welsh Brass Arts Festivals 2001-2008
2001 Welsh Brass Arts Festival
Presenter: Vincent Kane
Friday June 8 – “Brass & Voices”
Guest Artists: Treorchy Male Choir, Denise Leigh, Jacqueline Boucher
Guest Conductor: Dr Roy Newsome
Saturday June 9 – “Stars In Brass”
Guest Soloist: James Watson, Trumpet
Sunday June 10 – “Finale” Gala Concert
Guest Artists: Leyland Band
Guest Conductors: Dr Robert Childs, Dr Roy Newsome
2002 Welsh Brass Arts Festival
Presenter: Owen Money
Friday June 14 – Brass & Voices
Guest Artists: Peter Karrie, The Richard Williams Singers
Saturday June 15 – Stars In Brass
Guest Artists: David Childs, Euphonium, Treorchy Comprehensive School Brass Band
Guest Conductor: Ieuan Morgan MBE
Sunday June 16 – “Finale” Gala Concert
Guest Artists: Black Dyke Band, Philip Madoc
Guest Conductor: Dr Nicholas Childs
2003 Welsh Brass Arts Festival
Presenter: Arfon Haines-Davies
Friday June 6 – Brass & Voices
Guest Artists: Peter Karrie, The Richard Williams Singers
Saturday June 7 – Stars In Brass
Guest Artists: Brighouse & Rastrick Band
Guest Conductor: David Hirst
Sunday June 8 – Last Night of the Proms
Guest Artists: Catrin Finch, Owen Money, RCT Youth Brass Band
2004 Welsh Brass Arts Festival
Presenter: Beverley Humphreys
Friday June 4 – Brass & Voices
Guest Artists: Denise Leigh, Pendyrus Male Choir
Saturday June 5 – D-Day: 60th Anniversary Tribute
Guest Artists: Beverley Humphreys, Rhondda Sea Cadets, RCT Youth Brass Band
2005 Welsh Brass Arts Festival
Monday May 1 - FREE WBAF Preview Concert
at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Thursday June 9 & Friday June 10 – Showcase
Rhondda Cynon Taf Gwyl Gerdd Ysgolion - Schools' Music Festival
Friday June 10 – Brass Tracks [premiere]
Guest Artists: Natalya Romaniw, Leigh Phillips, Paul Shallcross, Simon Prothero
Saturday June 11 – Going Solo
Rhondda Cynon Taf Gwyl Gerdd Ysgolion - Schools' Music Festival
Saturday June 11 – Last Night of the Proms
Guest Artists: The Richard Williams Singers, Gentlemen Songsters & Helen May
2006 Welsh Brass Arts Festival
Monday May 29 - FREE WBAF Preview Concert
at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Rhondda Cynon Taf Gwyl Gerdd Ysgolion - Schools' Music Festival
Monday June 12 - Primary Schools' Showcase Event #1
Tuesday June 13 - Cyngerdd Ysgolion Cymraeg Rhondda
Wednesday June 14 - Primary Schools' Showcase Event #2
WBAF Outreach Programme
Thursday June 15 - "Music Bites" Lunchtime Recital
Bella Tromba Trumpet Quartet
Friday June 16 - Lunchtime Concert
at the Wales Millennium Centre
Stadtorchester Ravensburg
Friday June 16 - Open Harp Workshop
with Catrin Finch
Friday June 16 - Electric Brass [premiere]
Guest Artists: Catrin Finch, Steve Bingham, Gareth Rhys-Davies, Only Men Aloud!
Saturday June 17 - Going Solo
Individual Competitive Youth Event
Saturday June 17 - Big Anthem Fawr
Guest Artists: Stadtorchester Ravensburg, Helen May, Bella Tromba, Jenny Doolan (harp) , Alexandra Humphreys (piano)
Guest Conductor: Harald Hepner
2007 Welsh Brass Arts Festival
Extended WBAF Outreach Programme
Monday May 21 - World Percussion Workshop - Treherbert Bandroom, Treherbert
Thursday May 24 - World Percussion Workshop - Parc & Dare Bandroom, Treorchy
Saturday May 26 - World Percussion Workshop - Park & Dare Theatre, Treorchy
Monday May 28 - FREE WBAF Preview Concert - Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Sunday June 10 - Vocal Workshop (with Peter Karrie) - Park & Dare Theatre, Treorchy
Friday June 15 – A Night at the Musicals / A Night at the Sands
Guest Artists: Peter Karrie, John Quirk (piano), Spotlight Theatre Company, Porth County Community School "Harmony" Senior Choir
Saturday June 16 – World Dances
Guest Artists: Joji Hirota and the Japanese Taiko Drummers, Azaad Dhol Group, Welsh Brass Arts Festival Community Samba Band and Rhigos & Perthcelyn Primary African Djembe Groups.
