Double Eisteddfod delight for young entertainer Shea

 

* Eisteddfod executive producer Camilla King, left, presented Shea Ferron and Makenna Malkin with their prizes for being respectively runner-up and winner of the Voice of Musical Theatre.

* Shea Ferron during his performance.

* Winner Makenna Malkin from the USA. 

* Finalist Fflur Davies from Wales.

* Finalist Sophie Kaloustian from the USA.

* Finalist Seth Velez from the USA.

* Labschool Indonesian folk dancers open the show.

* Soul Oasis from Trinidad and Tobago closed the show. 

* Loughgiel Irish folk dancers.

There was double delight for the young local entertainer who sang on the main Eisteddfod stage with Alfie Boe last week.

At the festival’s closing concert last night (Sunday) 20-year-old Shea Ferron from Ruabon won himself a £1,000 prize when he was runner-up for the coveted title of Voice of Musical Theatre after beating off a bevy of stiff international competition.

The contest, the preliminary round of which had been held earlier in the day, is an audience favourite and is aimed at the future stars of contemporary popular music.

After having the once-in-a-lifetime chance of sharing a song with his hero Alfie Boe during last week’s opening Eisteddfod concert, Shea sailed through the prelim with a heady score from adjudicators of 87 marks.

He faced four other finalists – three from the USA and one from Wales – in the big decider on the Pavilion stage last night.

After a nail-biting contest, which adjudicators said was one of the closest they’d seen, an overwhelmed Shea, a Manchester performing arts student who is  already a star of the singing and acting circuit locally and regionally, took a highly creditable second spot to young American performer Makenna Malkin to the delight of his many supporters in the audience.

His winning repertoire was Hard to Speak My Heart from the musical Parade, Who I’d Be from Skrek the Musical and You’ll Be Back from the West End hit Hamilton.

The concert opened with a dazzling display by Indonesian folk dance group Labschool who had landed the Eisteddfod’s dancing championship earlier in the day.

There was also an appearance by the Loughgiel folk dancers from Northern Ireland and Soul Oasis of Trinidad and Tobago closed the show. Compere for the evening was Sian Thomas.

Final day action round-up from the Eisteddfod

 llanblogger has been capturing the action during today's final day of the Eisteddfod.

* Soul Oasis Cultural Ambassadors from Trinidad & Tobago celebrate their victory in the first-ever Eisteddfod dance-off, held in the Pavilion. Judged on the volume of applause and cheers, they were the audience's favourite and beat off competition from around the world.

  * England-based Indian dancers GEJJE were also in the dance-off, along with ...

* ... Karen's Dance Classes from Denbighshire -

* The Loughgiel Folk Dancers from Northern Ireland -

* A Kurdish folk dance group based in England -

* The Mother Touch Group of Schools dancers from Zimbabwe.

 * Hip & Harmony ukelele band perform on the Globe stage during the afternoon.

* Kuohu Choir from Finland performed at the Eisteddfod closing service held in St Collen's Church in the morning.

* Also performing at the service were the Musical Origins Singers from Jersey. 

* ... and the Azusa Pacific University Chamber Singers from the USA.

* Llangollen-based actor Dyfed Thomas gives a reading during the service.

* The service was led by priest-in-charge Fr Lee Taylor.

Chinese tenor Zihua crowned world’s best young singer

 

* Winner Zihua Zhang from China (centre) pictured with Pendine Park's Musician in Residence Nia Davies Williams, finalist Charlotte Kelso from Australia, second place  Owain Rowlands from Wales and Pendine Park artist in residence Sarah Edwards.

A tenor from China who quit playing clarinet to focus on his voice has been crowned the world’s best young singer.

Zihua Zhang, 28, outshone competitors from all around the globe to win this year’s Pendine International Voice of the Future title at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Following a thrilling competition, he was presented with the Pendine Trophy - a solid silver salver - and a £3,000 cheque  jointly by musician in residence Nia Davies Williams and artist in residence Sarah Edwards from the arts-loving care organisation, Pendine Park, who sponsor the competition.

The prize came from the Pendine Arts and Community Trust  which was founded by Pendine Park owners Mario and Gill Kreft, to support cultural and community initiatives across Wales.

