Eisteddfod unveils star-studded 80th anniversary concerts

* Jools Holland. 

Global music icon Jools Holland and internationally acclaimed opera stars Sir Bryn Terfel, Natalya Romaniw and Noah Stewart will headline two spectacular concerts as part of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod’s landmark 80th anniversary celebrations in 2027.

 

The first event to be unveiled for the milestone year is Llangollen 80: Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, taking place at the iconic Llangollen Pavilion on Thursday July 8. Joining Jools on the night will be special guest vocalist still to be announced 

alongside acclaimed vocalists Ruby Turner, Louise Marshall and Sumudu Jayatilaka.

 

The anniversary programme will also feature the Llangollen 80: Anniversary Gala Concert on Saturday July 10, starring Sir Bryn Terfel, Natalya Romaniw and Noah Stewart alongside the Llangollen International Orchestra and massed male voice choirs in a spectacular celebration of the festival’s rich musical heritage and international legacy.

 

These concerts mark the first major programme announcement for the Eisteddfod's 80th anniversary, with further events set to be revealed in the coming months.

 

Fans can secure their tickets now by signing up to the pre-sale which goes live at 10am on Wednesday July 29.

* Sir Bryn Terfel.

 

Friends of the Eisteddfod can purchase tickets from 10am on Tuesday July 28 and all tickets go on general sale at 10am on Friday 31. All tickets are via llangollen.net

 

Musician, bandleader, broadcaster and pianist Jools Holland is one of Britain's most celebrated performers. From his early success with Squeeze to his long-running BBC series Later... with Jools Holland, his remarkable career has spanned more than four decades.

 

Joined by special guest Roachford and acclaimed vocalists Ruby Turner, Louise Marshall and Sumudu Jayatilaka, Jools and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra will bring their renowned blend of rhythm & blues, boogie-woogie, jazz and rock 'n' roll to Llangollen for an unforgettable evening of musicianship, energy and timeless classics.

 

His return carries particular significance as a long-standing supporter and Vice-President of the Eisteddfod, having performed to thousands of festival-goers at Llangollen over the years.

 

The Llangollen 80: Anniversary Gala Concert will celebrate eight decades of music, friendship and international understanding with one of the most ambitious productions ever staged as part of the festival.

* Noah Stewart.

 

Three of the world's finest opera stars — Sir Bryn Terfel, Natalya Romaniw and Noah Stewart — will perform alongside the Llangollen International Orchestra and massed male voice choirs in a spectacular showcase of Welsh and international musical excellence. The specially curated programme will feature operatic favourites, great choral works and unique collaborations, reflecting both the remarkable history of the Eisteddfod and its continuing place on the world stage.

 

Together, the two concerts form part of a special programme marking the Eisteddfod's 80th anniversary and celebrating its enduring legacy of bringing people together from around the world through music, culture and friendship.

John Gambles, Chairman of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, said: "Our 80th anniversary is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to celebrate everything that makes Llangollen so special, and these two concerts perfectly reflect both our heritage and our future.

* Natalya Romaniw.

"These will be two truly special world-class events that will launch our anniversary celebrations in spectacular style, and we're delighted to welcome such outstanding artists to Llangollen as we celebrate 80 remarkable years."

Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Dave Danford added: "Jools Holland has a wonderful connection with Llangollen and always creates an incredible atmosphere, while our Anniversary Gala Concert brings together some of the finest voices in opera alongside the proud Welsh choral tradition that has always been at the heart of our festival.

"We're also thrilled to welcome back Sir Bryn Terfel, whose unforgettable celebration of sea songs and Welsh heritage was one of the highlights of last year's Eisteddfod. As one of Wales' greatest musical ambassadors and a longstanding friend of Llangollen, his return makes this anniversary year even more special.”

* For more information visit llangollen.net

Llanrhaeadr farmer’s son crowned world’s best young singer

* Sponsor Mario Kreft MBE, owner of the Pendine Park care organisation,  presents the trophy to the winner Dafydd Jones. Pictures: Rick Matthews

A farmer’s son from Llanrhaeadr has been crowned the best young singer in the world.