Guest Conductor: Stephen Roberts
Gwyl Gerdd Ysgolion - Schools' Music Festival
Monday June 18 - Primary Schools' Showcase Event #1
Tuesday June 19th - Primary Schools' Showcase Event #2
Wednesday June 20th - Cyngerdd Ysgolion Cymraeg Rhondda
2008 Welsh Brass Arts Festival
Monday May 26 - FREE WBAF Preview Concert
at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Friday June 6 - Carbon 12 (world premiere performance)
at the Wales Millennium Centre [Donald Gordon Theatre]
with the Orchestra & Chorus of the Welsh National Opera Company
Soloists: Jason Howard & Alwyn Mellor
Conductor: Carlo Rizzi
Rhondda Cynon Taf Gwyl Gerdd Ysgolion - Schools' Music Festival
Monday June 9 - Primary Schools' Showcase Event #1
Tuesday June 10 - Cyngerdd Ysgolion Cymraeg Rhondda
Wednesday June 11 - Primary Schools' Showcase Event #2
Thursday June 12 - Lunchtime Recital
at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
The Symphonic Brass of the Stadtorchester Ravensburg, Germany
Thursday June 12 - Carbon 12
at the Wales Millennium Centre [Donald Gordon Theatre]
with the Orchestra & Chorus of the Welsh National Opera Company
Soloists: Jason Howard & Alwyn Mellor
Conductor: Carlo Rizzi
Friday June 13 - Open Harp Workshop
with Catrin Finch
Friday June 13 - The Planets [premiere]
Guest Artists: Catrin Finch (harp), Serendipity Chorus, Professor Mark Brake, and the Symphonic Brass of the Stadtorchester Ravensburg & Stadtkapelle Nurtingen, Germany
Saturday June 17 - Going Solo
Individual Competitive Youth Event
Saturday June 14 - A Night at the Opera
Guest Artists: The Vivace Singers, Cor Meibion Morlais, and the Symphonic Brass of the Stadtorchester Ravensburg & Stadtkapelle Nurtingen, Germany
Guest Conductors: Harald Hepner & John Asquith
Thursday June 19 - Carbon 12
at the Rhondda Fach Sports Centre, Tylorstown
with the Orchestra & Chorus of the Welsh National Opera Company
Soloists: Jason Howard & Alwyn Mellor
Conductor: Gerry Cornelius
Commissioned Works
Craig has always been a champion of new and innovative musical works. During his tenure as Artistic Director of the Welsh Brass Arts Festival Craig ensured that the commissioning and performance of new and unconventional works for brass remained a central feature of the event. During the first eight years of the festival Craig commissioned over 40 works, a list of which can be found below.
