70th anniversary Eisteddfod gets underway

As the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary this week llanblogger takes a look at some of the highlights of the festival.

Monday 3rd July

A male voice choir that performed at the first ever International Eisteddfod in 1947 is set to sing alongside two of Wales’ most prolific male voice choirs at the event’s landmark 70th Anniversary opening concert.

The Colne Valley Male Voice Choir will join Froncysyllte (Fron) and Rhosllanerchrugog (Rhos) male voice choirs, to perform with the formidable Canoldir Male Voice Choir, the world class Cory Brass Band, acclaimed conductor Owain Arwel Hughes CBE, euphonium soloist, David Childs and International Voice of the Future 2015 winner, Meinir Wyn Roberts, in a rousing opening concert.

The Fron Male Voice Choir, like the Eisteddfod, celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. Formed in 1947, inspired by the inaugural International Eisteddfod, its history perfectly reflects that of the festival with many of its members coming together after returning from war. Remarkably, two of its original members still sing with the Fron today.

The evening concert will also feature the announcement of the winner of the 2017 winner of the Rotary International Peace Award.

The nominees include Oswestry-based British Ironworks’Save a Life, Surrender Your Knife weapons amnesty project, the Welsh Refugee Council, for its work promoting tolerance and respect towards refugees, as well as empowering refugees and asylum seekers to build new lives in Wales; The Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace and Médecins Sans Frontières for its policy of témoignage – speaking out to alleviate suffering and protect human life.

This year’s adjudicators will be TV presenter and British Red Cross ambassador, Konnie Huq, Richard Hazlehurst of the Bradford Peace Centre and humanitarian and President of the International Eisteddfod, Terry Waite.

Tuesday 4th July

The Eisteddfod formally opens on Tuesday with International Children’s Day hosted by CBBC presenter Storm Huntley, exclusively for schools. The 70th birthday event will include performances from Only Boys Aloud (Gogledd), Tubalate and the delivery of the poignant Peace Message, delivered by Ysgol y Gwernant, who have been practising hard for the event.

Tuesday evening will see a world-class performance of Puccini’s Tosca with global headliners Sir Bryn Terfel, Kristine Opolais and Kristian Benedikt sharing the stage for the very first time. The Tosca trio will be accompanied by the acclaimed Welsh National Opera Orchestra and will also be joined by locally- recruited Joseph Elwy Jones, 11, who was selected to play the role of Shepherd Boy after open auditions in April.

Sponsor of the Tuesday concert Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft MBE said: “It’s promising to be a truly unforgettable evening of world class opera, right on our doorstep starring our very own Sir Bryn Terfel – it’s going to be a very special night and one not to be missed.”

Wednesday 5th July

Wednesday marks the first day of the Eisteddfod’s competitions as well as the dynamic Cultural Showcase competition. The award winning Inclusion Project will also take place during the day.

Celebrating its ninth year, the Inclusion Project, which promotes unity, diversity and accessibility for all, will return to the festival’s main stage with a specially commissioned piece called Making Waves.

Performed by The KIM Choir from Holywell, SCOPE Flamenco Group from Chester, WISP Dance Club from Mold and Amigos y Gymuned from Wrexham, Making Waves focuses on the free flowing emotion of the sea and how it can connect people of diverse backgrounds from shore to shore and was written by poet Aled Lewis Evans with the input of members from all four groups.

The evening will see Grammy award-winning composer Christopher Tin join the Welsh National Opera Orchestra and Soprano Elin Manahan Thomas for an international choral and orchestral spectacular presented by Classic FM’s Andrew Collins. The Calling all Nations concert comes in two halves. The first features a broad spectrum of classical music depicting themes of renewal and togetherness. The second half will be a special performance of Christopher Tin’s Calling all Dawns, a songcycle featuring the iconic Baba Yetu – the theme tune to the globally renowned video game Civilisation IV.

Christopher will be joined by both international performers and the locally recruited Celebration Chorus for the evening concert. The 100 singers have learned eight songs in eight different languages to perform as part of Tin’s 12-piece songcycle – no mean feat in just 11 rehearsals!

Thursday 6th July

Thursday will see the launch of the brand new International Acapella Group Competition and also the announcement of the Children’s Choir of the World Award.

Thursday evening will be the International Celebration, sponsored by Westminsterstone, featuring the International Procession of Nations. The Principality Only Boys Aloud Academi will be special guests, performing music ranging from the 17th Century to current music theatre, with conductor Tim Rhys Evans. 

Ysgol y Gwernant will also return to deliver the Peace Message on the main Pavilion stage with Only Boys Aloud: Cor y Gogledd.

