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Deiniolen support Iwan WIlliams |
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Over 12
months have passed since the flugel player, Iwan Williams, was diagnosed
with a malignant brain tumour, and now his friends at the Deiniolen
Band, along with the people of Deiniolen, have decided to arrange a
special concert to aid and support him. Iwan grew up in the village of Deiniolen in Snowdonia, North Wales, and started playing the cornet in the village band at the age of 8, winning his first solo contest, the North Wales Solos contest, by the age of 11. By the age of 16 he had added a number of soloist prizes to his name, both locally and nationally, and he had also become a member of the National Youth Brass of Wales. Iwan’s musical career developed further when he moved to Manchester to study at the University of Salford to study under, amongst others, Professor David King, (the man responsible for Iwan’s move on to the flugel horn) a career that reached its peak when, in 2005, Iwan released his first solo CD, ‘Mellow Moments’ to great acclaim. At that time Iwan was a music teacher by profession and a member of the highly successful band, the YBS Band. In January 2006, Iwan began to feel unwell and, after an initial diagnosis of epilepsy, further tests revealed a tumour. Iwan is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment for the cancer, and as a result has been unable to work since the diagnosis and has also been unable to play his instrument. Iwan’s friends in the Deiniolen Band decided to host an evening of light entertainment to honour and support him in this difficult time. “When we first heard of Iwan’s diagnosis, we were extremely shocked and saddened, but have been encouraged by Iwan’s show of strength and courage throughout his treatment.” Said Dylan Williams, on behalf of the band. “We feel that the time is right to stage an event like this, a very special evening, not only to provide some financial aid to Iwan and his young family, but to show the band and the village’s support to them all in what is bound to be a difficult time. Everyone connected with the Deiniolen Band are proud to be given the chance to show our support to Iwan and his family.” The concert will take place at Theatr Seilo, Caernarfon on Saturday 6th October 2007, commencing at 7pm. Alongside the band, the evening’s entertainment will be provided by Tudur Owen (star of S4C’s Noson Lawen) as compere, Sheona White, Stuart Lingard and Gavin Saynor will be guest brass soloists (all 3 of whom were members of the YBS Band with Iwan), and the popular talents of Annette Bryn Parri (piano), John Eifion Jones (tenor), Sian Wyn Gibson (contralto) and Emyr Wyn Gibson (actor and singer). Iwan’s former tutor at Salford and former conductor at YBS, Professor David King, will also be in attendance. Tickets are priced at £10 for adults and £5 for children and are available from the band’s secretary, Mr. Meirion Jones, on 01286 870452. The concert is sponsored by Advent Project Management Ltd, and a huge number of local businesses have also agreed to support the event. World of Brass, the company behind Iwan’s solo CD, have also generously agreed to support the appeal. Dylan continues “The evening promises to be very special, and the band are extremely grateful to all the artists and sponsors for agreeing to support the appeal. There is something really special about the way the people of Deiniolen pull together in difficult times, and this concert is proof of that. However, we wish the evening to have much wider support, so anyone who may wish to support the appeal are welcome to contact me on dyl_73@hotmail.com or by calling the band’s secretary on the number given above.” For further details visit http://www.deiniolenband.org.uk or http://www.adventpm.co.uk |