Major Commissions
Aspects of Adiemus
Karl Jenkins / Peter Graham
Premiere: Saturday June 9th 2001
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Concerto for Euphonium & Brass Band
Michael Ball
Premiere: Saturday June 15th 2002
Soloist: David Childs
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Concerto Melyncoch
Andrew Powell
Premiere: Saturday June 9th 2001
Soloist: James Watson
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Concerto for Six String Electric Violin and Brass Band
Dr. Mick Wilson
Welsh Premiere: Friday June 16th 2006
Soloist: Steve Bingham
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Eine Kleine Lichte Musik! (A Little Light Music)
Philip Wilby
Premiere: Saturday June 15th 2002
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Final Chorus from Symphony No. 8
Gustav Mahler / Malcolm Peach
Premiere: Friday June 8th 2001
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Four Last Songs
Richard Strauss / Margaret Antrobus
Premiere: Friday June 8th 2001
Soloist: Denise Leigh
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Highlights from Carmina Burana
Karl Orff / Dr Roy Newsome
Premiere: Sunday June 10th 2001
The massed bands of Leyland and Parc & Dare
Guest Conductor: Dr Roy Newsome
Images of the Millennium
Howard Snell
Welsh Premiere: Sunday June 10th 2001
The massed bands of Leyland and Parc & Dare
Guest Conductor: Dr Robert Childs
Rhapsody On A Theme of Purcell
Dr Paul Mealor
Premiere: Saturday June 7th 2003
The massed bands of Brighouse & Rastrick and Parc & Dare
Guest Conductor: David Hurst
The Sword & The Crown
Edward Gregson
Premiere: Sunday June 16th 2002
The massed bands of Black Dyke and Parc & Dare
Soloists: Robert Samuel & Christopher Tuner (off-stage trumpets), Victoria Roberts (mezzo-soprano), Jenny Doolan (harp) & Rhiannon Williams (piano)
Narrator: Philip Madoc
Guest Conductor: Dr Nicholas Childs
Tair Cerdd Sanctaidd
Andrew Powell
Premiere: Friday June 16th 2006
Soloists: Gareth Rhys-Davies, Catrin Finch & Only Men Aloud
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Witches Sabbath (from Symphonie Fantastique)
Hector Berlioz / Roy Newsome
Premiere: Friday June 8th 2001
Guest Conductor: Dr Roy Newsome
World Dances
Stephen Roberts
Premiere: Saturday June 16th 2007
Soloists: Joji Hirota and the Japanese Taiko Drummers, Azaad Dhol Group, Welsh Brass Arts Festival Community Samba Band and Rhigos & Perthcelyn Primary African Djembe Groups
Guest Conductor: Stephen Roberts
Light Music Commissions
A Beautiful Mind
James Horner / Leigh Phillips
Premiere: Friday June 10th 2005
Soloist: Natalya Romaniw
Guest Conductor: Leigh Phillips
All Through The Night
Welsh Trad. / Margaret Antrobus
Premiere: Friday June 8th 2001
Treorchy Male Choir and Parc & Dare Band
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Anthem (from Chess)
Andersson / Rice / Ulvaes / Quirk / Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 14th 2002
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with The Richard Williams Singers and Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Beim Schlafengehn (from Four Last Songs)
Richard Strauss / Margaret Antrobus
Premiere: Friday June 8th 2001
Soloist: Denise Leigh
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Bring Him Home / Do You Hear the People Sing (from Les Miserables)
Schonberg / Boublil / Quirk / Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 14th 2002
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with The Richard Williams Singers and Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Bui Doi (from Miss Saigon)
Boublil / Schonberg / Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 6th 2003
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
The Contender
Pope / Kinder
Premiere: Friday June 15th 2007
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with John Quirk (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
A Desperate Poaching Affray
Paul Shallcross
Premiere: Friday June 10th 2005
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Humming Chorus (from Madame Butterfly)
Giacomo Puccini / Craig Roberts
Premiere: Friday June 14th 2002
The Richard Williams Singers and Parc & Dare Band
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Huntsmen's Chorus (from Die Freischutz)
Carl Maria Von Weber / Christian Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 8th 2001
Treorchy Male Choir and Parc & Dare Band
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Hymn of Praise
John Rutter / Tony Rogers
Premiere: Friday June 8th 2001
