Band of Wales Music Library Update

Aim

The Band of Wales desperately needs to update its music library to encourage new players and to remain current

The Friends of the Band of Wales (UK Charity 1183105) exists solely through voluntary donations, and every penny directly supports the Symphonic Wind Band of Wales based in Cardiff. With no paid staff and a dedicated core of around thirty volunteer musicians, the band gives its time freely to bring high‑quality symphonic wind music to communities across Wales.

Right now, we are facing a critical moment for Welsh musical tradition. Since the COVID‑19 pandemic, wind and brass bands across Wales have seen membership fall dramatically—some by as much as 50%. A 2024 Brass Bands of Wales survey, reported by the BBC, highlights just how severe the decline has become. Without intervention, Wales risks losing a cultural tradition that has shaped community life for generations.

Although the Welsh Government has launched the National Music Service of Wales to support young musicians, it will take many years before this new wave of players reaches community bands. Many ensembles may not survive long enough to benefit.

The Band of Wales is determined not only to survive but to remain a vibrant, relevant part of Welsh musical life. To do that, we urgently need to update our music library. Much of our current collection is ageing and no longer reflects the modern repertoire that attracts new players—especially younger musicians who are essential to the future of wind music in Wales.

New sheet music is expensive, averaging around £70 per score. To refresh the library with contemporary, engaging, and diverse works, we need a substantial influx of funding. Without this investment, the band risks becoming outdated, less appealing to prospective members, and increasingly disconnected from the communities we serve.

Supporting this project is more than buying music. It is helping to preserve a Welsh tradition, inspire new generations of musicians, and ensure that symphonic wind music continues to thrive across Wales.

This project closed unsuccessfully on 4th May 2026