Eisteddfod launches solo competitions for 2025

* Mario Kreft, Director at Pendine Park Care Organisation, sponsor of the 2024 Pendine International Voice of the Future, with Shimona Rose, the winning soprano from Singapore, runner-up, Welsh soprano Manon Ogwen-Parry and broadcaster Sian Thomas at Llangollen 2024.

Llangollen International Eisteddfod has opened the application process for soloists and instrumentalists for next year’s festival, which take place between Tuesday 8 and Sunday 13 July 2025.  

There will be 7 solo competitions, 18 group competitions and 4 non-competitive ways to take part, with the world's best soloists and musicians invited.

This year, the festival has introduced youth versions of its Voice of the Future and Voice of Musical Theatre competitions, to encourage younger singers to take part. This is following overwhelming feedback from audiences and competitors in 2024.

The Eisteddfod’s International Voice of the Future competition is always one of the highlights of the festival, which has existed since 1947 to promote peace through music and dance. 

The 2024 Pendine International Voice of the Future winner was Shimona Rose, a soprano from Singapore, with the competition being sponsored by Pendine Park, a care organisation that supports numerous cultural initiatives locally. 

The Voice of Musical Theatre competition was won in 2024 by Shea Ferron, a member of celebrated local choir Johns’ Boys Male Chorus (themselves previous winners of the Eisteddfod’s Choir of the World competition).

Llangollen International Eisteddfod opened its group applications last month. Applications have already been received from choirs from as far away as the USA, Zimbabwe, Philippines, Denmark, Portugal and Canada, as well as dance groups from Burundi, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco and the Republic of Congo, and ensembles from Australia and Ghana.

Dave Danford, Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, said: "Every year our festival attracts some of the most talented singers, dancers, musicians and choirs from around the world. We've been delighted with the response from every corner of the globe for our group competitions this year, and we are now pleased to be opening applications for our solo competitions. 

 

"After listening to feedback from our audiences, we have launched exciting new competitions for young people. We want to bring the best young talent in the world to Llangollen and our standards remain incredibly high. We look forward to welcoming all our competitors next July, as North East Wales once again becomes a vibrant destination for music and dance." 

Illuminated tractor run returns to raise money for good cause

* Last year's tractor run through the town centre. Picture: llanblogger.

The popular Llangollen illuminated tractor run is returning at the end of this year to once again raise money for a great cause.

* For the full story in the Denbighshire Free Press, see: Llangollen Illuminated Tractor Run to return in December | Denbighshire Free Press

Search is on for young champions to help improve venues' disabled access

* Manon Wyn Jones and her little girl, Nansi. Picture by Mandy Jones. 

A search has been launched in North East Wales to recruit a team of young disability champions to improve access at tourism and hospitality venues.

Leading the campaign is a community interest company called PIWS - it means purple - which is looking for disabled people to become Access Ambassadors to check out facilities and suggest ways they can be made more accessible and inclusive.

At stake is a share of a £274 billion purple pound bonanza – the combined spending power of of households in the UK with at least one disabled person.

According to PIWS, there are 670,000 people registered as disabled in Wales – that’s over 20 per cent of the population - and the vast majority of events, attractions and hospitality companies are missing out on a potentially lucrative business opportunity.

PIWS founder Davina Carey-Evans, who has two sons with complex disabilities and whose husband was severely disabled in a fall, is spearheading the drive.

As part of the scheme, young people aged between 16 and 24 will be paid a wage to review venues across Wales.

The aim is to provide feedback on their experiences so attractions and other venues can be supported to understand the challenges of families – including those with hidden disabilities – so they can make reasonable adjustments to accommodate them.

Davina said: “We hear a lot about the power of the LGBTQ+ community’s pink pound but the purple pound is also very valuable and in accessible tourism across UK it is estimated to have a potential worth of £15.5 billion a year.

