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new single..."Just The Mention Of Your Name" - now on iTunes for download!
By Darren Parry, 2010-03-30
David Western & Laura Gorun's Left Coast Eisteddfod Lovespoon Blog, 30 March 2010, "I'm very excited to be working on another lovespoon for the Left Coast Eisteddfod!"
By gaabi, 2010-03-30
For anyone new to this, lovespoons are a traditional Welsh folk art. David Western and Laura Gorun are lovespoon carvers who have very generously donated their time to create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece in support of the Left Coast Eisteddfod , a Welsh performing arts festival for the west coast of North America. This is David's second year of creation in support of this event and we are very grateful for his and Laura's generosity in sharing their work with us all. For a chance to win their spoon this year, click on the donate button on the blog or in the right-hand column on this page under the Left Coast Eisteddfod Competitions button and be sure to note that your donation is for the lovespoon.
Reprinted with permission from David Western's blog, all material 2010, David Western --
I'm very excited to be working on another lovespoon for the Left Coast Eisteddfod! After the success of last year's spoon and the enthusiastic response it generated for the Left Coast Eisteddfod, we decided to make it an annual event.
This time, though, I wanted to try something a bit different. I'll be designing and carving this lovespoon in concert with Ohio lovespoon carver, Laura Gorun, so it will very much be a joint effort! Laura is relatively new to lovespoon carving, but her spoons have the sophisticated design and elegant craftsmanship of someone who has been at it for much longer!! I'm certain that working with her is going to yield a really marvelous lovespoon!
Although we will be separated by many thousands of miles and have only ever met through the internet, we plan to design the spoon via lots of back-and-forth emails, taking advantage of the incredible opportunities for collaboration the electronic age has opened up.
Our 'theme' for the lovespoon will be "2." As it is the second year of the Eisteddfod, the number 2 seemed a good jumping off point for the design. We also thought that with one of us being male and the other female, one of us fairly new to carving, one an 'oldtimer' and with us living in two different countries, 2 seemed to crop up everywhere. The challenge now will be for us to work that into a viable design!!
When it comes time to carve the lovespoon, we will carve half the spoon each. Like all carvers, we each have elements that we are good at and some that we are not quite as comfortable with, so we will attempt to divvy up the carving so that we each work as much as possible to our strongest suit.
This will be a unique experiment for both of us, especially given that lovespoon carving is generally a pretty solitary endeavour. For both of us, working with another set of ideas and attitutes toward lovespoon carving will both open design doors and create some challenges!
The plan is to work up the design over the next couple of weeks and then begin the carving process. This blog will illustrate what we have been getting up to and will show the whole process from initial rough ideas to the finished piece. Both Laura and I hope that you will enjoy following along and that you will be inspired to donate to the Left Coast Eisteddfod for your chance to win the completed lovespoon!!
Next week we'll post the first set of drawings and then the hard stuff starts!
In the meantime, we hope you will visit us at:
www. BlakesPA.com to view Laura's handmade lovespoons and www.davidwesternlovespoons.com to view David's work
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Last year Seren, one of Wales leading publishing houses announced that it had commissioned an exciting new series - New Stories from the Mabinogion . Since then the first two volumes in the series have been published ( see details below ) and a further two are slated to appear in October this year. The Mabinogion has inspired a number of imaginative reworkings and adaptations over the years including Evangeline Walton's Mabinogion Tetralogy first published in four parts in the 1970's and Lloyd Alexander's award-winning The Chronicles of Prydain, published in the 1960's. It also inspired a film version, Y Mabinogi, produced by S4C in 2003. The exciting feature of the recent Seren initiative is that it has commissioned ten of the finest contemporary Anglo-Welsh writers to adapt and renew these stories for modern audiences thus effectively creating a 'new Mabinogion'. The project is introduced in the following terms on the Seren website:- "In this series commissioned by Seren, the old tales are at the heart of the new. Each author reinvents a story in their own way: creating fresh, contemporary tales that speak to us as much of our own world as of events long gone." The first two volumes:- 'White Ravens' by Owen Sheers and 'The Ninth Wave' by Russell Celyn Jones appeared in October 2009 and the next instalments penned by Niall Griffiths and Gwynneth Lewis will be published in October this year. As an aside we would like to point out that Niall Griffiths , one of the authors of the 'New Mabinogion' will be judging the live narrative competition at the Left Coast Eisteddfod in Portland, Oregon this year. Anyone wishing to attend or compete in this event should go to this page for further details:- Night of The Living Bards
'White Ravens' - Owen Sheers
'The Ninth Wave' - Russell Celyn Jones
