Nile Rodgers and CHIC turn Pavilion into a disco dancefloor

 * Nile Rodgers on stage at the Pavilion. All pictures Desh Kapur Photography/CUFFE & TAYLOR

* Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

* Deco in support.

It was a sensational night of disco classics as Nile Rodgers & CHIC – plus special guests Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Deco – delivered another incredible feel-good evening at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. 

The buzzing Pavilion crowd were treated to hit after hit as Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Nile and CHIC delivered an unforgettable performance. 

Massive hits Le Freak, Good Times, Everybody Dance, Upside Down, Like a Virgin, Let’s Dance, I Want Your Love and Lost In Music – along with many more – transformed the Pavilion into a vibrant disco dancefloor for the night. 

Kitchen disco queen Sophie Ellis-Bextor had already brilliantly warmed up the crowd with a set that included Crying at The Discotheque, Take Me Home, Hypnotized and Murder on The Dancefloor. 

Opening the night were viral pop sensations Deco. 

The headline shows are part of a new partnership between Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor. 

The series continues tonight (Friday July 12) with Jess Glynne and concludes tomorrow Saturday (July 13) with Madness with support from The Hoosiers.

Nature day at Nantclwyd y Dre historic house and gardens

 * A previous nature day at Nantclwyd y Dre. 

Back for 2024, BIONET's Nature Day will once again take place within the picturesque grounds of Nantclwyd y Dre historic house and gardens, Ruthin. 

Conservationists, environmental enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys getting hands on with nature is invited to the free event taking place on Sunday July 21, between 10.30am and 3.30pm, to meet local wildlife organisations and enjoy fun family activities including facepainting, live storytelling sessions, and willow weaving workshops. 

The Nature Partnership of North East Wales, BIONET covers the counties of Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham, working to conserve, protect and enhance the biodiversity of the region for current and future generations. 

"For us, Nature Day is all about showcasing the amazing work that is happening within the region to encourage our biodiversity to flourish and inviting the local community to help us celebrate those projects," said Clare Owen, BIONET Project Officer. 

She added: "It is also a great opportunity for kids to develop their understanding of the local environment with many of the organisations taking part providing fun ways to learn more about the work they do, and the gardens at Nantclwyd y Dre provides a wonderful setting for the day.” 

Joining BIONET will be Chester University, Denbighshire Tree Nursery, Clocaenog Red Squirrel's Trust, Hedgehog Help Prestatyn, Ruthin Friends of the Earth, North Wales Butterfly Conservation, North Wales Wildlife Trust, Wild Ground and more. 

Councillor Emrys Wynne, Denbighshire’s Lead Member for Welsh language, Culture and Heritage, said: “The Bionet Nature Day will be a fantastic event at Nantclwyd Y Dre for all ages to experience how we look after our wildlife across the region and what the public can also do in support. I would encourage all families to come and join the free fun activities on the day.” 

Nature Day is funded by the Welsh Government Local Nature Partnership scheme through the WCVA

* For more details head to BIONET’s Facebook events page and register your interest to receive a reminder as the event approaches https://www.facebook.com/share/mYCNc9cbCYfxKec1/ or email clare.owen@denbighshire.gov.uk

Rotary sponsors new gilets for Eisteddfod’s young welcome hosts

 

* From left, are Rotarian John Clifford, welcome host Joshua Phillips of Ysgol Dinas Bran, who was helping out in the Eisteddfod press office; Mabli Lebbon of Ysgol Glan Clwyd who was with the music office; Beth Murray, Rotary District Governor; Rotarian Nick Gidney; Isobel Thomas of Ysgol Dinas Bran (music office); Harrison Clarke of Ysgol Dinas Bran (press office) and Sebastian Winser of Ysgol Dinas Bran (press office).     

Rotary International once again sponsored the stylish gilets worn by the Eisteddfod’s team of young volunteer welcome hosts.

The organisation, which has been closely associated with the festival over many years, handed over the striking new red gilets bearing the Eisteddfod’s dragon logo, the wheel logo of Rotary International and the word 'Croeso' emblazoned on the back, in time for them to be worn during Core Week.

The hosts, who are all in their teens and drawn from local schools, help out in a variety of departments during the week and their gilets are regularly renewed by Rotary.

Beth Murray, Governor of Rotary’s 1180 District which takes in Llangollen, said: “We’ve been providing the welcome hosts with their gilets for several years.

