Gareth Pritchard
2009 - 2011

Gareth Pritchard was born in the mining village of Ynyshir in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales. Began playing Cornet in the local Colliery Band in 1964 and by 1966 was the “under 12” Solo Champion of Wales. He studied Cornet with David Thomas (ex Principal Cornet of the Stanshawe Band) and Ieuan Morgan MBE, OBE (ex Conductor of Parc & Dare and Upper Rhondda School Bands).

He entered Trinity College of Music, London in 1974 to study Trumpet with Norman Burgess (Principal Trumpet of the BBC Concert Orchestra), Composition with Vera Ayton and Conducting with Bernard Keefe attaining LTCL (Teacher’s Diploma) by the 3rd year and being admitted a Fellow of the College FTCL at the end of the 4th year.

Gareth has played Principal Cornet for Parc & Dare, Fairey Engineering, Brodsworth Colliery and GUS/Rigid Containers Bands winning Granada Band of the Year in 1979 and the British Open in 1979 and 1988. He has come under the influence of many eminent Conductors such as Dennis Carr, Walter Hargreaves, Harry Mortimer, Roy Newsome, Major Peter Parkes and Bram Tovey. Gareth was Cornet Solo Champion of Great Britain in both 1977 and 1979, and has performed regularly as a soloist all over the world and on many radio broadcasts and Recordings.

In 1991 Gareth moved to Norway as a “full time” Freelance Musician, and has conducted a band to 1st prize at the National Finals there on an unprecedented 4 occasions in 3 different divisions (including the Championship Section with Sandefjord Brass Symposium in 1998) in only 7 attempts. He also won SIDDIS Brass (the Norwegian "Brass in Concert”) with Sandefjord using 3 of his pieces in their programme. He is also regularly invited to conduct other Norwegian Championship Section Brass Bands and Professional Military Bands. He has also been Musical Advisor and Conductor of the Telemark Wind Orchestra and Telemark Summer School since 1996, and regularly visits Norway as a Guest Conductor.

His arrangements and compositions are extensively played in Norway and New Zealand and have also been recorded by Brass and Military Bands in Norway.

Since returning to the UK, he has been Professional Conductor for Besses o’ th’ Barn, Bodmin Town, BTM and Tongwynlais Bands and also Musical Director for East Yorkshire Motor Services Band.

Gareth is in regular demand as an adjudicator at home and abroad and is a member of the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators.