The Cory Band made history in 2016 by winning an elusive Grand Slam and becoming the first band in history to be Quadruple Champions–simultaneously holding the National, Open, European and Brass in Concert titles. This cemented a remarkable ten consecutive years at the top of the World Rankings. However, the band has a long and illustrious history. Formed in 1884, it originally bore the name ‘Ton Temperance’. In 1895 Sir Clifford Cory, the local colliery owner, heard the band and offered to provide financial assistance, resulting in the band’s change of name to Cory.

In 1980 the band became European Champion and in 1984, its centenary year, it won the third in a hat–trick of National titles at the Royal Albert Hall, London, conducted by the charismatic Major Arthur Kenney. In 2000 the band achieved an historic double by winning both the Nationals and, for the first time in its history, the British Open, conducted by Dr. Robert Childs. In 2008–10 the band achieved a hat–trick of European Brass Band Champion titles.

Since 2012 the band has been conducted by Philip Harper, winning another two European titles (2013, 2016), three Nationals (2013, 2015 and 2016) five Brass in Concert titles (2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018) and two British Open (2016, 2018). In 2014 it became the inaugural winner of TV Channel S4C’s Band Cymru programme and repeated this achievement in 2018. It toured Australia in 2013, and the USA in February 2016, 40 years after its last visit. 

The Cory Band has also developed musically outside of the contest field. In 2001, together with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales it was appointed as resident ensemble to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and in the same year appointed Dr. John Pickard as its ‘Composer in Residence’. John Pickard’s tenure with the band ended in July 2005 when the band made history giving the première performance of his Gaia Symphony at the prestigious Cheltenham International Festival. The Symphony was broadcast live on Radio3, and lasting over an hour in duration, is currently the largest scale original work in the repertory. 

The band is dedicated to new music, raising the profile of the brass band genre and keeping music alive in Wales. It has an active commissioning policy and has performed works by many of Britain’s leading composers; John McCabe, Judith Bingham, Elgar Howarth, Edward Gregson, Alun Hoddinott, Karl Jenkins, Gareth Wood, David Bedford, to name but a few.

The band’s current ‘Composer in Residence’ is Christopher Bond. The Cory Band is recognized as one the Principality’s finest and most innovative music ensembles. Its numerous CD recordings and live concert performances have received worldwide acclaim.