“It’s great to support such a fantastic international event as the Eisteddfod which has values that are so much in line with those of Rotary International.”

Ian Lebbon, Chairman of the Eisteddfod’s Marketing Committee, said: “I’d like to thank Rotary for once again providing the gilets for the 2024 festival. They make our welcome hosts look so smart.

“The young people do a fantastic job for us and it’s important they wear something that really distinctive and helps them to be easily picked out by our visitors and other volunteers.

“We originally came up with the idea of having welcome hosts at the Eisteddfod after we saw the 2012 London Olympics using them very successfully.”    

Police launch further underwater search for missing man

 * A picture published by police of Anthony, the missing man. 

North Wales Police are still searching for a 62-year-old man missing in the Chirk area since July 3.

In  statement today on the NWP Wrexham Rural Facebook page they say: "We have concerns for the 62-year-old who was reported missing on Wednesday, July 3rd.

"An initial search was carried out by the Underwater Search Team along the Chirk Aqueduct on Monday, July 8th, after Anthony's belongings were discovered near to the canal on Sunday, July 7th.

"A further underwater search is being carried out in the same location today, near to the marina.

"The last confirmed sighting of Anthony was in Chirk on Friday, June 28th at 3pm.

"He is described to be around 5ft10, of a large build, has short grey hair and was last seen wearing the clothes in the image below."

Detective Inspector Dean Jones said: “A team of specialist officers are continuing searches for Anthony today, whilst other lines of enquiry are being followed to help locate him.

“Anyone who thinks they might have seen him since 3pm on Friday, June 28th, is urged to contact us at the earliest opportunity.

“I am also asking residents with CCTV in the Chirk area, near to the canal, to check their footage from June 28th onwards for sightings of Anthony.

“We would be grateful if people could once again avoid Chirk Marina and the footpath leading up to, and through the tunnel leading to Chirk Aqueduct whilst underwater searches are ongoing.

“Thank you to the public for their continued patience and understanding. Anyone with information to contact us via the website, or by calling 101, quoting itrace reference 47761.”

https://www.northwales.police.uk/.../Underwater-search.../

Collen Players back with a sizzling summer show - including grub!

* A previous summer show by the Collen Players.

Llangollen’s famous Collen Players are back on stage in just over a week’s time to brighten up our dreary summer weather with another of their sizzling music hall and variety shows. 

And its producer says you’d better be quick if you want to catch Seaside Serenade at St Collen’s Community Hall on the evening of Friday July 19 as tickets are going fast. 

The Players, headed by their founder Lee Taylor, have been bringing their colourful live shows to the community and town halls for the past few years, to great audience acclaim. 

After a break enforced by the pandemic, they are now back with their new production. 

Lee, who will once again be presiding as music hall chairman, said: “Seaside Serenade will an unforgettable show created especially for a summer which has hasn’t been too summery so far. 

“The charm of vintage British seaside entertainment will come alive with lively performances, catchy tunes and whimsical acts.  

* George Formby impersonator Colin Bourdiec is back.

“Back by popular demand will be our special guest star Colin Bourdiec, who is acknowledged as the UK’s foremost George Formby impersonator. He is also one of the only song and dance men reliving the golden age of variety and Vaudeville. 

“Colin has appeared in a couple of the Collen Players’ previous shows and always gone down a storm with our audiences.” 

Lee added: “Tickets for the show are going fast, so if you want to see Colin and the rest of our talented cast, get booking right away. Tickets are just £15 and include a bountiful buffet supper to tantalise your taste buds! 

“Dress in your best boating jackets and hats for an evening of pure nostalgic delight.”  

* Follow this link for taste of what's on offer with this short promo film for a previous Collen Players show: https://youtu.be/-VmrcV23YAc?feature=shared

📞 To book tickets call: 01978 861768 (leave your name, contact number and number of tickets you require + details of any food allergies).

Llangollen hotel boss spearheads major expansion plan

* Everbright Group Operations Manager Nic Rowland. Picture by Mandy Jones

The boss of a Llangollen hotel who started out washing pots in the kitchen is spearheading a major expansion plan and a £2 million plan to cut carbon.

Group Operations Manager Nic Rowland, 38, revealed the award-winning Everbright Hotel Group - it owns the Wild Pheasant in Llangollen - is aiming to increase the number of properties in their portfolio from seven to 10 in North Wales and the North of England.