The concert will also showcase the talents of the finalists in the International Voice of the Future competition, which is supported by Pendine Park and the Bryn Terfel Foundation.

Friday 7th July

Friday will see the International Parade of Nations, led by Terry Waite CBE, pass through the town of Llangollen, while in the evening audiences will be treated to An Evening with Gregory Porter, when the acclaimed Grammy-award winning singer, songwriter and actor takes to the pavilion stage.

For his North Wales debut he will be joined by his talented band of musicians and will perform tracks from his newest album Take Me To The Alley as well as older works. With expressive self penned songs full of metaphor and meaning and clever jazzy arrangements, the evening is expected to be a magical night of soulful soothing sounds.

Saturday 8th July

Saturday will see the choral competitions heat up as choirs from across the globe compete on the famous Eisteddfod stage. The world’s best mixed, female, male and open category choirs will fight it out to be crowned 2017’s Choir of the World.

Saturday’s evening concert, which is sponsored by GHP Legal, will feature a special performance of soul and doo-wop 50’s and 60’s hits from The Overtones, Britain’s number one vocal harmony group, before the winners of the adult choir categories compete for the title of Choir of the World 2017 and the prestigious Pavarotti Trophy. 

During the evening the winners of the Dance Champions of the World will be awarded the Lucille Armstrong Award.

Mr Richard Lloyd, Senior Partner at GHP Legal, said: “The Llangollen Eisteddfod’s Choir of the World competition is truly iconic and for many of its visitors and international performers it is the highlight of the week.
 
“Combined with a performance from the Overtones this is set to be an exciting climax to the week’s competitions.   We are proud of GHP Legal’s long association with the Eisteddfod and it is an honour to once again be sponsoring this evening
concert during the festival 70th anniversary celebrations.   We cannot wait to see who is crowned Choir of the World 2017.”
Sunday 9th July

Sunday 9th July - Llanfest 2017

Sunday will be the Llangollen Eisteddfod’s closing party, headlined by one of the biggest rock bands of our generation - Manic Street Preachers.

Supported by along indie rock band Reverend and The Makers, and BBC Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens. They’ll roll out a collection of their most legendary anthems in one of the biggest gigs of the year in North Wales.

The day will start at 2pm when the Eisteddfod’s vibrant outside stages host a feast of contemporary music from a diverse range of rock, pop and indie bands, and talented vocalists, including The Roving Crows, Buddy Holly & The Black Jacks and Army of Skanks.

BBC Radio One DJ, Huw Stephens, said: “I'm very much looking forward to being at Llanfest on Sunday night. I've enjoyed the festival on S4C before now but never been, and I think the Sunday with up and coming artists is a great idea. New artists need a platform to play their music to audiences, and to do that at a renowned festival is a great thing. 

“I'm also looking forward to seeing Reverend and the Makers, real stalwarts of the live circuit, and the legendary Manic Street Preachers in the evening. They are such a brilliant live band, poetic, masterful and utterly captivating on stage. It's going to be a great night!”

Eilir Owen Griffiths, music director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, said: "After months of preparation the week of our 70th anniversary concert is finally here. International competitors are flying in from all corners of the globe and we are preparing to welcome some of the world's biggest stars to the Royal International Pavilion Stage - it's an exciting time to be in Llangollen!

"The Llangollen Eisteddfod has always been about bringing people from diverse cultures and backgrounds, with different musical interests and completely different lifestyles together in the spirit of friendship and peace. With over 2,000 competitors expected from 29 countries and acts spanning the genres of Jazz, Soul, Opera, Classical, Rock, Acoustic, Orchestral and much, much more, we feel we have certainly achieved this.

"On a personal note, with this being my final Eisteddfod, I am looking forward to watching this 70th anniversary International Eisteddfod unfold and absorbing every act I see. From the fantastic acts performing in the Inclusion Project on Wednesday and music from our special guests The Principality Only Boys Aloud Academi on Thursday, to Gregory Porter on Friday, The Overtones on Saturday and Llanfest 2017 headlined by the Manics on Sunday, it's going to be a real spectacle. 

"We're looking forward to welcoming all of our acts, competitors and visitors for what promises to be an exciting and uplifting week."

Dr Rhys Davies, Chairman of the International Eisteddfod, said: "I am incredibly proud of the whole team, from the in house staff to our army of dedicated volunteers who support the Llangollen Eisteddfod each year, for putting together such an incredible 70th Anniversary festival. Without them none of this would be possible.

"When I became Chairman I promised a festival that reaches across the border to appeal to a wider national and international audience and this year's evening concerts certainly have achieved that. With stars like Gregory Porter, Kristine Opolais, The Overtones, Christopher Tin, Manic Street Preachers and Reverend & The Makers joining us, we have cemented ourselves as a truly international festival.