“Gearing up your business to be user-friendly for the disabled isn’t just the right thing to do, it makes commercial sense too and it needn’t cost the earth either.

“It’s not just about wheelchair access – people in wheelchairs make up just nine per cent of UK’s registered disabled and a lot can be done that is straightforward and very inexpensive.

“There is a need for quiet safe spaces because sometimes the excitement of visiting somewhere new can be overwhelming for some impairments and an empty corner with seating can be ideal for them to chill out if they’re becoming over stimulated or anxious.

“In my case, for example, the ambassadors could be one of my sons or me or both of us or it can be a carer – it has to be someone who knows about coping with all access challenges.

“We also offer an hour-long Introduction to Accessibility Awareness  Workshop which all staff at an attraction should take and businesses should also appoint their own Accessibility Champion for which we provide a series of four day-long courses.

“Anyone living with a disability should get involved with reporting back on their experiences, the more we work together, the quicker we will see change.

“We're encouraging and prepared to pay young adults between the ages of 16 and 24, because we want to give them the confidence that they can leave their homes with a purpose, with an end goal of hopefully encouraging the tourism sector to employ them on their accessibility journey.

“All providers could employ a person with a disability to support them at their receptions for example  for a couple of hours each day, which is a way of breaking down the barriers of communication and understanding.  Many young disabled adults are very lonely, isolated and unemployed.

Helping to recruit the new ambassadors and playing an ambassadorial role herself is Manon Wyn Jones, from Carmel, near Caernarfon, whose two-and-a-half year old daughter, Nansi, was born with spina bifida.

Manon had to quit her job as an Early Play and Development worker for Gwynedd’s Flying Start programme for disadvantaged children aged under four to look after Nansi and now with the help of her mum and sister, is working for PIWS in marketing and support.

That includes recruiting disability ambassadors from across Wales and Manon is fully aware of the pitfalls of taking a child with disability out for the day.

She said: “We have to plan everywhere we go and everything we do. Nansi is unable to walk or stand unaided and her catheter bag has to be emptied every two and a half hours.

“We have been to places without proper changing rooms which has meant having to do catheter changes in the boot of the car.

“My mother and sister bought her a small wheelchair which she is now outgrowing and we know she will be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life so I realise just how important the work being done by PIWS is.

“Organising a family day out can be quite stressful, websites are not always clear and you really have to do your home work before setting out so the work that PIWS is doing will make such a difference – before that it wasn’t that simple.”

* For more information about PIWS go to www.piws.co.uk

Mystery scratches on tree follow 'big cat' sighting near Llangollen

* The picture with the Denbighshire Free Press story.

Mysterious scratches and damage to a tree near Corwen are being attributed to a big cat after reports of another sighting close to Llangollen earlier this week.

* For the full report in the Denbighshire Free Press, see: Did Llangollen 'big cat' damage this tree in Corwen? | Denbighshire Free Press

Bearded Men Adventures set to launch their new hotel

* The Bearded Men team outside their new hotel.

A new hotel is set to offer a base for adventurers and more to enjoy a place to rest for the night in Llangollen, according to the Leader.

* For the full story, see: New adventure for Bearded Men team via Llangollen hotel | The Leader (leaderlive.co.uk) 

Costume swap outside Ysgol Y Gwernant today

Ysgol Y Gwernant's parent teacher group is hosting a costume swap outside the school gates on Pengwern today, Wednesday October 16, from 2.30pm.

The event is an opportunity to share your family's outgrown Hallowe'en costumes and find new ones. 

Fairy wings also wanted for the upcoming Scaries & Fairies Glow Party, says the PTFA. 

Donated items can be dropped off in advance at the school gates or taken along to the swap. 

All are welcome. This is a free event to reuse and recycle. Cash or card donations are welcome to support @Ysgol y Gwernant. 

Explore the fascinating world of bulbs at Plas Newydd

Special event at Plas Newydd this Friday October 18, from 10am-12noon.