Award throws spotlight on new operatic star

* Terry Waite hands the Pendine trophy to Erin Rossington.

A ‘uniquely talented’ young soprano won one of the main prizes at an international festival – just 24  hours after tending the sheep on the family farm.

Erin Rossington, 23, from Llanfairtalhaiarn near Abergele, was crowned as the Pendine International Voice of the Future at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

She was presented with the Pendine Trophy, a solid silver salver, and a cheque for £5,000 by Eisteddfod president Terry Waite on behalf of Mario Kreft, proprietor of the arts loving sponsor, the Pendine Park care organisation.

In what judges acknowledge was a very close competition Erin clinched the title just ahead of Pembrokeshire soprano Jessica Cale, 27, who received the runner-up prize of £2,000.

The international competition began with a preliminary competition, with the two finalists making it onto the main Llangollen pavilion stage for the culmination of the contest.

Mr Kreft and his wife, Gill, pledged to contribute £5,000 to the International Voice of the Future competition through their Pendine Arts and Community Trust (PACT) which supports cultural and community initiatives, with the balance coming from

the Sir Bryn Terfel Foundation and the Eisteddfod.

An overwhelmed and thrilled Erin said she would be using the prize money to further her dream as a career as a professional opera singer.

She said: “It was a wonderful feeling to win such a prestigious competition and I can’t believe that I’ve come this far.”

Erin, who was helping out on her family’s sheep farm just the day before the competition preliminaries, has been a passionate singer since she was very small and has competed at eisteddfods right across Wales and even abroad.

In 2013 she was part of a group from the Urdd Eisteddfod which journeyed to the Welsh settlement in Argentina’s Patagonia region to compete in its own eisteddfod, proudly taking second place.

Four years ago she played innkeeper’s wife Madame Thenardier in an Urdd production of Les Miserables in Cardiff.

Erin has been studying at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and has just graduated with a Masters of Music Degree at the Guild hall in London

She grew up with her three sisters helping to run their parents’ sheep farm and says she was helping to tend the flock just before coming to compete in Llangollen.

“My lifetime’s ambition is to become a professional opera singer and this fantastic prize will go towards helping me achieve that,” said a delighted Erin.

The performance which clinched her star prize included operatic pieces by Handel, Tschaikovsky and Welsh composer Meirion Williams.

A close runner-up to Erin was 27-year-old Jessica Cale from Haverford West in Pembrokeshire.

Like Erin a singer since childhood, following a two-year course at the Royal College of Music in London Jessica is due to receive her Master’s Degree later this week and will then set the seal on her studies by joining the International Opera Studio at the college in September.

She said: “I’ve been singing all my life as my parents are both ministers of the Church in Wales which meant I grew up singing hymns and psalms.

“I sang in a church choir in Pembrokeshire and reached the final when I took part in a singing competition in Cardiff last year.

“This was my first major eisteddfod and I’ve really enjoyed being part of the Voice of the Future competition as everyone was so lovely.”

Jessica’s competition repertoire included works by Handel, Richard Strauss an Frank Bridge.

Mario Kreft said: “I believe a star was born this evening as Erin Rossington’s  performance was simply breath-taking and and highly commended by the judges.

“She is a spectacularly talented young lady who I am sure will go on to enjoy a glittering operatic career.

“Her victory was all the more commendable because she was up against a truly international field with competitors from at least six different countries vying for the title.

“Llangollen is known as the town where Wales meets the world but on this occasion it was where Wales beat the world.

“However, Jessica Cale also put in a stunning performance which will long be remembered.

“Our aim in supporting the competition in conjunction with Sir Bryn Terfel is to provide a springboard for brilliant young singers from around the world to achieve

their dreams of establishing a career on the global stage.

“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.

“I hope the recognition Erin and Jessica will deservedly receive after this competition will help them in their chosen careers and we see all three fulfil their ambitions of becoming major opera stars.

“The Pendine Trophy, which is solid Edwardian silver bearing a Chester hallmark, was been kindly donated by Chester jewellers Tony and Julie Kaye of Kaye’s Jewellers. It’s a

stunning and beautiful trophy.”

According to the festival’s music director Dr Edward-Rhys Harry, winner Erin has a “unique talent.”

He said: “She has a beautiful timbre to her voice which also has a lovely sense of feeling. There is also an expressive quality to how she sings.

“However, the judges found choosing a winner very difficult as Jessica also has a fabulous voice." 

Performance showcases unity and diversity

* The Tapestry performance on the Pavilion stage yesterday.

Local community groups performed together yesterday to help Llangollen Eisteddfod celebrate over 10 years of the festival’s Inclusion Project.