"As our 70th anniversary festival begins it's also important to highlight the relevance of the message at the heart of the Llangollen Eisteddfod - bringing people together to sing and dance in peace and international friendship. It has been a difficult year internationally, with a number of terrible incidents such as the Manchester Arena attack and the terrorist incident in Stockholm. Never before - perhaps since the Llangollen Eisteddfod's inception after WWII - has our message of peace and unity been more relevant or important.

"This year's International Eisteddfod is set to be a vibrant, energetic and exciting event from the moment the doors open on Monday for our 70th Anniversary Opening Concert. I hope that all of our guests and performers, local, national or international, enjoy the week, make new friends and experience wonderful music and dance - presented in the way that only Llangollen can!”

* For more information or to purchase tickets for the 70th anniversary Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, including the first ever performance of Making Waves, please visit: www.Llangollen.net

Love blossoms at Llangollen Motorcycle Festival

Shrewsbury couple Jim and Amanda Ankers will be special guests at the Llangollen Motorcycle Festival on August 5 and 6 to celebrate their marriage after Jim’s surprise proposal in the middle of LlanBikeFest in 2015.

Amanda explained: “I was in front of the festival stage when I turned around to find Jim on one knee with a ring. We had talked briefly about getting married before, but this was a complete surprise!”

* Jim and Amanda Ankers on their wedding day.

Amanda accepted immediately and the couple were married on Llangollen Railway Station in June last year, with the reception being held on the train to Corwen.

Amanda added: “We missed LlanBikeFest last year because we were on honeymoon in Portugal so we can’t wait to be back this year and relive happy memories.”

It was motorcycles which brought the couple together in the first place.

HGV driver Jim, 57, who rides a Suzuki GSX1400, responded to a post on Facebook from cleaner Amanda, 48, which said she had bought a new helmet but had nobody to ride with.

They started chatting, went on a blind date and hit it off really well, Amanda said.

* Follow LlanBikeFest on Facebook at Llangollen Motorcycle Festival and Twitter at @llanbikefest.

LlanBikeFest is sponsored by Carole Nash Insurance, with day tickets £10 on the gate or online at www.llanbikefest.co.uk, and children 15 and under free. Or contact the festival office at 07960 693398, office@llanbikefest.co.uk. Club stands and exhibitor bookings are free.

'Voice of an angel' singer to compete at Eisteddfod

* Sheena Miranda.

A care practitioner with a "voice of an angel" who wowed opera star Sir Bryn Terfel will take centre stage at a global event.

Sheena Miranda, 29, who works for the Pendine Park care organisation in Wrexham, will be competing in the open folk category at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Back in 2003 she won in the weekly finals and landed 50,000 Peso prize – around £850 – in a televised show called Search for a Star in her native Philippines.

According to Sheena, she turned down the offer of a recording contract to study marketing at University Of St La Salle in Bacolod city.

She now works at Bodlondeb, Pendine Park's centre of excellence for dementia care where the arts play a central role in the enrichment programme to improve the quality of life for residents and staff alike.

Sheena earned rapturous applause when sang for Sir Bryn and his partner, the former royal harpist, Hannah Stone, when they visited Pendine Park.

Coincidentally, Sir Bryn will also be starring at the Llangollen Eisteddfod in a production of Puccini's classic opera, Tosca, which is being sponsored by arts loving Pendine Park.

On the Thursday of Eisteddfod week Pendine Park and Sir Bryn will be teaming up again as sponsors of the Voice of the Future Competition to find the world's best young singers when the finalists will be competing for the Pendine Trophy and a cheque for £6,000.

Sheena was "thrilled and very excited" she found out she had been accepted to compete at the festival which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.

She said: “I was amazed when I received the notification that I had been accepted. I’m still deciding what to sing in the competition itself but I sang a modern country folk song, ‘Wake Me Up’ which I performed acapella.

“I applied on line and really didn’t think I’d be accepted but I’m absolutely delighted and so excited to have the chance to perform at such an amazing event.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for me and I hope to get through the preliminary round so I can perform in the final.”

“To sing on the main stage would be amazing. Sir Bryn Terfel visited Pendine Park and I sang for him, he was fantastic and to think I might get to sing on the same stage he performs on would be a dream come true.”

Sheena added: “I enjoy working at Bodlondeb and singing for residents when I can. I enjoy my care work at Bodlondeb and we have a great team. Singing gives me a lot of pleasure.”
According to Bodlondeb manager Ann Chapman, Sheena really does have the "voice of an angel."

