Gareth Ritter assumed the position of Musical Director in 2005, bringing with him experience of and enthusiasm for the "big time." Gareth led the band to think of higher things and was instrumental in making the band's first CD recording - appropriately titled "Heritage"- and the introduction of the Annual Gala Concert. Under his leadership, the band continued to prosper, developing both musically and numerically. As a result of recent success, the band adopted the title "City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) Brass Band," recognising the close affinity throughout its history with what is now Wales' Capital City.

Local competition success continued, with Colin Evans (Principal Euphonium), Terry Lax (Soprano Cornet), and Alan Gwynant (Principal Cornet) successively being awarded the "Best Soloist" prize.

In 2006, the band gained promotion to Section Three, and in 2006 and 2008 the band represented Wales in the Third Section of the National Championships at Harrogate, achieving a very creditable third place out of twenty-seven competing bands on their second visit and gaining promotion to Section Two nationally.

In November 2008, the band won Section Three of the South East Wales Contest at Treorchy. As well as being placed first out of the six competing bands and being awarded the Mel Huntley Memorial Trophy, the band's horn section was awarded the Mavis Thomas Memorial Trophy for the best horn section. In addition, eleven year old Alexander Rees was awarded the Rhondda Cynon Taf Trophy as the best instrumentalist in the section.

Electing to play John Rutter's "Suite for Brass," which brought them such success at the recent UK Championships at Harrogate, the band wowed the adjudicator, Peter Roberts. In thanking the band for a, "very fine performance of this work," Mr. Roberts remarked upon the quality of their technique and the excellence of ensemble playing, soloists, atmosphere and dynamic contrasts. He awarded the band a score of 184 points, three points ahead of second-placed Upper Rhondda and five points ahead of third-placed Seindorf Arian Crwbin.

This result meant that City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) Brass Band had been placed first in each of the three qualifying contests for the second year running, and became the Welsh Region Section Three Champion Band, gaining promotion to the Second Section in the Welsh Regional Grading System (matching their National grading) and being awarded the T.J.Powell Trophy - particularly poignant, as T.J. Powell had been their legendary conductor.

In March 2009, the band was placed first in the Welsh Regional Qualifying Competition held at Swansea and, once again, represented Wales in the Second Section of the UK National Championship Finals at Harrogate in September. Presenting a near faultless rendition of Alan Fernie's 'A Scot's Miscellany,' the band was placed first and declared Champion Second Section Band of Great Britain.

To learn more about the history and the modern Melingriffith Brass Band, feel free to take a look at our history and learn more about us.