Hailing from the Rhondda Valley in South Wales, UK, the Cory Band is a world-renowned musical group that has made a name for itself with its exceptional performances.
A multi Grand Slam champion, the Cory Band has won many major contesting awards, including the European, British Open, National Championships of Great Britain, and Brass in Concert, making it one of the most successful contesting bands of the 21st century.
For an unprecedented 16 years, from 2007 to 2023, the band held the coveted title of the world’s number one ranked band.. In 2016, they became the first band in history to hold all four titles – National, Open, European, and Brass in Concert – simultaneously, putting them in the history books. This is an achievement that they repeated again in 2019.
Originally known as ‘Ton Temperance’, the band was formed in 1884. In 1895, Sir Clifford Cory, the local colliery owner, offered financial assistance, resulting in the band’s name change to Cory.
Since 2012, the band has been conducted by Philip Harper, winning numerous European, National, Brass in Concert, and British Open titles. The band has also toured Australia, the USA, and South Korea, and won the inaugural winner of TV Channel S4C’s Band Cymru programme.
Aside from their impressive competition history, the Cory Band has also made significant strides musically. The band was appointed as the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama’s resident ensemble in 2000. The Cory Band is proud performing artist for Besson Musical Instruments and Rath Trombones.
The Cory Band is dedicated to new music, raising the profile of the brass band genre, and keeping music alive in Wales. The band’s current ‘Composer in Residence’ is Christopher Bond.
The band’s numerous CD recordings and live concert performances have received worldwide acclaim. In 2022, the band was awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service for their dedicated work within the Brass Band movement, further cementing their status as one of the Principality’s finest and most innovative music ensembles.