She said: “She sings beautifully and residents really enjoy listening to her. She won our Bodlondeb's Got Talent competition and I know how much she enjoyed performing in the Chirk pantomime.

“To have successfully auditioned for the International Music Eisteddfod is just amazing. I know she will do really well and I hope she wins the Open Folk title.

“Sheena is very popular with Bodlondeb residents, relatives and her work colleagues. She is a very important member of our hard-working team.

”The golden thread running through everything we do is our award-winning enrichment programme which put the arts right at the centre of how we improve the quality of life for our residents and also the staff looking after them."

Sheena warmed up for the Eisteddfod with an appearance at the Women’s Festival of Music and Art which was held in Llangollen last weekend.

The aim of the event at Llangollen Town Hall was to provide an opportunity for women to showcase their talents as well as raising money for good causes, including Stop the Traffik, which aims to put an end to human trafficking.

Sheena said: “I was asked to perform at the Women’s Festival of Music and Art after I appeared as Rapunzel in an amateur pantomime at Chirk in February.

“I just enjoy performing and singing so I agreed straight away.

“I wanted to do a little bit to help raise funds that will help in the fight against it. No human being deserves to be abused or trafficked.

“The event was also supporting the Halo Project which aims to stop forced marriages honour killing or abuse and in aid of Llangollen Silver Hut Band.

"I felt empowered as a woman because I realise that I wasn't only singing for myself or entertaining people but am contributing to the charity and to the society.  I would like to thank everyone in production who made this happen for me."

Ysgol Dinas Bran lands top business award

* Dinas Bran winners: The Odyssey Soaps team of Joe Richardson, Llio Roberts,

Bethan Rowley and Joe Bel.

Team members Grace Broadbent and Barra Liddy were unable

to attend the final as they had an exam on the day.

Pupils from Llangollen’s Ysgol Dinâs Bran won an award at the Young Enterprise Wales final in Cardiff on June 15.

The students entered the competition after a series of business courses run by the Young Enterprise charity, with funding provided by Denbighshire County Council for sessions at five schools in the county.

Ysgol Dinâs Bran’s team Odyssey Soaps, made up of six pupils aged 16 and 17, won the best interview at a trade stand award showcasing their hand-made vegan soap.

The courses help students set up their own companies and run them for an academic year, under the guidance of business mentors.

They were funded by Denbighshire through its Economic and Community Ambition Programme which aims to support local businesses and ensure the county has a skilled workforce equipped to benefit from jobs and opportunities that arise.

Ysgol Dinâs Bran teacher Rachel Allen, said: “I am immensely proud of the whole team. Running a business is hard work at the best of times, but the students have fitted it in between revising for and sitting exams, too.

“The team was commended on their professionalism and business knowledge, as well as on their creativity and infectious enthusiasm.”

Selwyn Griffith, North Wales’ Young Enterprise manager, said: “I want to congratulate Ysgol Dinâs Bran and Pengwern College for their success at the Wales final. The sessions provide a great platform for students to develop skills such as teamwork, resilience and to interact with their local business community.

“I would like to thank Denbighshire County Council for providing the funding to deliver these courses in the county.”

Classic road vehicles to gather this weekend

* Classic vehicles will line up on the show ground at Glyndyfrwdy.

The annual gathering of classic road vehicles will be held at Glyndyfrdwy station on Saturday and Sunday.

Thirty preserved buses have been invited to the show, with an open topper providing the ever popular seaside style of transport.

Examples of the former Crosville company's buses, as introduced for the rail replacement service when the Ruabon to Barmouth line closed in 1965, will recall the road scene on the A5 50 years ago.

Private owners of over 150 vintage cars have been invited to show off their pride joys and sixty motorcycles are expected as the British Motorcycle Preservation Society has chosen the venue to celebrate their 40th anniversary.

With a selection of classic lorries and fire engines joining the line up, there will be something for everyone to be nostalgic about.

An intensive timetable of steam, diesel and heritage railcars will provide a near half-hourly train service between Llangollen and Corwen and offers the traditional journey option to access to the half-way station at Glyndyfrdwy. 

A classic bus service will running between Glyndyfrdwy and Corwen (10am to 5pm), along with a vintage vehicle display at Glyndyfrdwy.

How loss of cash machines can hit communities

In the wake of local bank closures, Llangollen people may be interested in a story on the BBC website which highlights claims that as a result of being left without ATM cash dispensers communities in Wales could die.

* For the full story, see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-40315134

Knighthood was one of Sir Bryn's proudest moments

* Sir Bryn Terfel on song.

Sir Bryn Terfel has described how being knighted by the Queen was one of the proudest days of his life - along with the birth of his first daughter.

