Friends of Cwmdu Music

Brecon Jazz Festival

Friday 7th August 2026, 8pm - Sunday 9th August (Various locations in Brecon)

The Brecon Jazz Festival has a bold vision to bring world-class jazz to Brecon. The idea was simple but ambitious: to create a platform where jazz lovers and talented musicians could gather and celebrate the vibrant diversity of the genre.

For details and tickets see here.

List of events

URSULA HARRISON: SONGS ABOUT BIRDS Fri 7 Aug 2026, 6:00PM The Guildhall Brecon LD3 7AL

TALULAH Fri 7 Aug 2026, 6:00PM The Muse Brecon

JACK MAC’S FUNK PACK Fri 7 Aug 2026, 9:00PM The Muse Brecon

JANE WILLIAMS, BELLA COLLINS AND GARETH EVANS Sat 8 Aug 2026, 12:30PM The Muse Brecon

PHOENICIAN BLINDS Sat 8 Aug 2026, 3:00PM – 4:15PM The Guildhall Brecon LD3 7AL

OLIVIA CUTTILL QUINTET Sat 8 Aug 2026, 6:00PM – 7:15PM The Guildhall Brecon LD3 7AL

GROUNDED THREAD Sat 8 Aug 2026, 6:30PM The Muse Brecon

DIONNE BENNETT Sat 8 Aug 2026, 10:00PM The Muse Brecon

HOT CLUB GALLOIS Sun 9 Aug 2026, 1:30PM The Muse Brecon

JON CRESPO - ‘BEYOND ARMSTRONG’ Sun 9 Aug 2026, 3:00PM – 4:15PM The Guildhall Brecon LD3 7AL

THE JACK PEARCE QUINTET Sun 9 Aug 2026, 5:00PM The Muse Brecon

DAVE JONES’ TRUNK OF FUNK Sun 9 Aug 2026, 6:30PM – 7:45PM

THE FABULOUS RED DIESEL BAND Sun 9 Aug 2026, 8:00PM The Muse Brecon

Our July 2026 concert

Ensemble19 in rehearsal.

At the beginning of July we had a return concert from extraordinary percussion group Ensemble19. They brought an array of instruments: marimbas, vibraphone, glockenspiel a drum kit and more, and owing to the relatively short history of these–many of the pieces they played being originally scored for other instruments, it gave them a chance to demonstrate their skills at arrangement.

From the 4th movement of Dvořák’s String Quartet No. 12 to Peter Maxwell Davies’ Farewell to Stromness and Steve Reich’s intricate Music for Pieces of Wood we were wowed by this group’s dexterity and musicality. All this with an eagerness to share their knowledge with the audience.

This came to the fore when they asked for volunteers to play in a rendition of Dave Brubeck’s Take 5 – with the lucky winners being given solo spots!

Audience particpation in playing Take 5.

It’s fair to say both the audience and the players had a very enjoyable evening…

It was our absolute pleasure playing for you on Saturday night. We had such a blast and it was so nice to be in Wales again doing what we love. Thank you so much for the opportunity! We’d be back in a heartbeat so don’t hesitate to ask.

Hay Music Festival 2026

This year’s Hay Music Festival takes as its theme ‘The Healing Power of Music’.

Friday, September 11, 2026 6:30 PM - Sunday, September 13, 2026 9:45 PM

Details and tickets.

Our next concert Gwent Chamber Orchestra

Gwent Chamber Orchestra.

Our next concert is Gwent Chamber Orchestra on Saturday 26th September, 7.30pm at St. Michael & All Angels, Cwmdu, NP8 1RW. Tickets are available now.

Our popular annual evening led by local professional musicians, this event offers concert-goers favourite chamber works close-up, as well as the chance to discover more unusual musical offerings.

Their programmme will include: in the first half soprano Lowri Probert will sing two operatic arias by Mozart and Morgen by Richard Strauss. The main piece for the second half of the concert is Haydn Symphony number 89 in F.

Tickets now available. Don’t forget our concessions which provide entry for a £1 online deposit (refundable at the door)—see link for details.

Our first concert of 2026 — Emma Rawicz Trio

This first concert with Emma Rawicz (saxophones & vocals), Niklas Lukassen (bass) and Jonny Mansfield (percussion & vibraphone) proved a very engaging and entertaining evening to a packed audience.

Emma Rawicz, Jonny Mansfield & Niklas Lukassen.

Quite superb. Almost telepathic music making. Very happy audience. Apart from her obvious musical gifts [Emma] was one of the most eloquent and inspiring speakers for promoting the arts. Top drawer.

Very successful night; different audience, three exceptionally gifted musicians.

Each piece they performed had an accompanying contextual introduction by Emma; a transcendently beautiful example just before the interval (when we had warming punch!) being inspired by a Japanese word komorebi—dappled sunlight seen through trees.

Our previous Autumn Concert: Gwent Chamber Orchestra

Gwent Chamber Orchestra.

