* Young People's Chorus of New York City will travel and perform on Sunday July 12.
Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and the Llangollen and Corwen Railway are bringing the world to the Dee Valley once again this summer.
They'll do it through a special partnership that will see performers from Ukraine, India, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Belgium, the Philippines, Norway, the United States and beyond travelling and performing on the heritage railway during Eisteddfod Week.
From Wednesday-Sunday July 8-12 visitors will have the opportunity to travel on the railway, meet performers from across the globe and enjoy special, exclusive performances at Corwen Station before continuing their journey to Llangollen and the Eisteddfod.
The partnership celebrates the unique historic connection between the railway and the Eisteddfod. Since the first International Eisteddfod in 1947, thousands of competitors and visitors from around the world arrived in Llangollen by train.
The exceptionally long platforms at Llangollen Station stand as a lasting reminder of those early festivals when special trains brought the world to North Wales. Nearly eighty years later, that tradition continues as performers once again travel by rail through the Dee Valley.
The celebrations will begin even before the Eisteddfod officially opens. On Saturday July 4, as part of the railway's Classic Transport Weekend, the world-famous Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir will perform at Party in the Park at Glyndyfrdwy Station.
Founded for the very first International Eisteddfod in 1947, the choir remains one of Wales' finest musical ambassadors. The concert takes place exactly one year after the choir famously serenaded Nicoletta Mantovani, widow of Luciano Pavarotti, aboard the railway, making it the perfect curtain-raiser for another summer of international music and friendship in the Dee Valley.
Visitors will have the opportunity to travel alongside international performers on selected services throughout the week itself. Groups are expected to travel on the 10.00am, 12.20pm and 3.15pm departures from Llangollen to Corwen and the 11.05am, 1.45pm and 4.20pm departures from Corwen to Llangollen.
Trains call at Berwyn, Glyndyfrdwy and Carrog, giving communities throughout the Dee Valley the opportunity to join the celebrations and travel with performers from around the world.
For visitors looking to enjoy a day at the International Eisteddfod, the experience could not be easier. Park at Corwen and travel to Llangollen with one international group, enjoy the music, culture and atmosphere of the Eisteddfod, and then return later in the day alongside a different international group.
It is a unique opportunity to meet performers from across the globe, enjoy the festival and experience the Eisteddfod on the move while travelling through the stunning Dee Valley on an award-winning heritage railway.
On arrival at Corwen, the visiting groups will perform on the station platform for approximately 15 minutes, giving passengers and visitors the chance to enjoy a taste of the International Eisteddfod in a unique heritage railway setting.
Throughout the week there will also be opportunities to enjoy impromptu performances at Llangollen Station, which will be decked out with flags from around the world, recreating the international atmosphere that has made the Eisteddfod famous since 1947.
Together, the railway stations at Corwen and Llangollen will become gateways to the International Eisteddfod, filled with music, colour and international friendship as performers and visitors from across the globe come together in the Dee Valley.
For many local residents, this will bring back memories of a golden age of the International Eisteddfod, when performers and visitors arrived in Llangollen by train from across the world. The railway and Eisteddfod are recreating that atmosphere for a new generation, with music, culture and international friendship filling the trains and stations throughout the week.
The railway will operate heritage railcar services from Wednesday to Friday, with steam and diesel-hauled services operating over the weekend, offering visitors a range of experiences throughout the festival period.
Llangollen and Corwen Railway will also have a dedicated stand on the Eisteddfod field throughout the week. Visitors will be able to learn more about the railway, purchase souvenirs and obtain information about services and special events. The Railway Shop will also be selling official Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod programmes.
International flags will be flying throughout the week, celebrating the nations represented at this year's festival and creating a vibrant atmosphere both at the Eisteddfod and along the railway.
Llangollen and Corwen Railway is also sponsoring the prestigious Male Voice Choir Competition on Sunday, strengthening the longstanding links between two organisations that have helped put Llangollen on the international map.
The railway's involvement will culminate on Sunday when Wayne and Sue Ronneback will represent the Llangollen and Corwen Railway at the International Eisteddfod, presenting the trophy to the winners of the prestigious Male Voice Choir Competition.
Throughout the week, visitors can also expect a few surprises along the way, with very special guests, unique performances and additional activities planned as part of the partnership, helping to create an unforgettable festival atmosphere both on and off the railway.
Wayne Ronneback, Corwen Station Master, said: "Corwen Station is a gateway to the Dee Valley and we're delighted to welcome performers from around the world to our platform. Visitors will be able to enjoy outstanding music and dance in a unique setting while travelling on one of Britain's most scenic heritage railways.
"With international performances, special guests and plenty of surprises planned throughout the week, there will be something new to discover every day.
"It will also be a great honour for Sue and I to present the trophy to the winners of the Male Voice Choir Competition on behalf of the railway, further strengthening the links between our two organisations."
David Hennigan, Trust Manager of the Llangollen and Corwen Railway and Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, said: "There is a wonderful historical connection between the railway and the Eisteddfod. When the first Eisteddfod was held in 1947, people from around the world arrived in Llangollen by train, and the length of the platforms at Llangollen Station still reflects those days of special excursion trains bringing tens of thousands of visitors and competitors to the town.
"This partnership celebrates that shared heritage. Visitors can park in Corwen, travel alongside performers from across the globe, spend the afternoon at our Eisteddfod and then return through the beautiful Dee Valley. Along the way they will be able to enjoy music, culture, heritage and international friendship in a truly unique setting. The chance to travel on this award-winning heritage railway with groups from around the world is the perfect way to experience the International Eisteddfod. It really is the Eisteddfod on the move.
"Llangollen is going to be an incredible place to be during Eisteddfod week. There will be international flags, performances at Corwen Station, special guests, surprises, programme sales, steam trains, heritage railcars and world-class music throughout the town. This is the way it always used to be, with the railway helping to bring the world to Llangollen. We genuinely believe Eisteddfod Week at the Railway will be the best it has been for a generation."
* Tickets for the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod are available at llangollen.net, while railway tickets and travel information can be found at llangollen-railway.co.uk.
Planned Railway Performances and Travel Schedule*
Wednesday July 8
- Ukrainian Children's Chorus "Pearls of Odessa" and Little Seeds Choir, Ukraine – 10.00am service
- TBC – 12.20pm service
- Nachda Punjab Youth Club, India – 3.15pm service
Thursday July 9
- Skeealyn Vannin, Isle of Man – 10.00am service
- Shebre Musical and Dance Group, Ghana – 12.20pm service
- Seattle Children's Chorus, USA – 3.15pm service
Friday July 10
- Mother Touch Group of Schools, Zimbabwe – 10.00am service
- Jeugdkoor de Piccolo's, Belgium – 12.20pm service
- Advent Euphonic Chorale, Philippines – 3.15pm service
Saturday July 11
- Arctic Voices, Norway – 10.00am service
- A Musical Offering, USA – 12.20pm service
- Palmdale High School, USA – 3.15pm service
Sunday July 12
- Chardikla Youth – 10.00am service
- Cor Meibion Rhosllannerchrugog – 12.20pm service
- Young People's Chorus of New York City – 3.15pm service
Passengers can join the international groups on services throughout the day, with trains departing Llangollen for Corwen at 10.00am, 12.20pm and 3.15pm and returning from Corwen to Llangollen at 11.05am, 1.45pm and 4.20pm.
*Groups, train allocations and timings are subject to travel arrangements, visa approvals and operational requirements and may be amended at short notice.
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