The globally renowned bass baritone was speaking ahead of his appearance at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod where he'll be starring in a special production of the classic opera Tosca on Tuesday, July 4.

He revealed he even persuaded Buckingham Palace to give him an extra ticket so that his three sons and his fiancee Hannah Stone could all attend the ceremony.

According to Sir Bryn, returning to one of his favourite venues to perform one of his favourite roles, the unscrupulous police chief Baron Scarpia in Tosca, was the "icing on the cake in what has been an amazing year".

He said: “It’s been such a roller coaster since I turned 50, so much has happened and it’s been wonderful, I’m a very lucky man.

“Going to Buckingham palace to be knighted by Her Majesty the Queen was just wonderful.

To be in the company of so many tremendous public servants, sports stars and entertainers who were also being honoured that day, was humbling and just such a proud, proud day.

“It was one of the proudest days of my life if I’m honest. It’s something that’s not supposed to happen to a lad from Pant Glas, Caernarfonshire.

“I received a letter from the Palace and three guest invitations. I called the palace and asked if it was at all possible I could have four invitations so I could take my three sons and Hannah and thankfully they agreed without hesitation. It was such a fabulous day.

“Then of course Hannah gave birth to Lili in May which was so special. And to bring her to Vienna where I’m currently performing is magical. I just love having Hannah and Lili with me.”

Sir Bryn says he can't wait to perform with two other world-class opera stars, soprano Kristine Opolais and tenor Kristian Benedikt in the operatic tale of love, lust and intrigue.

The concert is being sponsored by the arts-loving care organisation, Pendine Park, whose owners, Mario and Gill Kreft, are close friends.

Later in the week on Thursday, July 6, Sir Bryn and Pendine Park will be joining forces again as sponsors of the Voice of the Future Competition to find the world's best young singers when the finalists will be competing for the Pendine Trophy and a cheque for £6,000.

Sir Bryn said: “I always enjoy the Llangollen International Music Festival. It’s always a favourite festival and I’m always delighted to be asked to perform on that wonderful Llangollen stage.

“Tosca, as many other Eisteddfod past concerts, is sponsored by Pendine Park and Mario and Gill have become close friends over the years, they are incredible human beings and deserve huge credit for the work they do supporting the arts.

“I’ve visited their care homes both at Wrexham and Caernarfon and they are wonderful places where music and the arts are used to help and support residents. I know there will be dementia workshops taking place on the field at Llangollen which is fantastic.”

He added: "I want the Llangollen audience to also appreciate the young Welsh singers in the cast, baritone Steffan Lloyd Owen, who plays the jailer, and tenor, Elgan Llŷr Thomas, who plays Spoletta.

"I know the role of the Shepherd Boy is going to be played by 11-year-old, Joseph Elwy Jones. I’m really looking forward to hearing him sing.

“He sounds an incredible young man having overcome some ill health in the past and I’m delighted we can still unearth such amazing talent in North Wales.

“Having the opportunity to hear these young Welsh singers developing their careers on the Llangollen stage is something not to be missed and I always enjoy working alongside the conductor, Gareth Jones and the Welsh National Opera Orchestra. It’s going to be an amazing evening.

“The Llangollen International Musical Festival audience has a wonderful treat in store. I’m certainly really looking forward to what will be a wonderful evening.”

Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft MBE said: “Sir Bryn Terfel is the best of the best and to have him appear at Llangollen once again is the perfect way for to celebrate the 70th anniversary of this amazing festival where Wales meets the world.

"We're also delighted to be teaming up with the Sir Bryn Terfel Foundation to support the International Voice of the Future because we are passionate about nurturing young talent.

"The arts in general and music in particular are the golden threads running through everything we do at Pendine Park because of how they help enrich the lives of not only our residents but our staff too.

"We are deeply rooted in the communities which we serve and the ethos of the Eisteddfod chimes perfectly with what we are doing in promoting the arts and culture as way of enriching lives across the generations."

The festival's music director, Eilir Owen Griffiths, is thrilled Sir Bryn Terfel is once again gracing the festival’s stage.

He said: “This is my final Eisteddfod as music director as I’m standing down after six years in the role and to have a concert performance of Tosca starring Sir Bryn and soprano Kristine Opolais is going to be the highlight of what will be an emotional week for me.

“The cast that has been put together for this concert performance is spectacular and this is going to be an evening of music and performance not to be missed.

“It will be a concert that in years to come people will be proud to boast they were there to witness, that’s how good I think this concert performance will be. It’s certainly an evening I’d recommend to anyone who loves good music and amazing voices.”

* For tickets, please visit www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk