Our Musical

Director

Gareth Ritter

Gareth is a native of Cwm, Ebbw Vale. In 2003, he graduated with a BMus (Hons) from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama having studied there for three years under the leadership of Dr Robert Childs. He continued his education at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff, completing a Post Graduate Certificate in Secondary Music Education and he now works as Head of Creative Arts at Willows High School in Cardiff.

His interest in music started at an early age playing the tenor horn in his local village band – one of the legacy bands of Ebbw Valley Brass. From there he progressed to euphonium and still at a young age, played with many of the top competing bands across Wales, such as Tongwynlais and Tredegar. Gareth is a former member of the Cory Band where he spent 10 years playing euphonium and baritone under the baton of Dr Robert Childs. With this band, Gareth tasted victory many times and one of his fondest memories was winning the British Open Championship in 2002 and 2009. Gareth’s music-making has seen him tour America, Australia, New Zealand and many parts of Europe. While studying in Cardiff, Gareth visited Norway many times to play with the Tomra Brass Band and others in concerts and competitions.

Being a member of the Cory Band gave him the chance to play in some of the finest concert halls in the world, such as The Royal Albert Hall, Grieg Hall and Symphony Hall. From the age of 13, Gareth was a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Wales and the European Youth Brass Band. In both these bands Gareth progressed onto the Principal Euphonium seat working with conductors such as James Watson and Elgar Howarth. He has played for HRH Queen Elizabeth and Nelson Mandela, and has delivered master classes on his instrument throughout the country.

Gareth has worked extensively with Goodwick Brass, Blaenavon Town Brass Band, Abergavenny Borough Band and more recently has played an integral part in the joining together of both his former bands, Cwm and Ebbw Vale, to form Ebbw Valley Brass. Gareth took up the post of Musical Director for Ebbw Valley Brass from September 2011.