Meanwhile, the Everbright Hotel Group was recently hailed as a trailblazer by the Net Zero North Wales Network for investing in green technology at the Llandudno Bay Hotel, where the carbon footprint was cut by 84 per cent and energy bills were slashed from a quoted £300,000 to £100,000.

Over the next few years the eco-friendly approach is going to be replicated across the group’s other hotels, the Wild Pheasant, the Belmont and the Queens in Llandudno, Rossett Hall near Wrexham, the George Hotel in Penrith and Stonecross Manor in Kendal.

It’s all a far cry from when Nic started as a wet-behind-the-ears, 15-year-old schoolboy washing pots at the Grade II listed Rossett Hall Hotel.

Things could have turned out very differently because he originally embarked on a university degree course in IT – but gave that up after three months because he realised he liked the hotel business more.

At the heart of his remarkable rise up the ranks is a formidable work ethic that saw him at one point holding down three jobs while still in school – as well doing shifts at  the hotel, he had two papers rounds and worked in a local shop.

Rocket boosters were put under his career when Rossett Hall was bought in 2015 by the Everbright Group which grew rapidly over subsequent years with the purchase of all the other hotels.

Nic said: “What I liked about working in a hotel was the buzz and the camaraderie with colleagues and you thrive off the positive feedback from customers. I just love it.

“We’ve gone from one site in Rossett to seven individual properties in the space of eight years with more to come. It’s been an amazing journey.

“All but one of the hotels are four star rated which they weren’t originally – the exception being the George Hotel in Penrith where we have aspirations to upgrade to four stars by 2025.”

According to Nic, he’s proud the pioneering green initiatives at the Llandudno Bay Hotel were recognised earlier this year at the international Lux Life Travel and Tourism Awards when the Everbright Group was crowned Sustainable Luxury Hotel Group of the Year.

The award was the latest in a series of accolades for the group which included being  named as the Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Hotel of the Year 2023 at the Go North Wales Tourism Awards and at the same ceremony, Rossett Hall was named as the Best Large Hotel in North Wales.

He said: “We invested around £150,000 in the heating system in Llandudno Bay  which significantly reduced our ongoing costs at just the right time because that’s when the energy crisis happened.

“We were looking at energy bills quoted at £300,000 a year and that wasn’t sustainable for the business. It’s brought the energy bills down to around £100,000 a year.

“That was a game changer and we are now going to roll-out the green energy initiative across all our properties, replicating what we did in Llandudno Bay right across the group.

“We’re looking at similar energy efficient heating systems, solar power, thermodynamic panels and EV charging points.

“It’s going to be a huge investment of around £2 million but it makes total business sense and it’s also great for the planet.

“We’re on an amazing journey because Everbright is an aspirational company and still quite young.

“I am excited about the future and thoroughly driven as there is a good direction of travel with the business and we know where we want to get to.”

A483 traffic to be diverted through Llangollen tonight

The Denbighshire Free Press is reporting this afternoon (Tuesday) that traffic from the A483 will be diverted through Llangollen tonight.

* For the full story, see: A483 traffic being diverted through Llangollen tonight | Denbighshire Free Press

Health Minister told to ‘get a grip’ on dentistry services in North Wales

* Sam Rowlands MS.

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has called for a long term plan to increase the number of dentists. 

Mr Rowlands, Shadow Health Minister, and a harsh critic of the Welsh Government’s failure to deal with the lack of NHS dentists in North Wales, was speaking in the Senedd in a debate on dentistry training. 

He said: “We know that dentist provision is such an important part of the healthcare system and is a major part of the preventative agenda. Dentistry is such an important part of that in reducing much bigger, more expensive issues further down the line. 

“We know this is especially important for children, who can and should then be building healthy teeth-cleaning habits into adulthood and I'm particularly concerned about the issues that we're building up here in Wales for young people and adults down the line. 

“Sadly, for the people I represent here in North Wales the provision simply isn't good enough, and we are left with what some describe as 'dental deserts' across the region. This lack of consistency certainly exacerbates those problems down the line, increasing major issues in the future, and, ultimately, costing taxpayers more as well.  

“I think it's perfectly reasonable for people paying their taxes to expect to have access to an NHS dentist. I don't think that's beyond what people should be expecting to receive as a basic part of their health needs. But, sadly, too many people are being let down with this most basic of expectations. 

