TWELVE wind, brass and jazz bands will compete in the semi-final sessions of S4C’s Band Cymru 2018 for a chance to win £10,000 this weekend at Aberystwyth Arts Centre.

The two finals of the competition will be held at The Great Hall, Swansea University on 21 and 22 April, and will be broadcast on S4C.

But before that, bands will travel to Aberystwyth on Saturday and Sunday to try and blow away the judges and secure a place in the final.

They are The Burry Port Town Band, City of Cardiff Brass Band (Melingriffith), Northop Silver Band, Brass Beaumaris, Tylorstown Band, BTM Band, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cory Band, Tongwynlais Temperance Band, 3D Brass, Cardiff University Jazz Society and Royal Welsh College Big Band.

And there are the four youth bands celebrating after reaching the final of Band Ieuenctid 2018: Band Jazz Tryfan, Cardiff and Vale Music Service Jazz Orchestra, Torfaen Youth Big Band and the Greater Gwent Youth Brass Band.

The semi-finals will be filmed by the production company and competition organisers Rondo Media and broadcast on S4C in March and April.

Elen Rhys, S4C’s content commissioner, entertainment, said: “We’re delighted that such a wide variety of bands from across Wales have competed for a place in the final. This is the third time that we have held the competition and it goes from strength to strength.”

The times and dates of the four semi-final rounds are Saturday, 17 February, 2.30pm and 8pm; Sunday, 18 February, 2.30pm and 8pm.

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