The project has helped promote unity and diversity throughout North Wales, Shropshire and Cheshire by bringing local communities together.

This year’s group performance theme ‘Tapestry’, was inspired by a quote from the distinguished American poet and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou: “We should all know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their colour.”

Taking part were Wrexham Singing Hands, a British Sign Language Choir, mental health Ukulele group, Mind Tones, Wrexham One Love Choir, consisting of member who have experienced homelessness, addiction and marginalisation, Derwen on Tour (DOT), a group of Creative Studies students from Derwen College in Gobowen, Shropshire, who offer Makaton sign, song and dance performance and workshops, and the Theatretrain Regional Choir from Mold.

Reflecting the diversity of society and the International Eisteddfod’s ethos of promoting understanding and acceptance though music and dance, the project saw all five groups present their own short performance before coming together to perform on the pavilion stage.

Speaking about the inspiration for this year’s performance, Leslie Churchill Ward, the project’s Creative Director said: “The theme of Tapestry lends itself beautifully both musically and choreographically. The new song that has been created is based around all of these ideas, and how we weave our lives together to create art and friendship.”

Made possible by a grant from Chester and Wrexham-based Grosvenor Insurance Services, the performance reflected on important issues concerning diversity in a thought-provoking and emotive piece.

Eisteddfod music director Dr Edward-Rhys Harry said: “The Inclusion Project is close to everyone’s heart here at the Llangollen Eisteddfod, as it provides people who may not usually get the opportunity to perform on stage, in front of an international audience.

“Thanks to the generous support of Grosvenor Insurance Services with their donation towards the cost of the Inclusion Project, it has been able to continue its life-changing work and enables people from all walks of life to perform on the Eisteddfod stage."

Eisteddfod performers draw crowds in the town centre

* Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice Choir sings in Centenary Square.

Performers from the eisteddfod have been drawing the crowds in Llangollen’s Centenary Square this afternoon.

Winning a particularly warm welcome in the hot sunshine was the Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice Choir, singing for the first time in Wales to mark their 40^th anniversary year.

The 55-strong choir was formed in 1978 by a small number of ex-pats living in the former British colony, mainly South Walians who had gone out there to work on major engineering projects such as the underground railway.

This is currently the only Welsh male voice choir operating in southern Asia.

Although most the choristers have Welsh origins around half a dozen were actually born in the country.

During the past four decades the choir has sung around the world at venues in Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines. It is proud to have performed three times at the Royal Albert Hall in London and in the Sydney Opera House.

Despite its international touring this is the first time this Welsh male voice choir has sung in Wales as it makes its debut at the eisteddfod in Llangollen.

Choir spokesman Bill Kong, who is this year acting for the seventh time as an eisteddfod volunteer international welcome host, said: “Ninety per cent of the choir members have never been to Llangollen before and a similar number haven’t been to the eisteddfod either, so they think it’s great to be here and singing for the first time in Wales.

“Although we’re not actually competing in the festival we’ve got a full programme of engagements.

“On Wednesday we were singing in Centenary Square and afterwards joining the Cor Bro Gwynedd at an event in Bala.

“On Thursday we’re doing the lunchtime concert in St Collen’s Church at 1pm and going back up to the eisteddfod field to sing in the Ampitheatre at 3.15pm.

“On Friday we’re singing on the World Stage on the field at 11am at at 1.30pm at a care home in Dolywern. Later that afternoon we’re looking forward to taking part in the famous Parade of Nations through Llangollen town centre and at 7.30pm the choir is at All Saints’ in Gresford.

“We’ll round things off with an appearance on the Globe Stage on the field.”

Bill added: “We’ve enjoyed every minute of it and we’d love to come back to Llangollen again - this time hopefully to compete at the eisteddfod.”

Also performing in Centenary Square this afternoon were the Qypryllinite E Roshnikut Visaret E Gore folk musicians from Albania.

There were cheers from the large crowd when its flag-bearer danced with Town Crier, Chem Cheminais.

* Singing in the Wednesday lunchtime concert at St Collen’s Church was the choir from the East Tennessee State University.

Its members presented a varied selection of choral music from Europe, the USA and Wales.

* Qypryllinite E Roshnikut Visaret E Gore folk musicians from Albania play in the square.

* Town crier Chem is invited to dance by the band's flag bearer.

 * The East Tennessee University Choir sings at the St Collen's lunchtime concert.

New Story Hub encourages tales of the eisteddfod

* Volunteer Charlie Jones, centre, with children from Ysgol Rhosymedre

 recording their impressions of the eisteddfod on a big montage. 

