The 28th Annual Tredegar House International Folk Festival will take place on Friday 18th, Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th May at Tredegar House, Newport.

The massed GMSS Celtic Band performance will take place on Saturday 19th May at 11.00am and all performers always have a fantastic time at this Festival led by GMSS tutor, Donald Stewart.

The International Festival is always an important event for Tredegar House and Newport and all the information can be seen here

Good luck everyone and enjoy the day!

The annual Blaenau Gwent Mayor's Charity Showcase Concert featuring all of the Music Centre ensembles and the Blaenau Gwent County Borough Brass Band and Big Band will take place on Tuesday 22nd May at the Beaufort Theatre, Ebbw Vale commencing at 7.00pm.

The concert will feature the Blaenau Gwent Music Centre Junior & Senior Strings, Junior & Senior Wind Band, Guitar Ensemble, Buzzers & Blowers, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Brass Band and Big Band.

Tickets will be available from the Theatre Box Office and on the evening priced at £3 and £10 for a family of 4 (maximum 2 adults).

This is always a very enjoyable evening which focuses on the talent of the young people in Blaenau Gwent from the weekly music centre and from the monthly County Borough ensembles.

Congratulations also to the Blaenau Gwent Blue Brass and the Blaenau Gwent County Borough Big Band on their invitation to the National Festival of Music for Youth in July.

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.

In the loop

‘In the loop’ is a course for any adults interested in creative and practical music making, using music

technology. If you’d like to discover how music technology can be used creatively, then the five session

course could be of interest to you. These practical and fun sessions will look at recording, changing and

manipulating sounds as well as signal processing.

THERE ARE 3 PLACES REMAINING FOR THIS COURSE STARTING ON THURSDAY 10TH MAY. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED PLEASE CONTACT PAUL HORNSBY ON paul.hornsby@gwentmusic.net

The main focus will be geared towards loop based (Sound on Sound) technology and the creation of ‘real time’ performances. No previous experience or knowledge is necessary nor is it essential to have a traditional musical skill base. The emphasis will be towards the creation of ‘Soundscapes’ using a variety of conventional and unconventional sound sources.

Places are strictly limited to 10 participants per course. All sessions will take place at the GMSS HQ. All

equipment is supplied. The course fee is £25 per participant.

If you’re interested in taking part please

email and get in to the loop.

(please type IN THE LOOP in the email subject header)

Dates and times below:

Thursday May 10 6-7pm GMSS Headquarters

Thursday May 17 6-7pm GMSS Headquarters

Thursday May 31 6pm-7pm GMSS Headquarters

Thursday June 14 6pm-7pm GMSS Headquarters

Thursday June 28 6pm-7pm GMSS Headquarters

Paul Hornsby

Deputy Head of Service

Due to Croesyceiliog Comprehensive School being unavailable on Saturday 12th May, there will be no Torfaen Music Centre activities on this day and the Greater Gwent Schools Brass Band rehearsal planned for this day from 1.00pm to 3.15pm will now take place at Bassaleg School.

Following the information posted on the website on Wednesday, the information below has now been updated with changes of days for the wind and brass band festivals and also changes of venues for some of the groups.

Monday 2nd July 2012
Marshfield Primary Taiko (Symphony Hall)

Tuesday 3rd July 2012
Blaenau Gwent Blue Brass (Recital Hall)
Tuba Euphoria (Recital Hall)
Greater Gwent Youth Choir (Adrian Boult Hall)

Wednesday 4th July 2012
Torfaen Music Centre Senior Guitar Ensemble (Adrian Boult Hall)
Isca Linea Harp Ensemble (Adrian Boult Hall)
Greater Gwent Bottom Heavy (Adrian Boult Hall)
Greater Gwent Percussion (Adrian Boult Hall)
Greater Gwent Youth String Symphonia (Symphony Hall)
Greater Gwent Youth Brass Ensemble (Recital Hall)

Thursday 5th July 2012
Newport Music Centre Senior Wind Band (Symphony Hall)
Greater Gwent Youth Symphonic Winds (Symphony Hall)
Torfaen Music Centre Violin Quartet (Recital Hall)
South Monmouthshire Kempton Trio (Recital Hall)

Friday 6th July 2012
Greater Gwent Youth Brass Band (Town Hall)

Saturday 7th July 2012
Newport City Big Band (Adrian Boult Hall)
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Big Band (Adrian Boult Hall)
Greater Gwent Youth Orchestra (Symphony Hall)
Torfaen Music Centre Senior Strings (Town Hall)
Isca Linea Senior Strings (Town Hall)
Greater Gwent Youth Jazz Orchestra (Adrian Boult Hall)

Congratulations to all and we look forward to hearing all the groups in Birmingham in July.

More information regarding travel times, performance times etc will be posted on the GMSS website.

For more information on Music for Youth, click here

Alun F Williams
Head of Service