The runner’s up prize of £1,000 went to Welsh baritone Owain Rowlands, of Llandeilo in  Carmarthenshire.

Owain was already a familiar face to many in the audience from his frequent performances on Welsh language TV channel S4C.

Australian soprano Charlotte Kelso, from Adelaide, was third.

Unbelievably, Zihua only took up singing in his late teens, having started his music career playing clarinet for 15 years.

He said: “I always played clarinet but then one day I suddenly thought I’d have a go at singing for a bit and I discovered it was a lot of fun. Then I just knew it was what I wanted to do the rest of my life.”

The dynamic talent remained cool headed despite a humid and stormy Saturday night final.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Executive Producer Camilla King said it had been a tough decision as all three finalists are potential stars of the future, but Zihua put in a truly show-stopping performance.

He impressed the judges with his stirring renditions of ‘What a Cold Hand’ from Puccini’s La Boheme, and ‘Ah Rise the Sun’ from the operatic version of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Zihua. originally from Xiamen, a port city on China’s south eastern coast, dreams of becoming a professional opera singer performing at some of the great opera houses around the world

In the meantime, he is about to complete an advanced post graduate diploma at university in Birmingham. He previously gained a master’s degree from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

He said: “I can’t even take it in myself really. My fellow competitors were so talented that I never expected to win. It is such a great honour.

“The Pendine International Voice of the Future prize will be a big help in furthering my musical ambitions.

“It means I won’t have to survive on meal deals anymore! But seriously, it is so good to have that extra financial boost behind me.

“It’s certainly been an honour and a fantastic experience to compete in Wales at Llangollen. The International Eisteddfod is well known and respected in China, and it’s been unforgettable for me just to be here, never mind win.”

Pendine Park musician in residence Nia Davies Williams praised the exceptionally high standard of all three finalists.

She said: “The quality of the singing, and music in general, as always with the eisteddfod, has been amazing. And what was so nice is how the audience reacted with rousing applause for all the competitors. You could tell what a great time they were having listening to the rising stars of the future.”

Sarah Edwards added: “I think we have tonight heard some of the future famous names of the global operatic stage. We are proud that the Pendine Arts and Community Trust has sponsored such an outstanding competition and one which has seen entries come in from singers right across the world.

“It is a shame there can only be one winner but I am sure that in Zihua Zhang we have found a huge new talent. We send him our good wishes in furthering his musical career and achieving his dreams.”

On the judging panel for the evening was Robert Guy, co-founder and conductor of the Wrexham based NEW Sinfonia orchestra which headlined at the eisteddfod earlier in the week..

He said: “Overall it has been a magnificent night with some stunning performances which will stay in our minds for a long time to come.”

Latest county council roadworks alerts

 

Latest roadworks alerts from Denbighshire County Council are:

OUTSIDE NUMBER 12 CHAPEL STREET 11/07/2023 13/07/2023 Gwaith Dwr / Water Works SEVERN TRENT WATER (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

Full Extent TRACK FROM VALLEY ROAD TO TYN CELYN WOOD 08/07/2023 09/07/2023 Digwyddiad ar y Priffordd/ Event on the Highway GRAVITY EVENTS UK LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

O/S BUILDING KNOWN AS BRYN MYNACH ABBEY ROAD 10/07/2023 11/07/2023 Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY (DANIEL) LLANGOLLEN

A539 Ponsonby Arms MILL STREET 10/07/2023 11/07/2023 NMWTRA (Trunk Road Agency) LLANGOLLEN.

Westbound Approx 41m East of entrance to Health Centre Car Park A539 LLANGOLLEN ROAD 14/07/2023 14/07/2023 Gwaith Marcio Ffordd / Road Marking Works DCC TRAFFIC LLANGOLLEN Confoi 10 mya/10 mph Convoy

A539 Abbey Road ABBEY ROAD 19/06/2023 30/09/2023 Ailwynebu/ Resurfacing DCC WORKS UNIT Confoi 10 mya/10 mph Convoy

Eisteddfod competition finals results announced

* Celebrations on the Pavilion stage as the winners of Choir of the World are announced.