The annual September concert given by the Gwent Chamber Orchestra was much enjoyed by a capacity audience. The opening Handel Concerto Grosso in D minor featured some fine solo playing from the oboes and bassoon and the whole orchestra played with much clarity, highlighting the wonderful acoustics of Cwmdu Church.

We then heard some interesting anecdotes from the GCO conductor Stephen Broom about the composer Dag Wirén, before the performance of his charming Serenade for Strings. It had some very memorable melodies and was played with great energy and gusto. The first half ended on a high with the Vivaldi Concerto in A minor for two Violins performed by Julia Watkins (the leader of GCO) and Lesley Gwyther (principal 2nd violin). They always play so wonderfully together and it was thrilling to hear them play so fast and rhythmically in the outer movements, but also their lyrical interplay in the beautiful slow movement.

After a busy interval with everyone catching up after the Summer and enjoying a glass of wine, we were treated to the ever popular Symphony no. 40 in G minor by Mozart. Foot tappingly good, it was a fitting and thrilling end to both a fabulous programme and another great year of concerts here in Cwmdu. Please do join us for the four very varied concerts coming up in 2026!

Gwent Chamber Orchestra, rehearsing for our concert.

Our previous summer concert

Will Barnes Quartet.

Our summer concert given by Will Barnes Quartet was a fantastic evening. We heard tracks from their recently released album ‘Source of the Severn’ (which many of us purchased at the end) and some brand new material. They each played with such virtuosity and ease and just seemed so natural with each other, in gentle mood lighting. It was fascinating to watch their interplay and to feel their groove. Each of them had several solo moments which seamlessly transitioned between them. We had some chilled and mellow tracks interspersed with others where they really upped the energy and pulse with such complex rhythmic intricacy.

Our Artist-in-residence Maikki Ranger of Hey!remade had a fabulous display of handmade and unique recycled glassware.

May 2025 Rhossili Duo concert

We had a very engaging concert from the Rhossili Duo, who opened with Argentinian tango composer Astor Piazzola’s Histoire du Tango and closed with First Milonga, Last Tango by Welsh composer Stephen Goss—written as an elegy to the former and a piece using fragments of material from his work. Then Welsh folk songs including Suo gan arranged by Goss and Bartok’s Romanian Dances based on his extensive folk music studies. The Bartok works are often heard in their original piano or orchestral renderings, and this interpretation brought a great zest to them.

The duo then had an opportunity to play solo pieces by Agustín Barrios (guitar) and Eugène Bozza (flute). Then Sonatina by leading composer for the guitar, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco—exiled from Italy to the US prior to WWII.

The performances received enthusiastic applause from our audience; and were a brilliant reminder of how lucky we are to have alumni and students from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama at our annual concert series.

Rhossili Duo can be seen in June at the Budleigh Music Festival.

Artist-in-residence Francesca Kay displayed a selection of her letterpress, calligraphy and paper designs—website.

Our March 2025 Nantwen Ensemble concert

We were treated to an inspiring and varied programme by the wonderful Nantwen Ensemble (website) on the 8th March.

Nantwen Ensemble preparing for their concert.

Firstly the imaginative sound world created with some unusual string techniques by composer Caroline Shaw in Plan & Elevation, her musical drawing of Dumbarton Oaks, and then the beautiful and hypnotic Verses by Ólafur Arnalds. Then Nantwen’s own commission, Songs without Words composed to complement the Schubert string quintet, from Welsh composer John Metcalf. This set the scene perfectly for the concert’s second half with its closing hymn-like prayer.

In his introduction, Daniel said that each time he prepares the Schubert Quintet with different colleagues, they each bring something new to the work with their ideas and interpretations. Schubert’s mastery of writing for all the instruments and the sheer beauty and scale of the work meant that time almost stood still for us. It’s a work that never seems to date or lose its popularity.

Our Artist-in-residence, Helen of InSpired Pottery—“Beautifully handcrafted wares for everyday use” had a stunning display of her work. (Website).

Display with the artist, Helen.

Our last concert of 2024

In October we had a fabulous concert from composer, vocalist and violinist Claire Victoria Roberts with string players Treske Quartet and Swansea-based keyboardist and jazz band leader Dave Cottle.

Claire Victoria Roberts is a composer, vocalist and violinist–blurring the boundaries of jazz, contemporary and singer-songwriter genres. https://www.clairevictoriaroberts.com/

Treske Quartet–Oli Baily & Mollie Wrafter (violins), Abigail Hammett (viola), Robert Wheatley (cello)–is an emerging ensemble based in Manchester, UK. https://www.treskequartet.com/

Dave Cottle formed the Dave Cottle Band in 1985. Swansea’s Lord Mayor Awarded Dave for his services to music in the City at a Gala dinner in the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea November 2018. https://www.davecottlemusic.com

See our 2025 calendar for next year’s events.