Visiting MP says Eisteddfod puts Llangollen on international map

* Clwyd East MP Becky Gittins (second from right) meets international competitors on her tour to Eisteddfod hosted by festival chair John Gambles.

Its famous Eisteddfod is something that puts Llangollen on the international map, according to the area’s MP Becky Gittins. 

The Member for Clwyd East visited the festival to look around the field, watch the competitions and meet some of the volunteers which make it possible each year. 

She said: “I’ve been to the Eisteddfod many times before because people who grow up in North Wales as I did know it as an opportunity to experience a lot of things that they haven’t before. It’s a place where people from all over the world gather to share in our cultural and musical richness. 

“But the Eisteddfod is crucially important not just to this area but the whole of Wales. It’s also a truly an international event, something that really puts us on the world map.” 

Ms Gittins added: “The Eisteddfod not only has huge cultural capital but is also good for travel and tourism to this area. And North East Wales is always ready to rise to the occasion each year. Our restaurants, cafes and hotels are always ready to welcome people and, especially in Llangollen, they make sure that people are welcomed back again and again. 

“People come on a personal pilgrimage each year to see beautiful Llangollen and its Eisteddfod. 

“The team work very hard to put the festival on. There’s a huge amount of organisation that goes into it, so fundraising and sustainability is very important and I, along with Ken Skates the Senedd Member for this area, was happy to play my small part in helping to secure funding for the Eisteddfod from the Arts Council of Wales.” 

New Zealand Youth Choir wins Llangollen's Choir of the World

* The jubilant New Zealand Youth Choir celebrate their victory on stage. 

Pictures by Kurly Mawaha.

In a spectacular climax to four days of world-class performances, the New Zealand Youth Choir was crowned Choir of the World at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod 2025.

In a thrilling finale, the mixed choir captivated the adjudicators and proudly lifted the prestigious Pavarotti Trophy - named for the Maestro and presented by his widow Nicoletta Mantovani and Eisteddfod Chairman John Gambles.

The dramatic announcement, made by Artistic Director Dave Danford, ignited jubilant celebrations. 

The New Zealanders launched into an impromptu haka before racing to the stage to join their conductor David Squire, who also claimed the coveted Jayne Davies Conductors Prize.

Meanwhile, Nachda Punjab Youth Club from India danced their way into the hearts of the audience and judges alike, triumphing as the Lucille Armstrong Dance Champions. Waving the Indian flag and glowing with pride, their joy lit up the Pavilion as they received their trophy from Sir Terry Waite.

* Nachda Punjab Youth Club after their win. 

The evening's special guest, West End superstar Lucie Jones, flew in directly from touring Taiwan with Les Misérables to deliver two show-stopping sets. Her breathtaking rendition of Wicked’s “Defying Gravity” brought the house down and earned a rapturous ovation.

The Choir of the World concert is the crowning jewel of a week featuring over 4,000 competitors from around the globe. 

A highlight of the evening was a heartfelt speech by Nicoletta Mantovani She spoke movingly about Llangollen’s influence on her late husband and his enduring affection for the town, where he performed in both 1955 and during a triumphant return in 1995. She then proudly presented the trophy bearing his name to the New Zealand Youth Choir.

* Nicoletta Mantovani speaks about her late husband's enduring love of the Eisteddfod.

During the interval, audiences enjoyed a special mini documentary on Pavarotti, produced in partnership with Decca Records to celebrate the Maestro’s 90th anniversary year. As part of the tribute, Decca also illuminated the iconic Castell Dinas Brân with a spectacular light show over the 700-year-old castle.

Dave Danford, Artistic Director of the Eisteddfod said, "What an amazing night –congratulations to the New Zealand Youth Choir and their inspirational conductor David Squire. 

"To win Choir of the World in Llangollen, where standards are so high, is a phenomenal achievement. For Nachda Punjab Youth Club to be crowned Dance Champions is also a fantastic result – they’ve been dazzling all week. 

"Huge thanks go to Lucie Jones for her barnstorming performance, to Sir Terry Waite, Nicoletta Mantovani, the team at Decca Records, and above all, our incredible volunteers. Tonight showed exactly why the Llangollen Eisteddfod is so loved across the world."

The Eisteddfod concludes today (Sunday) with a Family Fun Day from 10am–4pm, featuring beloved children’s TV presenter Andy Day and his brilliant band Andy and the Odd Socks. The day’s highlight will be a lunchtime concert in the Pavilion, produced in partnership with Music for Youth, showcasing incredible young talent from across the UK and the festival’s international performers.

There will also be a variety of family-friendly activities throughout the site and exciting performances on the Eisteddfod’s outdoor stages.

The festival concerts end tomorrow a sea-inspired evening concert featuring legendary bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel, folk favourites Fisherman’s Friends, and the ethereal voice of Eve Goodman.