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Halley Weaver, Portlands very own "zero emissions harpist" will be playing at the 'Night of The Living Bards' in Portland, Oregon on October 7th. This event is part of the Left Coast Eisteddfod 2010 . Americymru spoke to Halley about her love for the harp and her future musical plans. Americymru: You have been described as Portland's "zero emissions harpist". Can you explain this for our readers? Halley: Many harpists, whether folk or classical, get from gig to gig by use of large station wagons, even to the extent of small panel trucks. When traveling around the city of Portland, I opt to use my bike and a custom-made trailer whenever possible. When the bike and trailer aren't appropriate, as in the case of very severe weather, I take public transportation. This is sometimes, annoying, to say the least, but it's great to talk to people on the bus, curious about the harp! Americymru: What attracted you to the harp? How long have you been playing it? Halley: As a little girl, I was in love with fantasy books, medieval history, fantasy role-playing games, etc. At some point, a switch went off in my mind and I wanted to play the folk harp. There was no epiphany moment while at a Celtic festival or while watching a movie. I just decided. I don't even recall having any "harp contact" before I got my first one. I do remember drawing a little "savings meter" and marking it off with red marker every time I saved money for my harp fund. It took a couple years of persistence before my parents deemed I was serious about this infatuation. That was almost 12 years ago, and I know that they don't regret finally giving in to my whim! Americymru: We learn from your site ( link ) that you were, at least initially self-taught. How difficult was it to learn to play the harp? Halley: This is my dad's favorite story. When I got my first harp, I was also given a "teach yourself" book. I spent the entire day in my room devouring the book and the next morning at breakfast, I performed the first few songs in the book to my family. I remember there were times when I was extremely discouraged and frustrated. Felt clumsy, stiff-fingered and slow. But then, there are times last week when I felt like that while practicing! It's definitely an act of love, though. And as with most love, sometimes I'm a little blind to the less-than-stellar times. Americymru: What is your typical repertoire? What kind of events do you perform at? Halley: My repertoire is so fluidly organic and changes (sometimes on a daily basis!). I peform an eclectic collection on traditional folk and Celtic pieces. I really enjoy dance tunes; jigs, reels, etc so a lot of my music has a very bright, springy flow to it. I've played a variety of venues from retirement centers, weddings, funerals, corporate banquets, Renaissance fairs, churches, craft fairs, art galleries and street corners. I've become pretty versatile to performing in a bunch of unique environments. It's always a lot of fun and everyone has their different charm. Americymru: Do you plan to release any cd's in he near future? Is there anywhere online where people can hear your music? Halley: I have been in the long, long process of trying to get a CD recorded on a very limited budget. I've started actually two different times last year and because of my very generous recording friends' schedules, things have fallen through both times. Third time, being the charm, I am taking my time and saving my pocket change so that I can afford to get it professionally done. But regardless, I am hoping by the end of summer to have the CD out. Music samples will be available at my website by the end of April, but until there, there is my gig webpage at: www.gigmasters.com/harp/halleytheharper Americymru: You have been involved with the SCA ( Society for Creative Anachronisms ). Care to tell us a little more about your involvement with the organisation? Halley: I was involved in the SCA in northwest Washington for a number of years. It was a deeply rewarding experience where I volunteered for many of their public demos, teaching children and adults all sorts of nifty things from chainmail to fencing, making bread, working wool and about period instruments. I became my "barony's" ambassador to the "East Kingdom" when I went away to school in Massachusetts and then later to "Artemesia" (Utah). While my membership has lapsed and I currently don't have the time to dedicate to such a fun, educational non-profit, I still have tons of photos all over and my "Award of Arms" framed and hanging in my art space. (I still plan family visits to Washington around events, "accidently" though, so I can duck in and say hi to friends!) Americymru: Have you ever accompanied other musicians or do you always perform solo? Halley: I regularly "jam" with other musicians whether it's in my home or during a pub's monthly "session." I love impromptu jams on the street corners and have met some amazing people that way and some really great friends. I have performed a few times with violins, flutes, guitars and piano. Am looking forward to some future projects this summer with folk, gypsy/klezmer and just some crazy musicians! Americymru: Is there any performance that you are particularly proud of? Any memorable incidents whilst performing? Halley: I have performed for audiences of over 2000 people. I have performed for huge, gorgeous weddings set in amazing locations. However, the performances that really stick in my mind are playing for retirement centers and events where it's smaller, more intimate - where people can ask questions and I get to mingle and really meet the people that I am playing for. I have many, many memorable incidents, but one in particular that I love is playing at the Waterfront Park in Portland, which is a paved multi-use path along the river. During the early summer last year, there were a lot of muscle guys jogging. Not one would make visible eye-contact with me, but quiet a few would stop within earshot as their spontaneous place to stop and do calf stretches on the handrails. Americymru: What kind of music do you listen to? Are there any performers that you draw inspiration from? Halley: I listen to a lot of country/folk rock music. Andrew Bird, Billy Bragg, Robyn Hitchcock, The Mountain Goats, Casey Neill and the Norway Rats, just to name a few. My first love with celtic pub music was with a Winnipeg band, The Dust Rhinos. 10 years later, they're still my favorite band. I don't know if I draw inspiration from any particular performer. I do know that the first time I heard Robyn Hitchcock though, I was inspired to begin writing my own music and get the bug every time I go to a live show to run home and work on music. Americymru: Any final message for the members and readers of Americymru? Halley: I want to say something cheesy about following your bliss, but you know, without making it sound cheesy. I just know that I have worked a lot of jobs; marketing, tech support, food service, etc and while I've had some jobs that I've really liked, I love being a performer and educator. Last summer, I was able to successfully support myself by harp alone and I am really hoping to continue with that trend through this summer. Not everyone has the lifestyle that they can drop everything and start over, but I was given that opportunity two years ago, and I have been truly happy with my decision since.
