Llwydcoed Band
Founded in 1912, Llwydcoed Band has become one of the most successful brass bands in Wales. Based in Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales, under the direction of respected Musical Director Christopher Turner, the band is now ranked among the top 35 brass bands in the world, and - for the first time in its history - has qualified to represent Wales at the prestigious National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, to be held at the Royal Albert Hall, London in October 2021
|
|
Financial & Artistic Strategy
Background
The level of performance and profile of Llwydcoed Band has been raised exponentially in recent years. In line with this however, so the band's operating costs and expenses incurred have also increased in parallel with the new level of artistic activity.
The band have recently engaged the services of an external consultant, and, having undergone a full review of financial and artistic activity, a strategic plan has now been established in order to place the organisation on a firm financial footing, and to further continue the artistic development of Llwydcoed as one of Wales' premier voluntary music organisations
The level of performance and profile of Llwydcoed Band has been raised exponentially in recent years. In line with this however, so the band's operating costs and expenses incurred have also increased in parallel with the new level of artistic activity.
The band have recently engaged the services of an external consultant, and, having undergone a full review of financial and artistic activity, a strategic plan has now been established in order to place the organisation on a firm financial footing, and to further continue the artistic development of Llwydcoed as one of Wales' premier voluntary music organisations
Goals
In discussion with the Musical Director and Management Committee of the band, the following goals were identified:
- Stabilise the financial position of the band
- Set a clear and costed artistic schedule for 2021 / 22
- Balance the band's future contest / concert schedule against artistic aspirations and financial considerations
- Identify a series of artistic projects to broaden the band's experience, profile and to further support the band's future artistic and financial development
In discussion with the Musical Director and Management Committee of the band, the following goals were identified:
- Stabilise the financial position of the band
- Set a clear and costed artistic schedule for 2021 / 22
- Balance the band's future contest / concert schedule against artistic aspirations and financial considerations
- Identify a series of artistic projects to broaden the band's experience, profile and to further support the band's future artistic and financial development
Strategy
Compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic, and with at least nine months of concert engagements and all other forms of income generation suspended, the financial position of the organisation is precarious.
In line with the recruitment of an external professional consultant and fundraiser, the band will now pursue sufficient interim funds to carry the organisation forward into 2021, and for specific artistic projects, further information on which is outlined below.
Applications have already been issued to:
Arts Council of Wales
Moondance Foundation
Further applications are scheduled, as follows:
15 Minute Heritage - Deadline: October 14th
Coalfields Community Grant Programme
Colwinston Trust - Deadline September 30th
The Fat Beehive
Morrisons Foundation
PRS Foundation - Deadline: October 14th
Additional funds will be added as the weeks and months progress
Compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic, and with at least nine months of concert engagements and all other forms of income generation suspended, the financial position of the organisation is precarious.
In line with the recruitment of an external professional consultant and fundraiser, the band will now pursue sufficient interim funds to carry the organisation forward into 2021, and for specific artistic projects, further information on which is outlined below.
Applications have already been issued to:
Arts Council of Wales
Moondance Foundation
Further applications are scheduled, as follows:
15 Minute Heritage - Deadline: October 14th
Coalfields Community Grant Programme
Colwinston Trust - Deadline September 30th
The Fat Beehive
Morrisons Foundation
PRS Foundation - Deadline: October 14th
Additional funds will be added as the weeks and months progress
DRAFT Schedule of Activity
2020 to 2022
Based on recent discussions with the band management and Musical Director, the following schedule of activity to address the has been agreed:
2020
- prepare required documents for funding applications (CR / MC)
* signed constitution (done), externally audited accounts (MC), cashflow forecasts (CR / MC), three year financials (MC)
- Make existing bandroom covid safe (MC) and ready for sectional and / or small ensemble rehearsals
- Secure small ensemble music (CR / CT) and identify additional repertoire for return to playing and further artistic development (CT)
- identify larger alternate rehearsal space (MC)
* RCT Together contacted (KJ)
- contact supermarkets and additional prime locations re: 2020 Christmas carolling engagements (MC). Band to be broken down into sextets by geography
2021
- Spring Concert?
- Grand Shield?
- Summer Concert [outdoor, if necessary]
- National Eisteddfod of Wales?
- Fundraising Concert / RAH Preview
- National Championships of Great Britain
- Christmas Concerts
- Christmas Carolling
2022
- Welsh Open
- St David's Day Concert
- Welsh Regional Championships
- Grand Shield
- Summer Concert
- National Eisteddfod of Wales
- National Championships of Great Britain
- Christmas Concerts
- Christmas Carolling
2020 to 2022
Based on recent discussions with the band management and Musical Director, the following schedule of activity to address the has been agreed:
2020
- prepare required documents for funding applications (CR / MC)
* signed constitution (done), externally audited accounts (MC), cashflow forecasts (CR / MC), three year financials (MC)
- Make existing bandroom covid safe (MC) and ready for sectional and / or small ensemble rehearsals
- Secure small ensemble music (CR / CT) and identify additional repertoire for return to playing and further artistic development (CT)
- identify larger alternate rehearsal space (MC)
* RCT Together contacted (KJ)
- contact supermarkets and additional prime locations re: 2020 Christmas carolling engagements (MC). Band to be broken down into sextets by geography
2021
- Spring Concert?