Dafydd Jones, 27, was watched by his proud grandmother, Brenda Jones, who first taught him to sing, as he was named Pendine International Voice of the Future at Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

The rising star was presented with the £3,000 first prize and a gleaming silver salver by Mario Kreft MBE, owner of the Pendine Park care organisation which sponsored the competition via the Pendine Arts and Community Trust (PACT).

For Brenda watching her beloved grandson take the same Llangollen Pavilion stage once graced by the legendary Italian tenor, Luciano Pavarotti, was a dream come true.

She said: “For years we’ve all been telling him he should compete at the international eisteddfod and now for him to win the top prize is a wish fulfilled. What a wonderful night.”

Dafydd’s parents, Elfyn and Meinir Jones, grandfather John Henry Jones and other excited members of the family were all in the audience to see him presented with the winner’s trophy.

* Dafydd Jones highly impressed the judges.

He and fellow finalist, soprano Victoria Harley, from Hull, in Yorkshire, who won a £1,000 prize as runner up, emerged from almost 30 singers from around the world to reach this year's Pendine International Voice of the Future final.

The prestigious competition, one of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod's flagship events, sees contestants face a demanding selection process and a series of preliminary rounds before the grand final on the festival's closing night, when the Choir of the World title is also decided.

Earlier this year, organisers announced PACT, which supports arts and community initiatives across Wales, had pledged to continue sponsoring the competition for a further five years.

Mario said: “My wife Gill and I have supported this competition since 2013 and we are always left in awe of the quality of young singers who take part.

“This Llangollen stage has been graced by the greats of opera like Pavarotti who came to Llangollen first as a child in a choir and later in adulthood as an operatic superstar.

“It is our duty to support the Pavarottis of tomorrow, to offer a pathway for promising young singers to also emerge into the international spotlight.

“The competition perfectly reflects Pendine Park’s ethos, where the arts in general - and music in particular – form a golden thread running through daily life at all our care home. 

“That feels particularly meaningful this year as we celebrate our 40^th anniversary which is why we have pledged to continue to support the competition for the next five years.” 

Mr Kreft added: “I am heartened to discover that Dafydd grew up on his family’s farm in Llanrhaeadr in the Vale of Clwyd where I was brought up.

* Dafydd Jones with his grandparents John Henry and Brenda Jones.

“And he is soon to embark on one of his first roles as a freelance opera singer, in Florence, Italy. Gill and I had our honeymoon in Florence. We love it there and it brings me joy to think that Dafydd is soon to begin a new chapter of his career in that wonderful city.”

Dafydd is scheduled to join the cast of the expressionist opera Wozzeck in Florence after  spending three years in Munich as a member of the Bayerische Staatsoper Opernstudio.

For the competition Dafydd performed three works – Vainement ma Bien Aimee by Eduard Lalo; Der Soldat, by Wolf, and Llanrwst by Gareth Glyn.

He said: “I am overjoyed to win, especially as Victoria’s performance was so strong. I knew the result would be close.

“I am so grateful to have reached the final and to now have the Pendine International Voice of the Future title on my CV is such a career boost.

“Now that I am starting out as a freelancer, I need to be able to pay for flights and transport to get to auditions so the £3,000 prize is a huge help.”

Dafydd credited his grandmother with introducing him to the joy of music through singing lessons and teaching him piano as a child.

He quickly became good enough to compete in local and eventually national eisteddfods.

Brenda said: “I could tell quite soon that he had a natural talent, and as he got older I was not equipped to give him all the training he needed so we asked Brian Hughes, the composer and vocal instructor to take him on. Once under Brian’s tuition, that’s when we began to realise his real potential.”

Dafydd went on to study at the Royal College of Music in London where, on graduating with a master’s degree, he was awarded the Queen Mother Rose Bowl.

Pendine International Voice of the Future competition judges Sarah Tynan and Njabulo said Dafydd has the potential to become one of the great stars of the operatic stage.