Treorchy Male Choir and Parc & Dare Band
Conductor: Craig Roberts
The Impossible Dream (from Man of LaMancha)
Leigh / Darion / Quirk / Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 14th 2002
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with The Richard Williams Singers and Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Luck Be A Lady (from Guys & Dolls)
Loesser / Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 6th 2003
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Mack the Knife (from the Threepenny Opera)
Weill / Brecht / Blitzstein / Quirk / Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 14th 2002
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Masada
Jerry Goldsmith / Leigh Philips
Premiere: Friday June 10th 2005
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Minnie the Moocher
Calloway / Mills / Quirk / Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 14th 2002
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Music of the Night (from Phantom of the Opera)
Andrew Lloyd Webber / Christian Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 14th 2002
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
My Way
Anka / Revaux / Francois / Quirk / Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 6th 2003
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
New York, New York
Ebb / Kander / Quirk / Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 14th 2002
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Pilgrim’s Chorus (from Tannhauser)
Richard Wagner / Christian Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 8th 2001
Treorchy Male Choir and Parc & Dare Band
Guest Conductor: Dr Roy Newsome
September (from Four Last Songs)
Richard Strauss / Margaret Antrobus
Premiere: Friday June 8th 2001
Soloist: Denise Leigh
The Sheepstealer
Paul Shallcross
Premiere: Friday June 10th 2005
Guest Conductor: Paul Shallcross
Spiderman
Danny Elfman / Leigh Phillips
Premiere: Friday June 10th 2005
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Supergirl
Jerry Goldsmith / Leigh Phillips
Premiere: Friday June 10th 2005
Guest Conductor: Leigh Phillips
Surrender
David Arnold / Leigh Phillips
Premiere: Friday June 10th 2005
Soloist: Natalya Romaniw
Guest Conductor: Leigh Phillips
March: The Welshman
Lt. Col. Peter Hannam / Christian Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 6th 2003
Conductor: Craig Roberts
West Side Story Medley
Leonard Bernstein / John Quirk / Christian Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 14th 2002
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Zulu
John Barry / Dr. Christian Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 10th 2005
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Initially a three day event, by 2008 the Festival had expanded to become a fortnight long series of events, which collectively encompassed a wide variety of innovative music for brass, musical theatre performances, outreach events and workshops, together with a wide range of educational and participative opportunities for young people and the community as a whole.
Aims & Objectives
Throughout its inaugural years the primary aims and objectives of WBAF remained constant and read as follows:
1) To promote the music of Wales and the music-making of Welsh artists at the highest level through the medium of brass
2) To promote the brass band as an institution and to raise the general profile of the medium
3) To encapsulate into the festival all the various aspects of the band musician – as a performer, conductor, composer and arranger – and as part of the festival to provide expert tuition of the highest quality in these fields by recognised band personalities
4) To create, through the festival, considerable further interest in brass bands and their activities within Wales, particularly with regard to youth, and to create an outside interest in Welsh bands.
*In 2005 WBAF was then expanded from its original format to encompass an additional daytime element, the Schools' Music Festival - Gwyl Gerdd Ysgolion, and thereafter a fifth element remained central to the event:
5) To provide, through the Schools' Music Festival, opportunities for young people to perform in a professional setting, individually and in groups.
As indicated, the primary purpose of this additional aim was to open the theatre up to young people, and offer young performers the opportunity to experience and perform in a professional setting, whilst engaging with and embracing something of their cultural heritage.