Super Saturday results of competitions at the Eisteddfod have just been announced.

Festival officials say the finals saw one of the most closely fought competitions at the Eisteddfod for many years.  

Here are the judges winners:

Choir of the World:

Winners: Kammerchoir Manila – Philippines

Runners Up:

Cantilon Chamber Choir – Canada

Delaware Choral Scholars – USA

Le Voci – England

International Conductor’s Prize: Heather Johnson of Cantilon Chamber Choir – Canada

Lucille Armstrong Dance Champions 2023:

Winners: Labschool Kebayoran Senior Highschool – Indonesia

Runners Up:

Loughgiel Folk Dancers – Northern Ireland

Soul Oasis Cultural Ambassadors – Trinidad & Tobago

Pendine International Voice of the Future:

Winner: Zihua Zhang – China

Runner-Up: Owain Rowlands - Wales

Charlotte Kelso - Australia 

The Eisteddfod says: "A huge congratulations to everyone who has competed and performed over the last week, we've had an absolute ball, and your joy in sharing your music and dance has really captured the town and far beyond.

"It's not over yet - we have one more day. Join us on Sunday, for a final day with all inclusive tickets from only £10, which includes a public operatic masterclass with our head vocal judge, Martin Fitzpatrick and four exceptional singers from 10:00. This is followed by our Voice of Musical Theatre 1st round, the first ever Dance Off, community bands, activities and performances including a talk and book signing with former BBC Breakfast News host, Louise Minchin, AND an all new concert from 18:30 with the finals of Voice of Musical Theatre, and performances from our top dance groups, Mother Touch Zimbabwe, Dance Champion finalists Soul Oasis Trinidad & Tobago and Loughgiel Northern Ireland, and our winners Labschool from Indonesia." 

* Tickets and listings on the Eisteddfod website: https://ow.ly/JKhJ50P708c

* llanblogger pictured Choir of the World winners Kammerchoir of Manila singing at St Collen's Church on Friday lunchtime. They had been due to give a recital there the previous day but had to re-arrange it when their plane from the Philippines was cancelled.

Saturday's Eisteddfod highlights - before the storm broke

This morning and afternoon - before the storm broke - llanblogger was out and about recording the day's Eisteddfod highlights.

* Soul Oasis song and dance group from Trinidad and Tobago light up the Globe stage.

* Monks from the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Tibet dance is Centenary Square this morning.

* Risca Male Voice from South Wales compete in the Equal Voice competition at the Pavilion.

* James Lambert Singers from Rhos perform on the Ampitheatre stage.

* Bostock Singers from Vale Royal in Cheshire on the Globe stage.

* A lunchtime recital by Saint Agnes choir from Cornwall at St Collen's.

* Manchester Community Choir fills the Globe stage this afternoon.

Thunderstorm brings Eisteddfod choir competition unexpectedly large audience

 

* Competitors with umbrellas dash for cover in the Pavilion as rain sweeps the maes.

A choir competition at this afternoon’s Eisteddfod ended up with a much larger audience than it might usually expect.

The reason was a flash thunderstorm over the valley which brought torrential rain to the maes which was packed with hundreds of competitors, entertainers, visitors and volunteers enjoying what had been a warm, sunny afternoon.

That was until around 1.30pm when the threatened storm broke overhead, triggering loud claps of thunder, brilliant flashes of lightning and driving rain.

Immediately, scores of them began dashing for the shelter of the Pavilion, which was hosting the Open Choirs Competition involving a dozen top choral groups from across the world.

* The Southern Spirit Singers keep singing as the storm breaks outside.

A momentary halt was called to the proceedings by compere Iwan Griffiths to allow hordes of soggy refugees from the downpour into the auditorium and be shepherded to seats by stewards.

London-based Southern Spirit Singers had just finished their first number, appropriately entitled O Praise the Lord, as the almost Biblical scene developed outside the “big tent”.

And, rather than compete with the thunder the choir conductor Andy King halted briefly before starting their second song, Morning Star.

When they did finish their performance was rewarded with huge applause and cheers from the unexpectedly enormous audience which had gathered in front of them.