A dedicated band of volunteers is busy gathering memories and impressions of the festival from visitors to the eisteddfod.

They are working in the Story Hub which is appearing for the first time this year and is

located just to the left of the ticket office as you come in from the town entrance to the site.

One of the volunteers, Charlie Jones, explained: “The Story Hub has been created to record what people love about the eisteddfod, their memories of it over the years right from its early days to the present and what it means to them.

“We’re taking written notes of what they say and also working closely with fellow volunteers from Deeside Radio who plan to make a programme based on impressions they’re capturing on audio.

“So far it’s been going well and many people have been in to speak to us.

“On Monday we even had a visit from Jules Holland who was appearing in the evening concert with his Blues Band.

“Yesterday was Children’s Day so we had lots of young people in from schools across the region. They were enjoying making a record of how they felt about the eisteddfod by writing their impressions down on a big montage.”

Charlie added: “We’d like to see as many people as possible coming in to see us over the course of the week and everyone will get a warm welcome.”

Catch the eisteddfod action in the square

Eisteddfod organisers have issued a list of performances by festival competitors in Llangollen's Centenary Square. They are:

Wednesday:

1.45pm-2.15pm: Qypryllinite E Roshnikut Visaret E gore from Albania

2.15pm-3.15pm: 2x Competitors

3..15pm-4pm: Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice Choir

Thursday:

2pm-2.30pm: Artistic Cooperative Les Emissaires de la Paix

2.30pm-3pm: Gema Citra Nusantara from Indonesia

3pm-3.15pm: Spraol

3.15pm-4pm: Alla Polacca from Poland

Friday:

2pm-2.30pm: Cor DAW

2.30pm: Megan Lee singer-songwriter

2.40pm: Short spoken word by Evrah Rose 

3.15pm-3.45pm: Punjabi Bhangra Cultural Group from India

3.45pm-4.15pm: Cathays Brass from Cymru

4.30pm - PARADE OF NATIONS!

Saturday:

2.15pm-2.45pm: Heritage/Albania/Ghana

2.45pm-3.15pm: Young Voices of Colorado from USA

3.15pm-3.45pm: Oscars Ungdomskor from Sweden

3.45pm-4.15pm: Kenyalang Sarawak from Malaysia

4.14pm-4.45pm: Bulgarian Dance group

Chirk hospital gets hospice outreach facility

* Kay Ryan, Outpatient Services 

Coordinator at Nightingale House Hospice.

Nightingale House Hospice is taking its specialist patient and carer support into the community providing information, advice and support for those who need it.

A new outreach facility has been set up in Chirk Community Hospital to enable patients and their loved ones to tap into a wealth of expertise and services within a community setting.

It is a chance to speak to someone about what a patient is going through or worried about.

Kay Ryan, Outpatient Services Coordinator, is responsible for the new service and says the thinking behind the new project is to make it easier for patients living in these areas to access services. 

She believes that it will also help de-mystify the image of a hospice only being available for end of life care.

The hospice helps patients lead an improved quality of life even with a life-limiting illness.

Kay says many people do not know that Nightingale House helps patients to access numerous services they may not know are available to them such as bereavement support, art and music therapy, drop-in sessions, and complementary therapy, as well as clinical support if required.

It is a myth she is keen to bust and emphasises the focus is very much on patient need and quality of life: “People’s perceptions are that think we only provide end of life care and new patients are often frightened to come to our main hospice building in Chester Road. 

"The majority of people don’t realise the range of services we offer. We can also signpost them to other services with the help of District Nurses, Community Palliative Care and Nurse Specialists in hospital or via their GP based on their needs at the time.

 “Our services aim to meet the needs of the patients and families who attend. It may be their physical or emotional well-being that they are struggling with or it could be family or work worries. We hope that by having an Outreach Service it will enable people who do wish to attend the Hospice to still access our support. It provides the opportunity for them talk to us and for us to be able to provide information and support that will allay their fears and help them to address their problems."

Attending the outreach sessions gives patients or carers a chance to find out more about pain management, living well and achieving their goals, having important conversations around health and well-being and how to improve sleep. Family members are often keen to talk to a skilled healthcare professional away from a formal environment such as a hospital or GP surgery.

Kay said: “It opens up access to the hospice in different surroundings for people who initially may only want to know what we offer. Very often family members or friends come to us first to get information and help.

"It is often the simplicity of help that has the greatest impact on patients. For example, one gentleman who had an advanced neurological condition and was losing the ability to speak was anxious about how he was going to be cared for as he couldn’t access the services he needed. 

"A phone call to the GP resulted in the GP offering the patient a one hour appointment where he was able to allay the patient’s fears. Sometimes the answers are so simple and can make such a massive difference."