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Back to Welsh Literature page >
''Huw Lawrence''s stories have three times won in the Rhys Davies Short Story Competition, have gained three Cinnamon Awards and a Bridport prize. He was runner up for the 2009 Tom Gallon prize. Born in Llanelli, he trained as a teacher in Swansea, continuing his education at Manchester and Cornell Universities. He spent several years doing a variety of labouring jobs in Manchester and the Ffestiniog area of north Wales and now lives in Aberystwyth.''
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Americymru: How did you start writing?
Huw: The first thing I remember writing was a poem in response to the Cuba Crisis back in the sixties. I followed that with an attempt at a play about someone converting his cellar into a fallout shelter. Later, I turned to stories, and, still in the sixties, I wrote ‘The Yellow Umbrella’, which is in this collection. That was the first story I ever wrote.
Americymru: Care to tell us a little about ''Always The Love of Someone''. How did you come to write the stories in this collection? Were they written especially with this volume in mind or is this more of an anthology of your recent work?
Huw: No, they weren’t written with this volume in mind. I just wrote quite a lot of stories, and then eventually I selected fifteen that went together so as to suggest some kind of unity. They’re not recent work, though. Some go back a very long time.
Americymru: Most critics have taken the view that the theme of the collection is ''human relationships''. Would you agree with this? Does it necessarily have a theme?
Huw: I don’t know if it can be said to have a theme. That’s a hard question. People do talk about ‘theme’ in relation to story collections, but I’d say that most collections have a focus rather than the structural unity implied by a ‘theme’. That, of course, might not be true of collections like Miguel Street by Naipaul, where the stories are all about the same protagonist and his neighbours. Perhaps it’s a question of degree. The fifteen stories in Always the Love of Someone are all of them about love, and all but four of them about love between men and women – the nitty gritty realities of love, not romance.
Americymru: What attracted you to the short story genre? Are there any particular attractions or difficulties in writing short stories as opposed to writing novels?
Huw: I found myself writing stories for the most pragmatic of reasons. They’re short, and I had a full-time job. I could be confident of finishing what I started. There are attractions. You can carry one in detail in your head, and changing a short phrase can alter the whole balance, change nuance, adjust meaning. Getting it right is more like working on a poem than on a novel. What’s not right tends to stand out like a sore thumb. It’s an unforgiving form. But you can carry it around with you.
Americymru: Many people are fascinated by the writing process of successful authors? Do you have any kind of creative routine or do you write as and when inspiration strikes?
Huw: I can only conceive of one way of writing fiction, and that is to do it every day. You can’t afford to lose touch with the work in hand, nor can you afford to let good new ideas slip away. You have to get those down as some kind of draft to a degree where they can be picked up on later.
Americymru: Is your work available in print anywhere other than in this collection? Magazines? Anthologies?
Huw: Magazines and anthologies, yes. This is my first collection.
Americymru: Is there any one of your stories that you are particularly proud of or that you would like to especially recommend?
Huw: My two favourites are, ‘Would That Even Be Lucky?’ and ‘Nothing is Happening Because There’s a Point’. Because they counterbalance each other. The first one questions whether it is even lucky to be bound by the obsessive power of a romantic love you can do nothing about, even if it is requited. The second describes a meeting, followed by a pre-marital relationship, followed by a long, happy marriage, with plenty of conflict, but cemented by affection, loyalty and commitment – not romance.
Americymru: Are there any short story writers (or writers in general ) that you draw inspiration from?
Huw: The writer that has intrigued me most by his skill and whom I dip into just for the pleasure of reading a page or two of his prose, is Nabakov. As far as short story writers go, one of my favourites is Bharati Mukherjee.
Americymru: Care to tell us anything about your future writing plans?
Huw: A novel followed by a collection of poems, I hope.
Americymru: Any final message for the members and readers of AmeriCymru?