Eisteddfod 2025 Results:

Choir of the World 2025:

New Zealand Youth Choir

Jayne Davies Conductors Prize:

David Squire, conductor of New Zealand Youth Choir

Lucille Armstrong Dance Champions:

Nachda Punjab Youth Club, India

Saturday highlights from the Eisteddfod in pictures

 

* The Castle was lit up late last night specially to mark the historic visit of Luciano Pavarotti's widow, Nicoletta Mantovani, to the Eisteddfod.

Here's lanblogger's round-up of Saturday's highlights from the Eisteddfod, including action from the field, the town square, the Pavilion stage ... and Castell Dinas Bran

All pictures below by Kurly Mawaha  

 * Bulgarian folk dancers on the Eisteddfod field.

* The Chapel-en-le-Frith Male Voice Choir from Derbyshire on Centenary Square with Llangollen town crier Chem announcing them.

 * Wrexham-based Choirs for Good on the square.

* The Friends of the Llangollen Eisteddfod tent hosted visitors from home and abroad during the week, raising vital funds for the festival with their raffles and other things.

* Llangollen Silver Band's intermediate band plays on the Globe stage at the field.

* Local band Magic Mirrors plays on the Oakleigh stage at the field.

* Nicky Sumnal of Llay Welfare Band who performed at the field.

* Nachde Punjabi dancers on the Pavilion stage.

* West End star Lucie Jones sings on the Pavilion stage during the Choir of the World final night at the Pavilion. 

Young performers shine in Eisteddfod competitions

* Shea and Hannah with her award certificate.

Young performers have been showing how important Llangollen Eisteddfod is to them as they shone in its competitions this week. 

At last year's festival well-known local actor and singer Shea Ferron was the winner of the Voice of Musical Theatre competition. 

And now it appears he and his girlfriend Hannah Williams have made a bit of Eisteddfod history after she took the same coveted title earlier this week. 

A delighted Shea took to social media to say: "So b***** proud of Hannah! She absolutely smashed it out the water today. Just a few weeks ago she told me that she was pulling of the competition because 'what’s the point,' she said. 

"I insisted she carried on because knew she had it in her to win the competition and she only goes and gets FULL MARKS in the competition. Proud is definitely an understatement. 

"As far as we know, we are the first couple in the Eisteddfod’s history to win the same competition two years consecutively. Making history together and hopefully will continue to as a couple in the creative industries."

* Rose makes her way through the prelims at the Town Hall. 

Also showing the breadth of young talent that exists locally at the Eisteddfod was 15-year-old Rose Burgon.

Singing the song Somewhere in the Under 16 Musical Theatre preliminary round at Llangollen Town Hall, she went on later the same day to take a highly respectable second place in the final on the Pavilion main stage - wearing a dress she made herself. 

Rose will next perform in Around Town during the current Llangollen Fringe Festival and will sing at the Bridge End at 3.30pm tomorrow (Sunday). 

She moved to Llangollen two years ago and enjoys singing a range of music from 60s folk music to opera and musical theatre. 

She is a regular at local open mics and other events in and around North Wales and has recently enjoyed performing as Cinderella in Into the Woods with Llangollen Operatic Society.

Her proud mum Rachel said on social media: "It was an amazing performance. Rose - you sang beautifully and held that enormous stage so well! You should be incredibly proud of yourself! Also, equally blown away that you made your own dress for the occasion (out of a bedsheet). You really are a real life Maria Von Trapp."

* Rose on stage in the final at the Pavilion.

Pavarotti’s widow makes an emotional visit to Llangollen

* Nicoletta Mantovani with the chalk sculpture of Luciano Pavarotti in the background.

The widow of the great Luciano Pavarotti had a fanfare arrival in Llangollen on Friday when she paid her first ever visit to the home of its iconic Eisteddfod.

And Nicoletta Mantovani says that she cried when she heard the world-famous Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir serenade her with a Welsh song so special to her late husband when she left Corwen station aboard a vintage steam train bound for Llangollen. 

After travelling along the heritage railway line, she was greeted on the platform by an Italian choir and watched a Bulgarian dance group go through their stylish paces.

* The Pavarotti sculpture on the hillside below the castle.

She then walked to a vantage point close to the Eisteddfod field from where she had a clear view of a stunning 60 metre chalk sculpture of the Maestro in full voice which adorns a hillside overlooking the town. 

* Nicoletta with the Fron Choir and others who sent her lovingly on her way from Corwen station to Llangollen. 

Nicoletta, who was married to the singing legend until his death in 2007, journeyed from her home in Italy to celebrate three major milestones of the Maestro’s close association with the Eisteddfod.

Pavarotti was just 19 and a trainee teacher when he came to the Llangollen in 1955 with his father, Fernando, as part of Chorus Rossini, from their home city of Modena. He returned as a global star in 1995 to perform a sell-out concert. This year would also have been his 90th birthday.

On Saturday, she will be on the world-famous Pavilion stage to present the Pavarotti Trophy, named in honour of her late husband, to the winners of the Choir of the World Competition alongside festival Chair John Gambles and Artistic Director Dave Danford.

