Band Cymru 2018 - An opportunity to win 10,000 Following the success of the 2014 and 2016 competitions S4C is delighted to announce Band Cymru 2018 - an exciting and thrilling competition for brass, wind and jazz bands. All bands will be required to perform an entertaining programme to the highest standard of presentation. This will be a unique opportunity for television audiences to enjoy the very best in Welsh bands. The competition is organised by Rondo and the semi-final sessions and the final will be broadcast on S4C. Each band should have a minimum number of 12 wind/brass instruments and a maximum of 5 members who do not play wind/ brass instruments e.g. percussion, piano, drums. A maximum number of 35 members in any band is allowed throughout this competition. Following a series of auditions across Wales, 12 bands will be invited to appear at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre during the weekend of February 17 th 18 th 2018. The 12 selected bands will receive a prize of 500 each. The 12 bands will be split into 4 sessions for 4 television programmes and there will be a winner at the end of each television programme. Winning the session does not guarantee a place in the final. A panel of judges will choose 4 bands to proceed to the final at the Great Hall, Swansea University on Sunday April 22 nd 2018. The four selected bands will receive a further 500. The winner of Band Cymru 2018 will receive a further prize of 7,000.
Award for the Best Presentation A separate prize will be awarded for the best-presented piece on stage throughout the competition. The winner of this award will receive an additional prize of 2,000. Soloist Prize During the semi-finals the judges will choose the best soloist who will be invited to perform in the final. There is no requirement for every band to include a soloist in their programme. The winning soloist will be awarded a prize of 500. Applications are welcomed from bands from Wales. The winning band from Band Cymru 2016 will not be allowed entry in 2018. Closing date for entries: 06.10.17 For further details, please contact: Band Cymru 2018 Rondo, 9 th Floor, South Gate House, Cardiff CF10 1EW Tel: 029 2022 3456 (Standard rate call charges apply, costs could be higher using a mobile phone) Email: bandcymru@rondomedia.co.uk Read full competition rules and regulations: s4c.cymru/bandcymru rondomedia.co.uk/bandcymru
1. Auditions: Each band will be recorded by a professional sound engineer in their area during November 2017. The band should prepare a varied and entertaining programme of 13-15 minutes of music. No editing of the recording is allowed, and each band will receive a CD copy of their performance. Depending on the number of bands in each recording location, it is possible that the competition organisers will supply percussion and a drum kit for use by all the bands. There will be a piano available. We aim to record in the following areas in November 2017: Saturday 05.11.17 Cardiff Friday 17.11.17 Mold Saturday 18.11.17 Bangor Sunday 19.11.17 Carmarthen Friday 24.11.17 Hirwaun Sunday 26.11.17 Cardiff ** The schedule is subject to change depending on the number of bands in each location.** An international panel of adjudicators will judge the recordings, and bands will be recognised via numbers, not names. We hope to inform the bands of the jury s decision by the end of December 2017, when the successful bands will be invited to proceed to the semi final rounds. The jury s decision is final.
2. Semi-Finals Aberystwyth Arts Centre Saturday 17.02.18 Sunday 18.02.18 We request that the bands keep the whole weekend clear. Bands are requested to perform a varied and entertaining programme of 13-15 minutes music. The producers welcome the opportunity to work with the bands on visual presentation. One item featuring a vocal soloist is permitted but this piece has to be sung in in the Welsh language. The decision will be taken by an international panel of judges, and the jury s decision is final. For the semi-final rounds, a set of percussion, piano and drum kit will be provided by the competition organisers to be used by all bands. By January 12 th 2018 bands are requested to: Present the programme for the semi-final by letter or email to the organisers Send Copies of the music Send details of any soloists Send details about the number in the band Send details of stage layout Prepare a detailed stage plan with each instrument noted clearly No changes to the programme will be allowed after this date unless a problem arises with the clearing of broadcasting rights of a certain item. S4C has the right to ask a band to change its programme should a problem arise with broadcast copyright. If your vocal soloist is performing a translation of a piece that is not published, then permission needs to be sought from the publishers, and S4C will need to see the documentation. Rondo will not pay for the right to translate the piece. By January 22nd 2018 bands are requested to: send a video recording of the items as they are presented on stage filmed on a phone/tablet/ipad. S4C has the right to stop bands from competing unless they comply with the conditions of the competition.
3. The Final - Great Hall, Swansea University Sunday 22.04.18 Bands are requested to perform a varied and entertaining programme of 11-12 minutes music. The producers welcome the opportunity to work with the bands on visual presentation. One item featuring a vocal soloist is permitted but this piece has to be sung in the Welsh language. The programme for the final must be different from the semifinal. The decision will be taken by an international panel of judges, and the jury s decision is final. For the final, a set of percussion, piano and drum kit will be provided by the competition organisers to be used by all bands. By March 9th 2018 bands are requested to: Present the programme for the final by letter or email to the organisers. Send Copies of the music Send details of any soloists. Send details about the number in the band. Send details of stage layout. Prepare a detailed stage plan with each instrument noted clearly. No changes to the programme will be allowed after this date unless a problem arises with the clearing of broadcasting rights of a certain item. S4C has the right to ask a band to change its programme should a problem arise with broadcast copyright. If your vocal soloist is performing a translation of a piece that is not published, then permission needs to be sought from the publishers, and S4C will need to see the documentation. Rondo will not pay for the right to translate the piece. By March 19th 2018 bands are requested to: send a video recording of the items as they are presented on stage filmed on a phone/tablet/ipad. S4C has the right to stop bands from competing unless they comply with the conditions of the competition.
Rondo will arrange and pay for coaches for the bands to reach Aberystwyth/Swansea. Rondo will not contribute towards hotel costs in Aberystwyth/ Swansea. By entering the Competition, the entrants give Rondo permission to register their contact details for the purpose of the competition. Rondo will not transfer the personal information of entrants to any third party nor use entrants personal details in other way than to administer the competition and promote any future competitions organised by Rondo. Any personal data relating to the entrants will be used in accordance with the current UK Data Protection Act. Please refer to http://www.s4c.cymru/production/downloads/ e_producer_data_security_guidelines14.pdf for further information. Data relating to entrants will be kept by Rondo for a reasonable period after the competition to assist with any enquiries to Rondo/ S4C relating to the competition.