- Grand Shield?
- Summer Concert [outdoor, if necessary]
- National Eisteddfod of Wales?
- Fundraising Concert / RAH Preview
- National Championships of Great Britain
- Christmas Concerts
- Christmas Carolling
2022
- Welsh Open
- St David's Day Concert
- Welsh Regional Championships
- Grand Shield
- Summer Concert
- National Eisteddfod of Wales
- National Championships of Great Britain
- Christmas Concerts
- Christmas Carolling
Artistic Projects
In line with the continued artistic development of the band, and to also assist in developing the band's financial position moving forward, the band seeks to explore a number of artistic projects, to be premiered and toured across Wales in the coming years. Further details of these projects are outlined below
Cyfartha Project
The first British style brass band was founded in Merthyr Tydfil c.1840. While an exhibit dedicated to the band exists at Cyfartha Castle, and a project was undertaken by the Wallace Collection in 1980s, performing works of the band on period instruments, it is the aspiration of the Llwydcoed Band to perform and record the works of the Cyfartha Band on modern instruments, and undertake further research on the extensive repertoire of Wales, and the world's, first brass band. Llwydcoed is the closest band geographically to Merthyr Tydfil and performs extensively in the local area. Discussions with Cyfartha Castle on the above project are now underway
BLM: Robeson Remembered - Dr. Quincy Hilliard
In the 150 years of domestic and international brass band performance and competition, no work by a black composer has ever been commissioned for use, or performed at a major international brass band festival. Llwydcoed Band wishes to address this, working in partnership with the renowned concert band composer Dr Quincy Hilliard to commission a work in memory of the renowned singer, actor and civil rights activist Paul Robeson.
Dr. Hilliard’s compositions for wind band are highly respected and published by a variety of well known international music publishers. In 2014, Hilliard received the prestigious Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Award in the Classical Music Division. He was also recognized with a second Global Music Award for his work as a composer. In 2012, one of his pieces, Coty (clarinet and piano) was recorded on a CD that was nominated for a Grammy Award. In 2008, he was commissioned by the Library of Congress to compose a work in celebration of the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. He is frequently commissioned to compose works, including one for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and a score for a documentary film, The Texas Rangers. For many years, the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) has recognized him with annual awards for the unusually frequent performance of his compositions. Hilliard is regularly invited to conduct, demonstrate effective techniques, and adjudicate festivals throughout the world.
Because Hilliard, the composer, conductor, and educator, is also a scholar of Aaron Copland’s music and life, Copland estate administrators authorized Hilliard to publish the educational performance edition, Copland for Solo Instruments (Boosey and Hawkes, 1999). To train school band students, he wrote Superior Bands in Sixteen Weeks (FJH Music Company, 2003), Chorales and Rhythmic Etudes for Superior Bands (FJH Music Company, 2004), Scales and Tuning Exercises for Superior Bands (FJH Music Company, 2009), Theory Concepts, Books One and Two and is the co-author of the Skill Builders, Books One and Two (Sounds Spectacular Series, Carl Fischer, 1996). He is also the co-author of Percussion Time (C.L. Barnhouse Company) which is a collection of music written specifically for the beginning percussion ensemble. He has presented scholarly papers on music theory and analysis at meetings of the College Music Society and the Central Gulf Society of Music Theory (of which he is past president). He has published articles in Opera Journal, The Instrumentalist, School Musician, Bandworld, American Music Teacher, Florida Music Director, and Tennessee Musician.
Currently, Hilliard holds the position of Composer in Residence and is the Heymann Endowed Professor of Music at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette. Previous teaching positions were at Nicholls State University, Florida International University, North Marion High School (Sparr, Florida) and White Station Junior and Senior High School (Memphis, Tennessee).
He holds the Ph.D. in music theory and composition from the University of Florida where, in 1999, he was recognized as the Outstanding Alumnus of the School of Music. He holds the Masters of Music Education from Arkansas State University and the Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Mississippi State University where he was designated College of Education 1998 Alumnus of the Year. Hilliard’s early music experience was as a trumpet player in the public elementary and high school of his native Starkville, Mississippi. Dr. Hilliard is also president of Hilliard Music Enterprises, Inc. a personal consulting firm, which has a corporate board of distinguished music educators. He and his wife Rubye have two sons.
The band have established contact with Dr. Hilliard who is incredibly keen to work with the band and realise the project. Funding is now being sought to realise the composition, in partnership with the Paul Robeson exhibition, to mark the 80th anniversary of the renowned black singer, actor and civil rights activist's most prominent connection to Wales, his starring role in "Proud Valley" in 1940.