* The Pavilion's auditorium fills up with some unexpected spectators.

By the time they had finished their final number, Canticum Novum, the storm had temporarily eased and people began to file out of the Pavilion.

It was a masterful operation by all involved from the Eisteddfod team and the choir.

Jazz royalty calls in to provide red-hot Eisteddfod concert

For one night only, the International Pavilion stage was transformed into an intimate New Orleans jazz club – minus the smoke – when the Guy Barker Big Band came to call.

The formidable assembly of top-drawer talent headlined the Eisteddfod’s Friday evening concert ably assisted by a star line-up of guest performers who really are modern day jazz royalty.

Initially formed as a septet in 2001 for the Mercury Award-nominated album of legendary trumpeter Barker, the band went on to become residents for Cheltenham Jazz Festival, opening the London Jazz Festival, performing at the BBC Proms, hosting the annual Royal Albert Hall’s Big Band Christmas, and much more besides.

Deploying punchy brass and New Orleans soul, they led us on a journey through the history of jazz song, featuring both classics and surprise new arrangements.

Setting the tone of lots of hot music for a hot night the band opened with old standard I Can’t Stop Loving You with Baker setting the direction on trumpet.

Guest singers Vanessa Haynes and Clare Teal soon jumped aboard to show how things were going to get even better, with former Van Morrison vocalist Haynes’s contribution including a honeyed I’m Going Lock My Heart and Throw Away the Key.

Teal laid on some similar masterpieces in the same vein and also slotted into her role as the evening’s entertaining MC.

Next to stop by was the rare talent of Giacomo Smith, a native New Yorker now based in the UK who has rapidly become recognised as one of the most distinct and versatile performers on the London jazz scene.

If you’ve ever watched Strictly Come Dancing on the TV and marvelled at the versatility of sheer musical ability of the man who provides it you’ll know all about Tommy Blaize but to see him in the flesh in Llangollen was a real thrill.

An early sample of his smooth style came with a laid-back Careless Love.

After Teal came back with a scat-laden version of Let’s Fall in Love the band stepped things up even higher with Barker’s own crazy yet masterful arrangement of  Tom Waits’s Temptation, a marvellous concoction of brassy blaring and guitar twanging fun.

We were back in New Orleans in the sixties as Haynes gave us a soul-fuelled Mean Man, first made popular by Betsy Harris in the day.

We went even further back in the New Orleans jazz annals as Smith led a number called High Society – not the Frank Sinatra one – on his fantastic clarinet to close the first half of the show.

After the break Smith returned to lead the band, assisted by a blaring solo trumpet, as it headed on through a superb version of Rocking in Rhythm.

Teal did an intricately jazzed-up version of Singing in the Rain followed by a highlight of the whole night – Smith providing the haunting clarinet-based pace for the old Midnight in Paris which was totally evocative of the hot jazz club days of the City of Lights.

There was much more from the assembled singing talent, including Blaize with Can’t Stay Away from the Door and Woman from Haynes, by which point came the first signs of dancing from somewhere in front of the audience.  

Things came almost to a head with a driving, sizzling Tiger Rag, with Smith and his clarinet in the driving seat, and finally rounding off with all three singers lending a skilful hand on Jump Jive.

The only thing to do after all that was to head out in search of a glass of bourbon or two.          

llanblogger's Friday Eisteddfod picture round-up

Here's llanblogger's Friday round-up of the day from the Eisteddfod

* Better late then never: the Kammerchor Manila Choir (above and below) at last kept their date to sing at St Collen's. They were due to give a recital there on Thursday but had to cancel after their plane from the Philippines was cancelled.   

* Pianist Evi Wang competes in the Kronospan International Musician of the Future preliminary round at the Pavilion.

* A Kurdish folk dancing group performs in Centenary Square.

* Back on the maes the Saint Agnes choir from Cornwall sings on the Globe stage.

* Penn West Clarion Concert choir performs at Centenary Square.

* Delaware Choral Scholars from the USA during their lunchtime recital at St Collen's Church. See the video on Youtube at: https://youtu.be/C22kSTF3msQ

* The Cazadors playing the Globe stage this evening.