“The health committee report on dentistry last year contained a number of useful recommendations, one of which was to look at a dental school in North Wales, in partnership with the university. A fully funded and fully functioning dental school in our area in North Wales would certainly go a long way to giving Wales and North Wales the dental workforce that it needs, for those patients that need that service. 

“It is necessary and fair to recognise that an expansion of training places isn’t without cost, and we have to consider the cost of training, university clinical placement capacity, in addition to having quality academic staff who can design and deliver those courses. But, Cabinet Secretary, I would argue that there must be a strong spend-to-save business case to be made here, and I would urge you to pursue this in the strongest terms possible.” 

He called for the Cabinet Secretary, Eluned Morgan to increase the number of dentists and support staff alongside traditional dentists.

He added: “I would make increasing those numbers a central plank of this Government’s work, and getting a grip on a broad-ranging long-term plan would certainly go a long way to making this happen, so that our constituents can have access to the NHS dentists that they need.”

Katherine Jenkins captivates Pavilion audience

* Katherine Jenkins on stage. Pictures by Desh Kapur for Cuffe and Taylor.

Welsh singing superstar Katherine Jenkins OBE made a sensational return to the Pavilion headlining a classical gala concert to conclude this year’s Core Week of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. 

She captivated the adoring audience with a spectacular night of crowd-pleasing music, including musical theatre classics Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific, Somewhere and Tonight from West Side Story, as well as L’Amore Sei Tu (I Will Always Love You), We Are The Champions and Time To Say Goodbye. 

Katherine opened her set with Return To Wales, declaring her love for her home country: “There’s no greater place than being here in Wales. I’m so thrilled to be back and I hope you’ve all had a wonderful festival. The sun is shining and there’s truly no place I’d rather be on some enchanted evening.”

The mezzo-soprano shared the stage with two previous winners of the flagship competition, 2022's International Voice Of The Future tenor Emyr Lloyd Jones and Choir Of The Year Côr CF1. 

The headline shows are part of a new partnership between Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor. 

The series continues Thursday (July 11) with Nile Rodgers and CHIC.

Police carry out underwater search for missing man

North Wales Police has posted on Facebook this afternoon (Monday) that a search is being carried out in the Chirk area to locate a missing man.

The post says: "Following the discovery of some property near the canal yesterday (Sunday, July 7th), the Underwater Search Team will be present along the Shropshire Union Canal in Chirk, near to the marina.

"Acting Inspector Rhodri Ifans said: 'I am asking people to please avoid Chirk Marina today, and the footpath leading up to, and through the tunnel leading to Chirk Aqueduct to allow the specialist underwater search team to carry out their enquiries.

'I would like to thank the public for their continued patience and understanding and ask anyone with information to contact us via the website, or by calling 101.'”

Kurdish dancers play generation game at the Eisteddfod

* Leader of the Kurdish Folk Dancers Huseyin Cicek. His son Burak is in the line-up just behind him to his right.

A group of competitors were playing the generation game at this year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

The London-based Kurdish Folk Dancers have been coming to the world-famous north Wales festival, which aims to promote peace through music and dance, to showcase their traditional skills and take part in its competitions, since 1990.

Their leader is 65-year Huseyin Cicek who accompanies the group’s 16 male and female dancers on a highly-decorated drum.

In the past he has brought with him to perform his two older sons but this year it was the turn of his youngest son, 21-year-old Burak, to join the line-up as a dancer.

Dad Huseyin, who had the distinction of heading up the group in the Eisteddfod’s famous Parade of Nations which traditionally kicks off the week-long festival, said: “With a couple of years’ exception during the pandemic, we have been coming to the Llangollen Eisteddfod every year since 1990.

“The reason we keep coming back is that, as Kurds, we are not recognised as a national group anywhere else in the country apart from Llangollen and that is a very good feeling.

“We also love to come to the Eisteddfod because of the fantastic location and international atmosphere.”

He added: “I’ve been living in the UK since 1985 and brought my two eldest boys to Llangollen as part of our group.

“This year I am delighted that I’ve been able to bring my youngest son so he can see for himself why we all love the Eisteddfod so much and keep on coming back.”

Burak, who along with the rest of the group all have day jobs and only dance for the sheer fun of it, said: “I’ve really enjoyed myself at Llangollen and it was something special for me to be part of the group at last.

“The people you meet in the town and on the Eisteddfod field are lovely and friendly and it’s amazing to be in a place surrounded by such beautiful countryside.