Outline
The Welsh Brass Arts Festival was a unique event and brought to Wales some of the finest artists and most innovative performances for brass seen in the principality. Below can be found an outline of each event between 2001 and 2008 that Craig presided over as Artistic Director and principal conductor.
Along with a brief outline of each event is a list of the truly outstanding artists involved in each performance. The commissioning and performance of new and innovative musical works for brass was also a central feature of each event, and below the outline of events, a list of the wide variety of works commissioned by Craig and the festival is also included.
Welsh Brass Arts Festivals 2001-2008
2001 Welsh Brass Arts Festival
Presenter: Vincent Kane
Friday June 8 – “Brass & Voices”
Guest Artists: Treorchy Male Choir, Denise Leigh, Jacqueline Boucher
Guest Conductor: Dr Roy Newsome
Saturday June 9 – “Stars In Brass”
Guest Soloist: James Watson, Trumpet
Sunday June 10 – “Finale” Gala Concert
Guest Artists: Leyland Band
Guest Conductors: Dr Robert Childs, Dr Roy Newsome
2002 Welsh Brass Arts Festival
Presenter: Owen Money
Friday June 14 – Brass & Voices
Guest Artists: Peter Karrie, The Richard Williams Singers
Saturday June 15 – Stars In Brass
Guest Artists: David Childs, Euphonium, Treorchy Comprehensive School Brass Band
Guest Conductor: Ieuan Morgan MBE
Sunday June 16 – “Finale” Gala Concert
Guest Artists: Black Dyke Band, Philip Madoc
Guest Conductor: Dr Nicholas Childs
2003 Welsh Brass Arts Festival
Presenter: Arfon Haines-Davies
Friday June 6 – Brass & Voices
Guest Artists: Peter Karrie, The Richard Williams Singers
Saturday June 7 – Stars In Brass
Guest Artists: Brighouse & Rastrick Band
Guest Conductor: David Hirst
Sunday June 8 – Last Night of the Proms
Guest Artists: Catrin Finch, Owen Money, RCT Youth Brass Band
2004 Welsh Brass Arts Festival
Presenter: Beverley Humphreys
Friday June 4 – Brass & Voices
Guest Artists: Denise Leigh, Pendyrus Male Choir
Saturday June 5 – D-Day: 60th Anniversary Tribute
Guest Artists: Beverley Humphreys, Rhondda Sea Cadets, RCT Youth Brass Band
2005 Welsh Brass Arts Festival
Monday May 1 - FREE WBAF Preview Concert
at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Thursday June 9 & Friday June 10 – Showcase
Rhondda Cynon Taf Gwyl Gerdd Ysgolion - Schools' Music Festival
Friday June 10 – Brass Tracks [premiere]
Guest Artists: Natalya Romaniw, Leigh Phillips, Paul Shallcross, Simon Prothero
Saturday June 11 – Going Solo
Rhondda Cynon Taf Gwyl Gerdd Ysgolion - Schools' Music Festival
Saturday June 11 – Last Night of the Proms
Guest Artists: The Richard Williams Singers, Gentlemen Songsters & Helen May
2006 Welsh Brass Arts Festival
Monday May 29 - FREE WBAF Preview Concert
at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Rhondda Cynon Taf Gwyl Gerdd Ysgolion - Schools' Music Festival
Monday June 12 - Primary Schools' Showcase Event #1
Tuesday June 13 - Cyngerdd Ysgolion Cymraeg Rhondda
Wednesday June 14 - Primary Schools' Showcase Event #2
WBAF Outreach Programme
Thursday June 15 - "Music Bites" Lunchtime Recital
Bella Tromba Trumpet Quartet
Friday June 16 - Lunchtime Concert
at the Wales Millennium Centre
Stadtorchester Ravensburg
Friday June 16 - Open Harp Workshop
with Catrin Finch
Friday June 16 - Electric Brass [premiere]
Guest Artists: Catrin Finch, Steve Bingham, Gareth Rhys-Davies, Only Men Aloud!
Saturday June 17 - Going Solo
Individual Competitive Youth Event
Saturday June 17 - Big Anthem Fawr
Guest Artists: Stadtorchester Ravensburg, Helen May, Bella Tromba, Jenny Doolan (harp) , Alexandra Humphreys (piano)
Guest Conductor: Harald Hepner
2007 Welsh Brass Arts Festival
Extended WBAF Outreach Programme
Monday May 21 - World Percussion Workshop - Treherbert Bandroom, Treherbert
Thursday May 24 - World Percussion Workshop - Parc & Dare Bandroom, Treorchy
Saturday May 26 - World Percussion Workshop - Park & Dare Theatre, Treorchy
Monday May 28 - FREE WBAF Preview Concert - Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Sunday June 10 - Vocal Workshop (with Peter Karrie) - Park & Dare Theatre, Treorchy
Friday June 15 – A Night at the Musicals / A Night at the Sands
Guest Artists: Peter Karrie, John Quirk (piano), Spotlight Theatre Company, Porth County Community School "Harmony" Senior Choir
Saturday June 16 – World Dances
Guest Artists: Joji Hirota and the Japanese Taiko Drummers, Azaad Dhol Group, Welsh Brass Arts Festival Community Samba Band and Rhigos & Perthcelyn Primary African Djembe Groups.
