Our Rehearsal Nights
The Band rehearses from 18:30 - 20:15hrs every Tuesday and Thursday
News for 2022
2022 began some trepidation in the banding world with some bands reporting that they had lost players whose interest had waned due to lack of rehearsals. This was certainly not the case with Abergavenny; no one had finished and we couldn’t wait for rehearsals to resume.
The main drive now was to attend the Regional's contest in March and an influx of new members meant the band was in a good place in readiness for the contest. Last minute re-jigging of personnel with some players being unavailable due to health problems and some intense rehearsals saw the band take the stage and gain a creditable 3rd place from a field of nine bands. Adjudicator Glyn Williams praised the band for a well thought out approach with good balance and detail; and John Maines congratulated us on a well-controlled and enjoyable show.
The band had successfully navigated the COVID years and are now looking forward to the future with renewed vigour and the determination to work together to enjoy their music and each other's company.
The band was sad to say a fond farewell to Soprano Cornet Player, Dave Bateman, who decided it was time to pack away his cornet after many years playing with several bands. His health has suffered in the last few year's and we all wish him well in his retirement from banding.
Busy Weekends are all part of “Banding”
August bank holiday 2022 was no exception with the band performing an open air concert in Abergavenny Town Centre on Saturday 27th and returning to the Llangynidr Show on 28th after its COVID enforced shut down.
The people of Abergavenny didn’t disappoint yet again stopping to listen with welcome applause and generous donations to help swell the band much needed coffers. This concert was somewhat more formal than usual as the band set the stage with their banners and uniforms.
Llangynidr show made a welcome return to the diary of country events after its break due to the pandemic. Although not the full agricultural show we have enjoyed in the past, never the less the Garden & Craft Show was well received and it was a delight to play on the field once again.
HRH Queen Elizabeth II
Everyone will remember where they were the evening the news of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passing was announced. It was on Thursday 8th September at 18:30hrs that the phones started pinging in the bandroom as the news apps came to life. The band was just about to start rehearsal and the shocked silence in the room was broken with the MD asking us to play the national anthem for her majesty and the new King. It was a very emotional and personal moment for everyone in the band that evening.
The town marked the funeral on 19th September with a short and small memorial service at the cenotaph in Frogmore Street where cornet player, Barney Bowden, delivered the Last Post and Reveille and the band played the Welsh and National Anthems.
Former youth players in the Queens Funeral Procession
That the Band is proud doesn’t cover it. Two of our former youth band players are now serving in the military as bandsmen and were on
parade for the Queens funeral procession. Christian Dullea is a Euphonium player with the Royal Corps of Army Music and Richard Ward is a cornet player with the Royal Marines band. 
Both were committed youth players for Abergavenny Band before moving to the senior band prior to pursuing their military careers. Christian studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and Richard at the Birmingham Conservatoire.
RIP William Jonathan
It was a sad October rehearsal when the band learned of the passing of former solo cornet player Will Jonathan. Will had been a player with the band for many years and achieved solo cornet status after training in the youth band. His stoic support for the solo cornet bench over many years saw him achieve “bumper-up” to a number of the bands principal cornet players. His father, Alderman Jack Jonathan, was band president until his death and the family owned the family butchers business in Merthyr Road opposite the band room.
Remembrance Sunday
The armistice parade in Abergavenny was back to full strength after the ravages of the COVID pandemic on events in the town. Once again the Band was proud to lead the parade to the war memorial in Frogmore Street where the service was very well attended. The last post and reveille was beautifully delivered by principal cornet player, Ffion Johnson.
Hospice Support
The band’s now a strong supporter of Hospice of the Valleys. Playing Christmas music for the Cariad Service has become a regular event for us and we are delighted to give staff and patients a musical taste of festive cheer at the day centre. Once again this has been followed by playing at two Light-Up-A-Life services in Tredegar and Blaina for those remembering loved ones as Christmas approaches.
A New Venue For Our Concerts
With refurbishment of the Abergavenny Town Hall and Borough Theatre taking longer than expected the band sought alternative premises for its annual concert and Christmas concerts. We are extremely grateful to the staff of Crickhowell’s Clarence Hall for stepping into the breach and providing us with a superb venue for both events. It was a joy to play for a packed hall on both occasions and Santa even made an appearance to surprise the children present with gifts.