“I’m definitely hoping to come back again next year because I’ve enjoyed myself so much and it’s been fantastic to keep up the family tradition of performing in Llangollen.”

The Eisteddfod’s Artistic Director Dave Danford said: “We were delighted to have the Kurdish group with us once again this year.

“I think it’s marvellous to see that their long association with our festival has now continued into another generation, with Burak joining his dad Huseyin, who is such a familiar face to us, and the other dancers in one of our competitions and the Parade of Nations.

“The fostering of friendship between so many international groups has always been  a key part of the ethos of the festival since it began in 1947.”  

Pengwern Community Hub's July programme

Pengwern Community Hub has published its programme for July which is:

 

Gifted Singapore soprano takes top Eisteddfod voice prize

* Winner Shimona Rose receives the Pendine Trophy from Mario Kreft. Pictures by Rick Matthews.

* Runner-up Manon Ogwen Parry.

A gifted soprano from Singapore has been crowned the world’s best young opera singer at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Shimona Rose, 29, outshone competitors from all around the globe to win the prestigious Pendine International Voice of the Future title in a thrilling sing-off against talented Welsh soprano Manon Ogwen Parry.

A delighted Shimona was presented with the Pendine Trophy – a solid silver salver – and a £3,000 cheque by Mario Kreft MBE, proprietor of 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 Mario and his wife, Gill, to support cultural and community initiatives across Wales.

Manon, from Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, received a runner’s up prize of £1,000.

Shimona was overwhelmed by her success especially as this was her first ever visit to Llangollen Eisteddfod.

She delivered dazzling performances to make it through initial rounds of the competition which attracted some of the best young singers from all around the globe.

An original 16 entrants in earlier heats were whittled down to six semi-finalists before Shimona and Manon were chosen to sing off in the final.

It is a flagship contest of the Eisteddfod and attracted a packed crowd into the main pavilion, cheering on the contestants in the finale night of competitions.

Shimona said: “It has been an absolute whirlwind.The other competitors were all immensely talented so it is an incredible honour to be awarded this title. More than that, it is a personal affirmation for me that this is absolutely what I am meant to do.”

The competition was judged by Martin Fitzgerald, head of music at the English National Opera, and operatic soprano Sarah Tynan, a voice professor at the Royal College of Music.

Presenting the Pendine International Voice for the Future prize, Mario Kreft said the performances of both finalists were “remarkable”.

He said: “The calibre of singing was outstanding. These are two such promising talents of the future. It is heartening to know that through our involvement in sponsoring this competition we are helping nurture the promising young stars of the future.

“This is exactly why Pendine Arts and Community Trust got involved in the Llangollen Eisteddfod, to champion the new generation of talents in music and the arts, to help them prosper and progress.

“The competition chimes perfectly with our ethos at Pendine Park because the arts in

general and music in particular provide the golden thread running through everything

we do to enrich the lives of our residents and staff alike and can play an incredibly important role in social care more widely.”

Born in Singapore, where her parents still live, Shimona started playing the piano aged five before eventually taking up singing and discovering her love of opera.

She also has experience with choral music and formed her own jazz band in 2014.

She has been living in London for the last six years where she is studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama

Having heard about the Llangollen International Eisteddfod from a friend and housemate, she said: “He told me how brilliant it is and he urged me to enter the Pendine International Voice of the Future contest, so I decided to give it a go.

“When I got here I realised how right he was. The atmosphere is so friendly and the level of talent from all over the world is amazing. Everyone supports each other and that takes a lot of the stress out of competing.

“I’ve been here four days and every minute it’s been wonderful. I am thinking of coming back next year just to enjoy the whole experience as a spectator.”

Shimona is no stranger to competitions. She has already scooped several other top prizes including the Robert Salzer Vocal Championship Award at the Boroondara Eisteddfod in Australia in 2017.

She graduated with a Master of Performance with Distinction at the Royal College of Music where she studied with Amanda Roocroft and became 2018 Opera Scholar of the Year.

She also was the 37th Annual Australian National Liederfest winner.

She has secured roles in operas in Britain, Australia and Singapore and she was asked to perform for the Opening of the Legal Year 2019 Judiciary Dinner at the President’s Palace in Singapore with the President and Chief Justice in attendance.

Runner up Manon said the second prize of £1,000 will also help her as she embarks on an opera study course at the Guildhall from September.