Kay has been managing the Outpatient and Day Care Services at the Hospice for the past 10 years and feels it is important to spread the word about the new Outreach Services: “The most special and satisfying aspect of the job is being able to make a difference at a time when some people think that no-one can help them. 

"This is possible because we work as a multidisciplinary team, with a full mix of skills and expertise, we can usually find a solution to improve a problem.”

Nightingale House Outreach is available at: Chirk Community Hospital Tuesday from 10am – 12.30pm.

* If you would like to know more about Nightingale House Outreach then feel free to drop in to one of the new sessions or telephone 01978 316800.

Youngsters take up the global beat at music workshop

* Children harmonise with adults at the music workshop.

Youngsters from a host of schools teamed up with care home residents to sing to a global beat at the 2019 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

The award-winning Pendine Park care organisation was hosting a morning of musical workshops as part of the annual  festival’s Children’s Day activities.

The schoolchildren and the  residents, some with dementia, from Pendine Park care homes in Wrexham belted out  tunes from various parts of the world to fit in with the festival’s international theme.

Old and young joined melodic forces to clap and sway in time to the music and beat out some hot rhythms using maracas and tambourines.

Leading the sessions were Jenny Pearson, a freelance singer and tutor who has worked with the Welsh National Opera, along with Pendine Wrexham’s artist-in-residence Sarah Edwards and Nia Davies-Williams, the musician in residence at  Pendine’s Bryn Seiont Newydd home in Caernarfon.

The workshops were part of Pendine’s pioneering enrichment programme, which enhances the experience of residents and also plays a key role in personal training and staff development.

Around 20 Pendine staff were on hand to make sure that the morning ran smoothly.

Loving every second of the sessions was 85-year-old Heather Davies, a resident of Pendine’s Hillbury care home in Wrexham.

Herself a grandmother of four, she said: “It’s not the first time I’ve come along to one of these music sessions at the eisteddfod and I just love watching and meeting the children who have such a good time.

“I’ve been singlng along with them and having a really good time.”

One of the school groups she harmonising with was a 46-strong contingent from St Paul’s in Isycoed, Wrexham.

Teacher Sandra Francis said: “We’ve been here a few times before and the children we bring always have lots of fun. They also like meeting the elderly people who are here. It’s definitely something different.”

This was certainly the case with six-year-old Harry Jones who said: “I like to do the singing and clapping best. I also enjoy walking around the eisteddfod and looking at things in the shops.”

Another Hillbury resident lapping up the occasion was 90-year-old Gwendoline Davies-Barratt.

“I’ve got eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren so I love being around children and seeing them enjoying the music, so today has been fantastic. It’s so good when old and young people can get together like this - and I’ve been singing and clapping along with them,” she said.

Jenny Pearson, who arranged the sessions, explained: “Any sort of inter-generational activity like this is just great and it’s been amazing to work with the residents and so many children.

“Throughout the morning we must have had hundreds of young people from lots of different schools coming through our tent.

“It’s good for older and younger people to enjoy themselves together and both groups have been really getting into the music.

“Because of the international flavour of the eisteddfod we’ve chosen some songs about animals from different parts of the world for today’s programme. We have one about a dog from the USA and another about a donkey with a calypso beat from the West Indies.”

Also enjoying he musical action was a group from Eyton Voluntary Controlled Primary School in Wrexham led by teacher Samantha Jesson who said: “We make a beeline for the Pendine tent ever year because the children enjoy the music and singing so much.

“It’s something a bit out of the ordinary for them and it’s very good for them to meet and speak to the residents who come along.”

Among the Eyton youngsters getting into the groove with the music was seven-year-old Betsan Mae Edwards who was sporting a smart Mickey Mouse hat specially for the occasion.

She said: “I like coming in here and singing along very much as I really love music.

“We’ve also been in the Pavilion to hear the Peace Message, which was nice, and now we’re going to look around the shops. It’s great.”

It was the same story with her friend Amelia Rose Jones, also seven, who said: “I like joining in the songs and waving a flag. I’ve also been tapping to the songs on my knees. I’ve been here before and I’d like to come again.”   

Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft said: “A key element in what we do at Pendine Park is bringing together older people with dementia and the children.

“The workshops are about raising awareness that old age in nothing to be frightened of and understanding how the arts and music can help change people’s lives for the better.

“The workshops have been a regular feature of our support for the Llangollen Eisteddfod over the past six years.  

 “The Eisteddfod is a national treasure and we love to support it because of its message of peace and bringing the people of the world together and these sessions are an extension of that.”