Guest Conductor: Stephen Roberts
Gwyl Gerdd Ysgolion - Schools' Music Festival
Monday June 18 - Primary Schools' Showcase Event #1
Tuesday June 19th - Primary Schools' Showcase Event #2
Wednesday June 20th - Cyngerdd Ysgolion Cymraeg Rhondda
2008 Welsh Brass Arts Festival
Monday May 26 - FREE WBAF Preview Concert
at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
Friday June 6 - Carbon 12 (world premiere performance)
at the Wales Millennium Centre [Donald Gordon Theatre]
with the Orchestra & Chorus of the Welsh National Opera Company
Soloists: Jason Howard & Alwyn Mellor
Conductor: Carlo Rizzi
Rhondda Cynon Taf Gwyl Gerdd Ysgolion - Schools' Music Festival
Monday June 9 - Primary Schools' Showcase Event #1
Tuesday June 10 - Cyngerdd Ysgolion Cymraeg Rhondda
Wednesday June 11 - Primary Schools' Showcase Event #2
Thursday June 12 - Lunchtime Recital
at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
The Symphonic Brass of the Stadtorchester Ravensburg, Germany
Thursday June 12 - Carbon 12
at the Wales Millennium Centre [Donald Gordon Theatre]
with the Orchestra & Chorus of the Welsh National Opera Company
Soloists: Jason Howard & Alwyn Mellor
Conductor: Carlo Rizzi
Friday June 13 - Open Harp Workshop
with Catrin Finch
Friday June 13 - The Planets [premiere]
Guest Artists: Catrin Finch (harp), Serendipity Chorus, Professor Mark Brake, and the Symphonic Brass of the Stadtorchester Ravensburg & Stadtkapelle Nurtingen, Germany
Saturday June 17 - Going Solo
Individual Competitive Youth Event
Saturday June 14 - A Night at the Opera
Guest Artists: The Vivace Singers, Cor Meibion Morlais, and the Symphonic Brass of the Stadtorchester Ravensburg & Stadtkapelle Nurtingen, Germany
Guest Conductors: Harald Hepner & John Asquith
Thursday June 19 - Carbon 12
at the Rhondda Fach Sports Centre, Tylorstown
with the Orchestra & Chorus of the Welsh National Opera Company
Soloists: Jason Howard & Alwyn Mellor
Conductor: Gerry Cornelius
Commissioned Works
Craig has always been a champion of new and innovative musical works. During his tenure as Artistic Director of the Welsh Brass Arts Festival Craig ensured that the commissioning and performance of new and unconventional works for brass remained a central feature of the event. During the first eight years of the festival Craig commissioned over 40 works, a list of which can be found below.
Major Commissions
Aspects of Adiemus
Karl Jenkins / Peter Graham
Premiere: Saturday June 9th 2001
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Concerto for Euphonium & Brass Band
Michael Ball
Premiere: Saturday June 15th 2002
Soloist: David Childs
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Concerto Melyncoch
Andrew Powell
Premiere: Saturday June 9th 2001
Soloist: James Watson
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Concerto for Six String Electric Violin and Brass Band
Dr. Mick Wilson
Welsh Premiere: Friday June 16th 2006
Soloist: Steve Bingham
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Eine Kleine Lichte Musik! (A Little Light Music)
Philip Wilby
Premiere: Saturday June 15th 2002
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Final Chorus from Symphony No. 8
Gustav Mahler / Malcolm Peach
Premiere: Friday June 8th 2001
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Four Last Songs
Richard Strauss / Margaret Antrobus
Premiere: Friday June 8th 2001
Soloist: Denise Leigh
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Highlights from Carmina Burana
Karl Orff / Dr Roy Newsome
Premiere: Sunday June 10th 2001
The massed bands of Leyland and Parc & Dare
Guest Conductor: Dr Roy Newsome
Images of the Millennium
Howard Snell
Welsh Premiere: Sunday June 10th 2001
The massed bands of Leyland and Parc & Dare
Guest Conductor: Dr Robert Childs
Rhapsody On A Theme of Purcell
Dr Paul Mealor
Premiere: Saturday June 7th 2003
The massed bands of Brighouse & Rastrick and Parc & Dare
Guest Conductor: David Hurst
The Sword & The Crown
Edward Gregson
Premiere: Sunday June 16th 2002
The massed bands of Black Dyke and Parc & Dare
Soloists: Robert Samuel & Christopher Tuner (off-stage trumpets), Victoria Roberts (mezzo-soprano), Jenny Doolan (harp) & Rhiannon Williams (piano)
Narrator: Philip Madoc
Guest Conductor: Dr Nicholas Childs
Tair Cerdd Sanctaidd
Andrew Powell
Premiere: Friday June 16th 2006
Soloists: Gareth Rhys-Davies, Catrin Finch & Only Men Aloud
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Witches Sabbath (from Symphonie Fantastique)
Hector Berlioz / Roy Newsome
Premiere: Friday June 8th 2001
Guest Conductor: Dr Roy Newsome
World Dances
Stephen Roberts
Premiere: Saturday June 16th 2007
Soloists: Joji Hirota and the Japanese Taiko Drummers, Azaad Dhol Group, Welsh Brass Arts Festival Community Samba Band and Rhigos & Perthcelyn Primary African Djembe Groups