Eisteddfod recreates Dylan Thomas broadcast of 70 years ago

* Actor Celyn Jones reads Dylan Thomas's reflections on the 1953 Llangollen Eisteddfod.

* The audience around the Dome stage. 

* Dylan Thomas makes a broadcast for the BBC.

A famous radio broadcast by legendary Welsh poet Dylan Thomas about Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has been recreated to mark its 70^th anniversary.

The reading this afternoon (Friday) by actor, writer and director Celyn Jones formed the centrepiece of a mini-programme of events to celebrate the literary magician’s 15-minute masterpiece on the BBC’s Home Service about his visit to Llangollen in 1953.

The vivid verbal images conjured from the Dome stage form an enchanting and unforgettable picture of the unique event and were delivered in his deep, resonant voice.

Back in 1953 year the late Queen Elizabeth II also attended the Eisteddfod shortly after her Coronation.

The festival had been established six years earlier under the dark shadow cast by the Second World War as a way of promoting peace through musical harmony and dance.

According to the Eisteddfod’s executive producer Camilla King, they were particularly keen to celebrate the anniversary of Thomas’s memorable broadcast.

She said: “Although sadly Dylan Thomas died in New York a few months after his visit to Llangollen, his priceless legacy will live on because he is rightly regarded as one of the literary greats.

“We felt it was particularly appropriate to remember not only his brilliant broadcast but also the wider canon of his work which turned him into a superstar poet.”

The commemorative activities included a presentation by Prof Chris Adams, vice chair of the Eisteddfod and a member of its Archive Committee, who revealed the poet was paid the princely sum of 20 guineas for his endeavours.

Prof Adams said that Swansea-born Thomas had “generated verbal images of the early Eisteddfod whose power resonates to this day”.

It was all the more remarkable, he said, because locals recall he had spent a lot of his time in Llangollen in the pub, with the Wynnstay Hotel (now The Three Eagles) being a favourite watering hole.

That was borne out by the late Aneirin Talfan Davies, the BBC producer who was despatched to Llangollen to keep an eye on Thomas, who accompanied by his wife, Aeronwy and their daughter, Caitlin.

Talfan Davies, who was himself a talented poet, later told how Thomas had spent the week “wandering aimlessly through the streets of Llangollen, with the odd half hour spent in the eisteddfod tent and many hours in the  bars of the town’s pubs.”

He also described the poet’s way of working which involved “writing notes on cigarette packets, and the panic on the way back to Cardiff when Thomas feared he had lost the material”.

Thankfully, the notes came to light in the nick of time and the finished, finessed piece has been described as a classic example of his genius with words.

Eisteddfod action continues right into Sunday

* The Loughgiel folk dancers from Northern Ireland will perform on Sunday.

Sunday's Eisteddfod programme is packed with events. 

In the Pavilion you can watch the first round of Voice of Musical Theatre from 11.45-2pm as 12 competitors take to the stage in the hope of being crowned the overall winner in our closing concert. 

From 2.15pm there's the first ever Dance Off competition and the audience choose the winners.

Groups from across the globe duke it out to be chosen as the most entertaining and inventive dancers. Audience participation is encouraged.

 

From 6.30pm there's Stars of Tomorrow, presented by Sian Thomas, which sees four top-class vocalists battle it out to be crowned The Voice of Musical Theatre 2023. 

Previous finalists and winners of this prestigious competition have gone on to big things, and were even seen singing alongside Alfie Boe in Tuesday's evening concert. 

For the first time, S4C will be broadcasting highlights from the competition on the same evening.

 

The concert’s second half features some of the Eisteddfod's finest international performers in a series of highlight performances from acts including Mother Touch Dance Zimbabwe, Shebre Ghana, Soul Oasis Trinidad & Tobago, Loughgiel Northern Ireland as well as some to be announced guest stars.

 

On the Eisteddfod Maes there's a wide variety of entertainment taking place from 10:30 onwards including: Lilly Boughey – Chester Male Voice Choir – The Montagues – Vocal Highs – Xplore Science Activities – Circus Skills with Jester Jack – Poet Natasha Borton – Hip & Harmony – Klaus & the If-tones – Sound Bathing Session – Lego Building – Diddi Dance - Our new Community Band Competitions (brass, silver, concert).