She said: “It will be a big help in furthering my musical ambitions.”

She congratulated Shimona on her win saying: “She is such a wonderful talent, with a warm and friendly personality. It’s been a pleasure to be in the final sing-off with her.”

Performing is in Manon’s blood having been taught to sing by her mother Angela Morris-Parry, an acclaimed music teacher, while her father is actor Erfyl Ogwen Parry.

Eisteddfod stages its big night of winners

                           * Choir of the World winners Côr Glanaethwy.

A talented performing arts group who have competed at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for the past 32 years are celebrating after landing the coveted title of 2024 Choir of the World during the festival’s grand finale Core Week concert on Saturday evening.

Winners Côr Glanaethwy was established by joint owners Rhian and Kevin Douglas in Bangor over 30 years ago.

After their stunning victory, a jubilant Rhian said: “The group has been performing and competing at Llangollen since 1992 and, with different line-ups, has taken part in over 100 competitions over the years.

“We’re excited, thrilled and surprised to have won the title. We think Llangollen is the best place of all to compete and we just love coming here.”

This year’s packed programme of competitions at the Eisteddfod, which has been celebrating peace and international understanding through the medium of music and dance since 1947, reached its thrilling climax at the finale concert which also saw the final of the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition and the crowning of the Dance Champions contest winners.

Since its introduction in 1987 Choir of the World has become established as the pinnacle of the Eisteddfod’s competitive sessions, attracting singers from across the globe to compete for the Pavarotti Trophy.

The trophy was donated to the Eisteddfod in 2005 by the great Pavarotti in memory of his late father Fernando Pavarotti who first sang at Llangollen with his choir from Modena in Italy in 1955. His son, who went on to bestride the world of opera, was also part of that choir.

Along with the prize money of £3,000, taking the glittering trophy back to Ysgol Glanaethwy in Bangor where they have been based since the early 1990s, were the Côr Glanaethwy choir who, kitted out in their striking woodland costumes, sang a hauntingly beautiful selection of four Welsh folk songs taken from the Mabinogion, the ancient book of Celtic mythology.

The outright winners of the Choir of the World title were chosen from the winners of the Eisteddfod’s five chief choral categories of Chamber, Mixed, Female, Male and Open.

Coming through from the Open category, Côr Glanaethwy fought off formidable competition from Cantamus Camerata from Oklahoma State University in the USA (Chamber), Tegalaw from Bala in Gwynedd, north Wales (Female). Meantime Chorus from London (Male) and GC Ensemble from the Phillippines (Mixed).  

Also during Saturday’s concert the Most Outstanding Conductor, chosen from choirs in the final, was awarded the Jane Davies Conductor’s Prize, a trophy donated in memory of Jayne Davies the former Vice President of the Eisteddfod, who won three international trophies with her own Hafren Ladies’ Choir in the 1970s. It was presented by her daughter, Dr Rhian Davies to the conductor of Cantamus Camerata, Dr Christopher Haygood.

On the night, young opera singers also competed in the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition, which has become a stepping stone to a professional career for numerous winners in the past.

The solid silver salver plus a cheque for £3,000 was donated by its sponsor Mario Kreft, proprietor of the evening’s arts-loving sponsor, the Pendine Park care organisation, through the Pendine Arts and Community Trust (PACT), founded by Mario and his wife Gill. Runner-up, who received £1,000, was soprano Manon Ogwen Parry from Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan.  

Winner this year was superb soprano Shimona Rose from Singapore who has a dual career as an opera singer and music therapist.

The finale concert also saw the crowning the 2024 Dance Champions, with the winners of the festival’s various folk dancing categories, providing a dazzling spectacle on the Pavilion stage.

The Soul Oasis Cultural Ambassadors from Trinidad and Tobago captured the top prize with a dazzling routine, including a limbo sequence, to take the Lucille Armstrong Trophy and a cheque for £1,000 supported by the Society for International Folk Dancing in memory of Lucille Armstrong. Making the presentation to them was the Eisteddfod’s Deputy Chair John Gambles.

The concert opened with a performance from The Kaleidoscope Project  - formally known as the Inclusion Project - which showcases the many under-represented and non-competitive groups whose talented members contribute a great deal to their communities, as well as to the world of the performing arts.