The Eisteddfod’s Artistic Director, Dave Danford, said the competition provided an unforgettable finale to the festival.

He thanked everyone involved in the eisteddfod for contributing to its continued success and paid tribute to the loyal audience for getting behind each event.

He added: “I’d also like to thank the wonderful support from Pendine Park for what is one of our flagship competitions, the Pendine International Voice of the Future, which has given us such a memorable closing night. Congratulations to both the winner and runner up on outstanding performances.”

Philippines' Advent Euphonic Chorale crowned Choir of the World

 

* Advent Euphonic Chorale from the Philippines celebrate their stunning Choir of the World victory.

The prestigious Choir of the World title has been awarded to Advent Euphonic Chorale from the Philippines following a spectacular finale at the 2026 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

 

In a remarkable day of competition, the internationally acclaimed choir completed a stunning hat-trick of victories. 

They were first crowned winners of the Mixed Choir Competition with an outstanding score of 95, before claiming the Open Choirs Competition with an incredible score of 96. 

They then returned to the stage later the same day to win the prestigious Choir of the World title, completing an extraordinary treble that ranks among the finest achievements in the festival's history.

 

The standard of competition at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is widely recognised as being among the highest in the world. Each year, the festival attracts many of the finest amateur choirs from across the globe, making victory in any category a remarkable achievement. To win three major titles in a single day is an exceptionally rare accomplishment and underlines the outstanding quality of Advent Euphonic Chorale.

 

The Pinoy choir, composed of students and young professionals, and predominantly drawn from the Adventist University of the Philippines, has earned an international reputation for excellence, winning accolades at prestigious competitions across the globe. Their latest success in Llangollen adds the celebrated Choir of the World title to an already remarkable list of achievements.

 

The Choir of the World competition brings together the winners of the festival's principal choral competitions for a thrilling grand final on the iconic Llangollen stage and is widely regarded as one of the highest honours in international choral music.

 

Following their victory, the choir was presented with the famous Pavarotti Trophy by Artistic Director Dave Danford and Chair of the Eisteddfod John Gambles, to rapturous applause from the audience.

 

John Gambles, Chair of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod said, "Congratulations to Advent Euphonic Chorale on becoming our 2026 Choir of the World. To win three major titles in a single day is an extraordinary achievement and reflects the exceptional standard of musicianship, artistry and dedication shown by every member of the choir.

 

"This competition represents the very best of international choral singing and tonight's final once again demonstrated why Llangollen continues to be recognised as one of the world's great stages for choral music. We are delighted to add Advent Euphonic Chorale to the distinguished list of Choir of the World winners."

* The prize trophy is handed over by Eisteddfod chair John Gambles (left) and artistic director Dave Danford. 

Artistic Director Dave Danford added, "The standard throughout this year's Choir of the World competition has been truly exceptional. Every finalist brought something unique to the stage, making the judges' task incredibly difficult.

 

"Advent Euphonic Chorale performed with outstanding precision, musicality and expression throughout the day. Winning the Mixed Choir, Open Choirs and Choir of the World titles in the space of a few hours is an extraordinary accomplishment and one that will long be remembered in Llangollen. We congratulate them, along with every choir that has helped make this year's festival such a memorable celebration of international music-making."

 

The Choir of the World competition brought the curtain down on an outstanding week at the 2026 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. Thousands of competitors from across the globe travelled to Llangollen to celebrate music, dance and international friendship, while audiences enjoyed a memorable programme of concerts and events. 

Highlights included Sir Karl Jenkins' powerful opening concert Uniting Nations: One World, the critically acclaimed performance by Emeli Sandé with the Absolute Orchestra, a spectacular evening with Michael Ball, the busiest Parade of Nations in a generation, and six unforgettable days of world-class competition. Once again, the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod demonstrated why it remains one of the world's most celebrated and prestigious international arts festivals.

 

* For more information about the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, visit www.llangollen.net.

* The choir's fans in the audience join in the adulation.