Above: Winners from left: Mia Gardner from Gwernyfed School, Zosia Lewandowski from Crickhowell High School and Mubin Serpuja from Brecon High School
Two hundred and eighty local school children responded to the launch of PromArt, a new, annual art competition set up by the Brecon Town Concert Band in partnership with the Lumen Prize, the Global for Digital Art. The work created is being displayed in Theatr Brycheiniog’s Andrew Lamont Gallery throughout September.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Brecon Town Concert Band, and to celebrate, the Band Committee wanted to do something special to encourage young people’s artistic skills and appreciation of classical music.
Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition was chosen as the theme of the Band’s annual Last Night at the Proms concert (taking place at Theatr Brycheiniog on Monday 11 September), and the competition was launched in spring, asking individuals and local schools to present their own artistic interpretation of any one of the ten pictures, which inspired the different movements of the piece. Organisers were delighted to receive the 280 submissions from four local schools, including Brecon High School, Crickhowell High School, Christ College and Gwernyfed. The competition was open to school students of all ages, and there was even an entry from a keen nursery-aged artist.
The PromArt competition was devised to promote, celebrate and showcase the artistic talents of students studying in schools across Powys. Working in conjunction with the Lumen Prize for Digital Art and Theatr Brycheiniog, the 75 shortlisted pictures were shown on a digital screen above the stage at the Band’s Prom Concert on Monday 11 September. All of the work submitted is on display either on the walls or in browsers in The Andrew Lamont Gallery at the theatre for a month from Friday 8 September.
Punch Maughan, Visual Arts Coordinator at Theatr Brycheiniog and Carla Rapoport, Director of The Lumen Prize for Digital Art, judged the competition. Carla, who lives near Llangorse, commented: “The quality of the students’ art was amazing. Punch and I were pleased to see a wide range of media used to create the work and a real visual connection to the music. Well done to the students and to the art teachers who encouraged them.”
Dave Jones, the conductor of Brecon Town Concert Band, is passionate about encouraging young people into the arts and to support this, the Band Committee agreed to fund £180 in prize money for the Competition. The winners of the three categories were announced at the Band’s Last Night of the Proms concert. The winners of each age category were awarded cash prizes: £70 for the years 10 & 11 winner, £60 for the years 8 & 9 winner and £50 prize for the years 7 and younger winner.
Winners of PromArt 2017
Winner youngest age group category:
Mubin Serpuja, aged 12 The Catacombs
Brecon High School
Winner middle age group category:
Zosia Lewandowski, Age 14 - The Ballet of Unhatched Chicks in Their Shell
Crickhowell High School
Winner oldest age group category:
Mia Gardner, Year 11 -. Samuel Goldberg and Schmuyle
Gwernyfed School
1. Highly commended in the youngest category:
Evie Ponting, Age 12 The Ballet of Unhatched Chicks in Their Shells
Brecon High School
2. Highly commended in the middle category: James Laurie Chiswell, Age 13 – Baba Yaga
Christ College, Brecon
3. Highly Commended in the middle category: Arabella Green, Age 13 – Baba Yaga
Christ College, Brecon
Fyi:Brecon were at the presentation to record the occasion:
Below: 12-year-old Mubin Serpuja with Carla Rapoport
Below: 14-year-old Zosia Lewandowski with Carla Rapoport
Below: Mia Gardner with Carla Rapoport
Below: From left: Punch Maughan, Mia Gardner, Zosia Lewandowski, Carla Rapoport and Mubin Serpuja
All smiles in the Andrew Lamont Gallery
The Lumen Prize
lumenprize.com | Twitter: @lumenprize | Facebook: lumenprize | Instagram: lumen_prize
The Lumen Prize celebrates the very best art created digitally. As a not-for-profit social enterprise our goal is to focus the world’s attention on this exciting genre through an annual competition, a global tour and associated activities including workshops, seminars and special events.
Brecon Town Concert Band
brecontownband.com | Facebook: brecontownband
The Band has been in existence since 1967. The earliest records of a "town band" date back to 1897 when an inaugural performance was given outside "The Fountain" where Lloyds TSB is currently situated. The current Band comprises about 50 musicians of all ages and ability. A variety of music is performed, which reflects the varying abilities of the musicians. With funding from the Lottery, backed by Brecon Town Council and Powys County Council, the Band purchased a complete new set of instrument in the 1990s. The Band's instruments are available to all fully paid-up Band members.
Membership is open to all. The annual membership fee is an amount set by the Committee and is currently £35. Rehearsals are held every Monday between 7 and 9pm in the Studio at Theatr Brycheiniog.
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