In another coup for the festival, on Sunday evening Nicoletta will hand over the coveted Pendine Trophy to the winner of the International Voice of the Future competition, sharing the presentation with Mario and Gill Kreft, owners of the arts-loving Pendine Park care organisation which is once again sponsoring the award, and another megastar of the opera world, Sir Bryn Terfel.

On Friday Nicoletta made her first visit to Llangollen and its Eisteddfod, setting off on the train from Corwen station.

She was sent on her way to the accompaniment of songs from the award-winning Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir, who appropriately included We’ll Keep a Welcome in the Hillside, which Pavarotti loved.

After a trip through the sun-drenched Dee Valley the train steamed into Llangollen station to be entertained by two international groups competing at the festival – the CRUC choir from Cagliari in Italy and the Folklore Dance Formation from Bulgaria – both in their colourful national costumes.

After a brief walk through the Eisteddfod field – surrounded by photographers and TV crews – Nicoletta walked up the Donkey Hill pathway to a point where she had a commanding view of the Pavarotti sculpture inscribed on the hillside, depicting Pavarotti in his heyday and arranged by his Decca recording company.

Later there was time for Eisteddfod chairman John Gambles to give her a guided tour of the busy festival field where she met a number of volunteers and enjoyed viewing a special exhibition of Pavarotti’s long association with the Eisteddfod prepared by the archive committee.

She also signed the visitors’ book and was shown an original programme from the 1955 Eisteddfod where the Maestro competed with his choir, and which sparked his lifelong love affair with the festival. 

Nicoletta said: “My arrival was incredible. It was exactly the way Luciano told me how the people of Wales are so warm and friendly. And to hear the Fron Choir perform – especially the welcome song that was a favourite of his – I cried.

“Travelling on the train was also very special, seeing the countryside and when we arrived at Llangollen station, I enjoyed the choir and the dancers who greeted us. I knew one of the songs and mimed along to it.

“At the Eisteddfod it was fantastic to meet the volunteers who have a passion for what they do. It is really important and so precious for people from all different countries to come together in the name of culture and music.”

Nicoletta added: “I thought the sculpture on the hillside was really great and it is good that it is there for people to see someone who was so closely connected to the festival.

“I am looking forward very much to making the presentations on Saturday and Sunday at the Eisteddfod, which was a such a great starting point for Luciano’s career.”

Latest what's on calendar for Pengwern

What's on calendar for Pengwern organised by the South Denbighshire Community Partnership includes:

KT Tunstall takes Eisteddfod stage by atorm

* KT Tunstall and the Absolute Orchestra on the Pavilion stage.

Scottish singer songwriter, KT Tunstall, played a one-time-only concert at a packed Llangollen International Eisteddfod on Thursday and her delight was plain to see.

With her first album Eye to the Telescope reaching its 20th anniversary, she played it in full, not only with her band but also the Absolute Orchestra, conducted by Eisteddfod musical director, Dave Danford.

"It has been my long standing dream to see this album played with an orchestra and I lucked out being able to do it here at the Eisteddfod," she told the packed audience.

KT opened as the album does with one of its best known tracks - Other Side of the World - and the evening then followed the track list.

The orchestra blended seamlessly with the singer and her band - who included Razorlight's drummer, Andy Burrows.

It took the album to a new level.

And KT took the audience to a new level when she got them on their feet for the fabulous, Suddenly I see.

Listening to the album with the orchestra was a delight.

Silent Sea was a magical example with the woodwind section bring the sound of the sea to the track.

"What Dave has done with this song is absolutely exquisite," KT said.

Then came Universe and I which starred the brass section.

The singer herself alternated between acoustic and electric guitars and took to a grand piano for one song. Between the music KT told anecdotes many linked with Wales and even the Eisteddfod.

"This isn't the first time I have been to the Eisteddfod, I came down here in the 90s driving a white van to sell merchandise from my friend's shop," she said.

Her parents met at Bangor University. "Dad was president of the climbing club and mum decided to start climbing."

And she spoke affectionately of holidays on the Welsh coast, where she said it was always sunny.

While the evening was one of nostalgia the singer revealed that a new version of the title track will be released later this year.

"It has taken me 20 years to finally finish the song and it will be released in October," she said.

"Three days ago, I received a very special string arrangement from Nashville for the finished song and an incredible flute solo.

"We managed to get a PDF of them - and Dave Danford sorted it out this morning so we could present it to you tonight."

The hugely successful night began with support artist, Edie Bens.

The 23-year-old singer songwriter from Swansea now based in Brighton took to the stage in Welsh plaid and celebrated her home country including singing her song Mwfanwy.

Combing folk and country influences she plays her self-penned songs which stemmed from moments in her life. One told of crashing her boyfriend's car on Christmas Eve, another told of a former boyfriend, which she told the audience, brought an angry complaint from his father.

Edie was thrilled to be at the Eisteddfod.

"I was performing on one of the outdoor stages last year whilst Tom Jones was playing in the pavilion. Now I am standing on the Pavilion stage," she said.

The Eisteddfod evening concerts continue with Il Divo on July 11, Choir of the World with Lucie Jones on July 12 and Bryn Terfel and Fisherman's Friends on July 13.