The Eisteddfod’s Artistic Director Dave Danford said: “The concert, which came as the perfect conclusion to a highly successful Core Week for our festival, showcased and rewarded the stunning range of talent, across a number of disciplines, which we have been privileged to host during the 2024 Eisteddfod.

“We send our heartiest congratulations to everyone - not just these very worthy winners - who has travelled, some great distances - to take part in our competitions and wish them the very best in the future. We also hope to welcome them back to Llangollen in the very near future.”     

* Soul Oasis Cultural Ambassadors were crowned Dance Champions.

* Pendine International Voice of the Future winners, from left, sponsor Mario Kreft, winner Shimona Rose, runner-up Manon Ogwen Parry and finale concert presenter Sian Thomas.

Gregory Porter brings some red-hot jazz to Pavilion stage

* Gregory Porter on the Pavilion stage.

It was another incredible night at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod as two-time GRAMMY Award winner Gregory Porter triumphantly returned to the Pavilion stage, supported by celebrated UK singer-songwriter JP Cooper. 

Jazz great Gregory delighted his adoring fans with a spellbinding set that included a clutch of his most treasured hits including Hey Laura and On My Way to Harlem which was accompanied by a red-hot sax routine.

The honey-voiced US jazzman slowed things down with Love is Overrated and took flight with a number called Concorde.

There was a deeply soulful Water Under Bridges and some full-throated jazz from the magnificent seven-piece band on Musical Genocide before he rounded things off with a mellow There Will Be No Love That's Dying Here and departed the stage with a standing ovation.

Speaking about his return to the Llangollen Pavilion, he told the audience: “Thank you so much for joining us this evening I’m so honoured to be on this stage again. 

"The first thing I remember about being here the last time is you lot, and the next thing I remember is these gorgeous flowers. It’s so wonderful to be back here in Llangollen. I worked all day on that (pronunciation).”

Manchester-born JP Cooper brilliantly opened the show with hits including the beautiful September Song, Perfect Strangers and Passport. 

The headline shows are part of a new partnership between Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

The series continues tomorrow (Sunday July 7) with Katherine Jenkins closing the iconic Core Week of the Eisteddfod with a classical gala concert.

* JP Cooper opened the show.

Eisteddfod audience thrills to Direct From The West End concert

* Kerry Ellis and John Owen-Jones duet.

* Kerry Ellis and John Owen-Jones with the International Chorus choir.

* Shea Ferron, left, receives the Voice of Musical Theatre prize from Eisteddfod Artistic Director Dave Danford.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod transported the very best from the London stage to the heart of north Wales with its Direct From The West End concert last night (Thursday).

Musical theatre greats Kerry Ellis and John Owen-Jones, both with a string of major hits to their credit, backed by a tremendous young choir and a fabulous orchestra, brought their formidable vocal talents to bear on a packed programme of big-show favourites, from Les Miserables to Funny Girl and from Cats to Cabaret.

Singing solo they were with sizzling, as in his This is the Moment from Jeckyll and Hyde and Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific and she in the title song from Cabaret and Wicked’s Defying Gravity. 

As a duet they were simply dazzling, as in their joint opening number Beauty and the Beast from the show of the name and, later, The Last Night of the World from Miss Saigon, which had the large Pavilion audience on the edge of their seats.

The duo also had some great fun with a couple of their best-loved pieces. Kerry clearly relishes every moment of belting out the title song from Anything Goes as does John with his deeply poignant presentation of Bring Him Home from Les Miserables, a show with he is rather familiar with after playing the lead role of Jean Valjean twice on Broadway.

When they were not holding the audience spellbound, onto the stage came a choir comprising talented young singers from the Hammond School and the Seattle Girls Prima Voce, which had been brought together specially for the 2024 Eisteddfod under the banner of the International Chorus. Making an initial impact with the breezy You Can’t Stop the Beat from Hairspray, they followed up with plenty more stylish numbers.  

The choir joined the two stars and, backed by the powerful Llangollen International Orchestra, they provided a memorably moving finale piece in You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel, which brought a fitting standing ovation.

Musical Director for the evening was the accomplished Iestyn Griffiths.

Earlier in the evening 21-year-old Llangollen singer Shea Ferron was announced as the winner of the Eisteddfod’s coveted Voice of Musical Theatre award.

Eisteddfod Artistic Director Dave Danford presented him with a trophy and £2,000 prize money supported by Mrs Joan P Astley in memory of Bill and Evelyn Appleby, supporters of the festival for many years.