Guest Conductor: Stephen Roberts
Light Music Commissions
A Beautiful Mind
James Horner / Leigh Phillips
Premiere: Friday June 10th 2005
Soloist: Natalya Romaniw
Guest Conductor: Leigh Phillips
All Through The Night
Welsh Trad. / Margaret Antrobus
Premiere: Friday June 8th 2001
Treorchy Male Choir and Parc & Dare Band
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Anthem (from Chess)
Andersson / Rice / Ulvaes / Quirk / Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 14th 2002
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with The Richard Williams Singers and Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Beim Schlafengehn (from Four Last Songs)
Richard Strauss / Margaret Antrobus
Premiere: Friday June 8th 2001
Soloist: Denise Leigh
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Bring Him Home / Do You Hear the People Sing (from Les Miserables)
Schonberg / Boublil / Quirk / Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 14th 2002
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with The Richard Williams Singers and Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Bui Doi (from Miss Saigon)
Boublil / Schonberg / Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 6th 2003
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
The Contender
Pope / Kinder
Premiere: Friday June 15th 2007
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with John Quirk (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
A Desperate Poaching Affray
Paul Shallcross
Premiere: Friday June 10th 2005
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Humming Chorus (from Madame Butterfly)
Giacomo Puccini / Craig Roberts
Premiere: Friday June 14th 2002
The Richard Williams Singers and Parc & Dare Band
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Huntsmen's Chorus (from Die Freischutz)
Carl Maria Von Weber / Christian Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 8th 2001
Treorchy Male Choir and Parc & Dare Band
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Hymn of Praise
John Rutter / Tony Rogers
Premiere: Friday June 8th 2001
Treorchy Male Choir and Parc & Dare Band
Conductor: Craig Roberts
The Impossible Dream (from Man of LaMancha)
Leigh / Darion / Quirk / Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 14th 2002
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with The Richard Williams Singers and Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Luck Be A Lady (from Guys & Dolls)
Loesser / Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 6th 2003
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Mack the Knife (from the Threepenny Opera)
Weill / Brecht / Blitzstein / Quirk / Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 14th 2002
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Masada
Jerry Goldsmith / Leigh Philips
Premiere: Friday June 10th 2005
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Minnie the Moocher
Calloway / Mills / Quirk / Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 14th 2002
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Music of the Night (from Phantom of the Opera)
Andrew Lloyd Webber / Christian Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 14th 2002
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
My Way
Anka / Revaux / Francois / Quirk / Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 6th 2003
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
New York, New York
Ebb / Kander / Quirk / Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 14th 2002
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Pilgrim’s Chorus (from Tannhauser)
Richard Wagner / Christian Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 8th 2001
Treorchy Male Choir and Parc & Dare Band
Guest Conductor: Dr Roy Newsome
September (from Four Last Songs)
Richard Strauss / Margaret Antrobus
Premiere: Friday June 8th 2001
Soloist: Denise Leigh
The Sheepstealer
Paul Shallcross
Premiere: Friday June 10th 2005
Guest Conductor: Paul Shallcross
Spiderman
Danny Elfman / Leigh Phillips
Premiere: Friday June 10th 2005
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Supergirl
Jerry Goldsmith / Leigh Phillips
Premiere: Friday June 10th 2005
Guest Conductor: Leigh Phillips
Surrender
David Arnold / Leigh Phillips
Premiere: Friday June 10th 2005
Soloist: Natalya Romaniw
Guest Conductor: Leigh Phillips
March: The Welshman
Lt. Col. Peter Hannam / Christian Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 6th 2003
Conductor: Craig Roberts
West Side Story Medley
Leonard Bernstein / John Quirk / Christian Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 14th 2002
Soloist: Peter Karrie
with Geoff Guppy (piano)
Conductor: Craig Roberts
Zulu
John Barry / Dr. Christian Jenkins
Premiere: Friday June 10th 2005
Conductor: Craig Roberts