The work will also form the centrepiece of additional projects between the band and exhibition marking:
- the 45th anniversary of Robeson's passing in 2021
- the 95th anniversary of Robeson's first encounter with Welsh miners, in London in 1927, in 2022
- the 65th anniversary of Robeson singing "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel?" for the 1957 Miners' Eisteddfod in Porthcawl, via a trans-Atlantic telephone link from a studio in New York
The multiple North American National & Open Brass Band Champions Atlantic Brass Band of New Jersey, USA have also expressed an interest in working with Llwydcoed on this project, and recreating a transatlantic link between Wales and New York in memory
Examples of both Quincy Hilliard's work, and videos of the Atlantic Brass Band in performance, can be found below
In the 150 years of domestic and international brass band performance and competition, no work by a black composer has ever been commissioned for use, or performed at a major international brass band festival. Llwydcoed Band wishes to address this, working in partnership with the renowned concert band composer Dr Quincy Hilliard to commission a work in memory of the renowned singer, actor and civil rights activist Paul Robeson.
Dr. Hilliard’s compositions for wind band are highly respected and published by a variety of well known international music publishers. In 2014, Hilliard received the prestigious Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Award in the Classical Music Division. He was also recognized with a second Global Music Award for his work as a composer. In 2012, one of his pieces, Coty (clarinet and piano) was recorded on a CD that was nominated for a Grammy Award. In 2008, he was commissioned by the Library of Congress to compose a work in celebration of the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. He is frequently commissioned to compose works, including one for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and a score for a documentary film, The Texas Rangers. For many years, the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) has recognized him with annual awards for the unusually frequent performance of his compositions. Hilliard is regularly invited to conduct, demonstrate effective techniques, and adjudicate festivals throughout the world.
Because Hilliard, the composer, conductor, and educator, is also a scholar of Aaron Copland’s music and life, Copland estate administrators authorized Hilliard to publish the educational performance edition, Copland for Solo Instruments (Boosey and Hawkes, 1999). To train school band students, he wrote Superior Bands in Sixteen Weeks (FJH Music Company, 2003), Chorales and Rhythmic Etudes for Superior Bands (FJH Music Company, 2004), Scales and Tuning Exercises for Superior Bands (FJH Music Company, 2009), Theory Concepts, Books One and Two and is the co-author of the Skill Builders, Books One and Two (Sounds Spectacular Series, Carl Fischer, 1996). He is also the co-author of Percussion Time (C.L. Barnhouse Company) which is a collection of music written specifically for the beginning percussion ensemble. He has presented scholarly papers on music theory and analysis at meetings of the College Music Society and the Central Gulf Society of Music Theory (of which he is past president). He has published articles in Opera Journal, The Instrumentalist, School Musician, Bandworld, American Music Teacher, Florida Music Director, and Tennessee Musician.
Currently, Hilliard holds the position of Composer in Residence and is the Heymann Endowed Professor of Music at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette. Previous teaching positions were at Nicholls State University, Florida International University, North Marion High School (Sparr, Florida) and White Station Junior and Senior High School (Memphis, Tennessee).
He holds the Ph.D. in music theory and composition from the University of Florida where, in 1999, he was recognized as the Outstanding Alumnus of the School of Music. He holds the Masters of Music Education from Arkansas State University and the Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Mississippi State University where he was designated College of Education 1998 Alumnus of the Year. Hilliard’s early music experience was as a trumpet player in the public elementary and high school of his native Starkville, Mississippi. Dr. Hilliard is also president of Hilliard Music Enterprises, Inc. a personal consulting firm, which has a corporate board of distinguished music educators. He and his wife Rubye have two sons.
The band have established contact with Dr. Hilliard who is incredibly keen to work with the band and realise the project. Funding is now being sought to realise the composition, in partnership with the Paul Robeson exhibition, to mark the 80th anniversary of the renowned black singer, actor and civil rights activist's most prominent connection to Wales, his starring role in "Proud Valley" in 1940.
The work will also form the centrepiece of additional projects between the band and exhibition marking:
- the 45th anniversary of Robeson's passing in 2021
- the 95th anniversary of Robeson's first encounter with Welsh miners, in London in 1927, in 2022
- the 65th anniversary of Robeson singing "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel?" for the 1957 Miners' Eisteddfod in Porthcawl, via a trans-Atlantic telephone link from a studio in New York
The multiple North American National & Open Brass Band Champions Atlantic Brass Band of New Jersey, USA have also expressed an interest in working with Llwydcoed on this project, and recreating a transatlantic link between Wales and New York in memory
Examples of both Quincy Hilliard's work, and videos of the Atlantic Brass Band in performance, can be found below
Works by Dr Quincy Hilliard
|
|
|
|
North American Partners - The Atlantic Brass Band of New Jersey, USA
|
|
|
Recording Project: The Works of Gareth Key
The band has also been approached by the respected conductor / composer Gareth Key, a former Musical Director of Llwydcoed, to record a promotional album of the composer's work for brass band, supported by Key Signature Publishing. Scheduling of the recording has been interrupted by the covid 19 pandemic, however it is hoped this project can be realised in the near future
The band has also been approached by the respected conductor / composer Gareth Key, a former Musical Director of Llwydcoed, to record a promotional album of the composer's work for brass band, supported by Key Signature Publishing. Scheduling of the recording has been interrupted by the covid 19 pandemic, however it is hoped this project can be realised in the near future