Founded in 1893 in the village of Cwmparc in the Rhondda as the Cwmparc Temperence Drum & Fife Band, shortly afterwards changing its name to Cwmparc Silver Band, Parc & Dare
Band celebrates over 130 years of music making and has over the
years established itself as one of the most famous names in the
Country. It is proudly noted that much of the funding for the band was
provided by the miners working at the Parc & Dare Collieries, who each
contributed one penny per week from their own wages. The Band’s
successes are legendary, with literally dozens of Championship 1st
prizes. These include being the Na􀀣onal representa􀀣ves for Wales on
over twenty occasions, being crowned Champion Band of Wales no less
than fi􀀱een 􀀣mes and qualifying to represent Wales at the European
Championships four 􀀣mes, gaining a very credible fourth place on two
of those appearances. The band became Champion 1st Sec􀀣on Band in
2004, 2005, and went on to be awarded runner- up in the na􀀣onal first
sec􀀣on finals in 2004. In 2006 the band finished in the prizes once
again, winning the right to represent Wales at the Na􀀣onal
Championships of Great Britain at the Royal Albert Hall. Furthermore, it
has represented Wales at the Second sec􀀣on Na􀀣onal Finals 2014 and
awarded a credible 4th place, finished 2nd in the Brass Band League
2015, and in 2017 became Champion 1st Sec􀀣on Band of Wales gaining
a place to represent Wales at the Na􀀣onal Brass Band Championships
of Great Britain, and regained its Championship status for its 125th
Anniversary.
Band has performed hundreds of concerts at home, Europe and further
afield and amassed over 250 broadcasts on radio and television, being
led by some of the most illustrious conductors to grace the brass
banding scene. Consequent to its successes, Parc and Dare Band has
been the focus of countless press ar􀀣cles and has even had a book
published covering its illustrious history, aptly en􀀣tled “A Life Divine”.
More recently the band defended its 􀀣tle SEWBBA Autumn Fes􀀣val
Champions in November 2024, became Champion 1st Sec􀀣on band of
Wales 2025 (winning the right to represent Wales at the Na􀀣onal Finals
of Great Britain in Cheltenham this coming September), are current
Birmingham Open ConsTest Champions 2025 as well as achieving a
number podium and individual soloist prizes at the Welsh Open 2025
and further afield.
The band has con􀀣nued to improve its playing strength under its policy
to recruit and nurture young talented musicians. In addi􀀣on, the band
now has an established a Community & Training band, who a􀁆end
prac􀀣ce once a week on Wednesday evenings during school term 􀀣me.
This has been made possible due to the volunteering of its
membership, and financial support from Co-op in the Community and
Pen y Cymoedd.