Also during the day former BBC Breakfast star Louise Minchin will be doing a talk and book signing.

Eisteddfod Maes / Field Tickets: 

Cost – £12 adult / £10 concessions / £5 children (age 5yrs & over, under 5s go free)

Family tickets – £25 family (2 adults & 3 children age 5yrs & over) / £15 solo family (1 adult & 3 children age 5yrs & over)
Also includes free entry to Stars of Tomorrow closing concert from 6.30-8.30pm.

Eisteddfod's grand parade comes back in fine style

* All pictures by Mandy Jones 

The spectacular pageant of the Parade of Nations has made its long-awaited return to the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

The colourful cavalcade, sponsored by Everbright, included competitors from 19 countries on five different continents who were given a joyous welcome by delighted spectators who lined the streets in the picturesque town where Wales meets the world.

It was the first time parade has been held since 2019 with Covid taking its toll on the event for three years before this its triumphant return.

Nisha Guy, from Trinidad and Tobago, a cultural ambassador with the Soul Oasis group among a party of 40 from the West Indian islands.

She said: “I’ve just been blown away by the music and dance performances – everyone just really giving their all.

“It’s just been great to have some normalcy brought back to our lives after Covid and it’s been so emotional and so lovely as well, backstage and in the audience as well.

“The Parade is something special and I was singing as part of that and in the town square as well.”

Kiki Dari has been bringing groups of competitors from Djakarta, in Indonesia, for over 20 years and this year is with Labschool Kebayoran and she said: “I feel like Llangollen is my second home and I have missed it .

“I even came here two weeks before the festival to make sure everything was fine and it’s so nice to be back and be part of it all, especially the Parade.

“We have some traditional dancers with us and they have performed as part of the parade today.

“I hope to come many more times in future. I enjoy so much bringing Indonesian people here.”

Gurnoor Kaur, a young dancer from the Punjab, in India, was here for the first time in 2019, the last time the Eisteddfod was held as a full event and she said: “There have been lots of changes from last time but it is such an amazing event.

“It’s just such a great experience and so amazing, even the weather, and the people are so caring, respectful and show lots of love. They have really made us feel at home.

“It’s great to get to know about other cultures and other nations. That’s what makes Llangollen so special – I’d love to come again.”

It was a special moment for the Eisteddfod’s mastermind, Executive Producer Camilla King, who took over last year and hadn’t see it make its colourful way down Abbey Road from the International Pavilion to the town and back again in a kaleidoscopic river of colour.

She said: “It’s been fantastic and the Parade has been wonderful. It’s the first time it has been held since 2019 and the first time I’ve seen and experienced it and it has just been spectacular.

“Having no restrictions to worry about is absolutely wonderful and we’ve had lots of competitors from all over the world taking part, from the West Indies to the East Indies with groups from Trinidad and Tobago to Indonesia.

“We were a bit worried after Covid whether people would come back to the Eisteddfod, particularly from overseas but the response has been magnificent and seeing so many happy faces with people having fun is what the Eisteddfod is all about.

“Events like ours need support and so it’s been wonderful to see so many people along the route because Llangollen is unique. We have a wonderful message of peace and friendship.

“You see things here you won’t see anywhere else, meeting people you wouldn’t meet anywhere else and I’m very proud of that and most of the work is done to make all this happen is done by our volunteers who are phenomenal.”

Among those volunteers are Bill Kong and his wife, Solana, who have settled in the town after Bill first visited the Eisteddfod in 2013 and started volunteering two years later even though he had to fly 6,000 miles to do it.

He has now been here three years and is delighted to see the Eisteddfod back and he said: “I love the people here, the hwyl, the friendliness, the music and the countryside.

“The Parade is back now and that was really important because it really seals the whole connection between the festival and the town and that’s really important.

“It’s been going 76 years now and that not something to be taken lightly.”

* For more on Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and its competitions and concerts as well as how to get to it and where to stay go to http://international-eisteddfod.co.uk/ or check out https://www.facebook.com/llangollen