Hello and welcome to Northop Silver Bands MySpace.
Recent results and achievements:
The band for a the second year running won the Welsh first section areas, earning the honour to represent Wales in the national finals held in Harrogate in which the band came 2nd.
The band won the title of National Eisteddfod Champions, videos of the performance can be viewed on the profile.
And finally we were positioned 3rd at pontins.
The band have a busy schedule planned for next year being premoted to Championship section preparing for the areas, various concerts and competitions including being invited to the Spring Festival Championships in Blackpool. History: The band was established in 1892 by a group of young men in Soughton (Sychdyn). Within two years they had relocated to nearby Northop a small village a few miles from Mold in North Wales.
Very little is known of the early years as there are no written records but it is known that the bands' first contest success was in 1921 at Flint.
The Band was kept busy playing concerts and contests, gaining many successes. As a result of its success and professional attitude, the band has been fortunate enough to play at some of the most prestigious venues in the country including, the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, St. David's Hall, Cardiff and the Royal Albert Hall in London. Also playing in the theatre production of "Brassed Off" in Theatre Clwyd.
The as well as the senior band the organisation boasts 2 youth bands; a Training Band (conductedby John Williams) and the Northop Youth Band (conducted by Karl Stott) that compete regularly.
Conductor: Thomas Wyss was born in Switzerland and studied music at the Conseratoire of Bern and Fribourg. He was Swiss Tuba Champion on 6 occasions and Played with the Brass Band Berneroberland and the National Youth Brass Band of Switzerland.
In 1986 Thomas moved to England to study at Huddersfield College where he gained A.R.C.M., L.T.C.L. (T.D.) and L.R.A.M. Diplomas. He went on to study conducting, composition, arranging and band training for a further 4 years with Howard Snell.
Thomas was a member of the Britannia Building Society (Fodens) Band for over 8 years and before that played with Grimethorp Colliery and Sellers Engineering Bands. He was a founder of the Howard Snell Brass and is currently the Tuba Soloist of the renowned Quintessence Brass Quintet.
He has conducted most of Britain's Top Bands and he is in great demand as a Guest Conducter with Bands on the Continent. Thomas was resident Conducter at the Williams Fairey Band, professional Conductor of Tredegar Band and most recently was the musical director of the Fodens Richardson Band. He is currently the Guest Conductor of the National Youth Band of Switzerland. Thomas is also in demand as an adjudicator and has adjudicated at venues and festivals throughout Britain and Europe including the European, Swiss, Dutch and Belgium National Championships.
He arranges and conposes music for any Brass Combination and all his pieces are distributed by MF publication in Switzerland.