Huw: Yes, be afraid that the meaning of ‘Cymru’ will disappear if the language goes, and it might die. So, support the language in any way you can. As far as keeping up with events in Wales through English is concerned, then I’d recommend Planet and Cambria, two magazines committed to Wales through the medium of English.
Always The Love of Someone will be published on 17 June 2010 and will be an AmeriCymru Book of the Month selection for June.
Review of 'Always The Love Of Someone'
I remember reading somewhere that you should only read one short story a day. Short stories have a single central idea to convey and given that it is successfully implanted in the readers mind time should be spent savouring it. Reading them consecutively only serves to negate or dilute the impact of these finely crafted gems. Whether there is any merit in this prescription really rather depends on the quality of the writing. In the course of ten pages or so there is no time for elaborate characterisation or intricate plotting. But the finest short story writers can take a single idea or event and exemplify or explore it with such intensity that the end result is electrifying and the reader is left with a desire to ponder the subject matter further. Pondering takes time. Perhaps one a day is truly the well balanced way.
At any rate there is no doubt in this readers mind that ''Always The Love of Someone'' is a collection to be savoured. The stories in this volume stopped me in my tracks several times and I felt compelled to share what I had read and discuss it with someone. Luckily my partner shares my literary tastes and pretty soon we were passing the book back and forth and swapping recommendations. There''s nothing like enthusiasm shared.
This collection focuses on human relationships and ranges in tone from the whimsical to the semi-tragic. There is the story of the old lady in "Yellow Umbrella'' who cannot understand a young boys ability to live for the moment. When she offers the lad, whose parents are ''itinerants'', shelter from the rain he appals her by revealing that he has no permanent address and is being ''home schooled''. Their contrasting reactions to their environment and in particular to the days weather reveal a tragic lack of spontaneity and a profound pessimism in the old lady''s character which has perhaps destined her to live alone. Then there is the tale of Alf whose lifelong dislike and fear of dogs evaporates in old age when he is prevailed upon to adopt a lurcher.
Throughout there are moments of profound introspection and equally revealing dialogue. In ''A Man And A Woman'' a bachelor on a date is credited with making a simple discovery " The man''s simple discovery had been to pause before speaking. A couple of seconds was enough to choose a better response than the one that leapt to mind, one that allowed dialogue, allowed the other''s world to exist. Speech was not for you to be right. It was to find outcomes." In the closing story, ''Nothing is Happening Because There is a Point'', a couple discuss their relationship and whether destiny played any part in it. The following rather incisive comment on logic stands out from this exchange "....Words can insist that other words following them have to be true, but logic doesn''t bring about marriages, or there probably wouldn''t be any."
There is much,much more to savour in this collection , which for the short story afficianado is a veritable feast of nectared sweets. Huw Lawrence''s touch is masterful throughout and each story is as elegant as it is insightful. I will be filing this collection on my bookshelf next to Raymond Carver and John Cheever and returning to it often.
\n', 'I remember reading somewhere that you should only read one short story a day. Short stories have a single central idea to convey and given that it is successfully implanted in the readers mind time should be spent savouring it. Reading them consecutively only serves to negate or dilute the impact of these finely crafted gems. Whether there is any merit in this prescription really rather depends on the quality of the writing. In the course of ten pages or so there is no time for elaborate characterisation or intricate plotting. But the finest short story writers can take a single idea or event and exemplify or explore it with such intensity that the end result is electrifying and the reader is left with a desire to ponder the subject matter further. Pondering takes time. Perhaps one a day is truly the well balanced way.At any rate there is no doubt in this readers mind that ''Always The Love of Someone'' is a collection to be savoured. The stories in this volume stopped me in my tracks several times and I felt compelled to share what I had read and discuss it with someone. Luckily my partner shares my literary tastes and pretty soon we were passing the book back and forth and swapping recommendations. There''s nothing like enthusiasm shared.
This collection focuses on human relationships and ranges in tone from the whimsical to the semi-tragic. There is the story of the old lady in "Yellow Umbrella'' who cannot understand a young boys ability to live for the moment. When she offers the lad, whose parents are ''itinerants'', shelter from the rain he appals her by revealing that he has no permanent address and is being ''home schooled''. Their contrasting reactions to their environment and in particular to the days weather reveal a tragic lack of spontaneity and a profound pessimism in the old lady''s character which has perhaps destined her to live alone. Then there is the tale of Alf whose lifelong dislike and fear of dogs evaporates in old age when he is prevailed upon to adopt a lurcher.
Throughout there are moments of profound introspection and equally revealing dialogue. In ''A Man And A Woman'' a bachelor on a date is credited with making a simple discovery " The man''s simple discovery had been to pause before speaking. A couple of seconds was enough to choose a better response than the one that leapt to mind, one that allowed dialogue, allowed the other''s world to exist. Speech was not for you to be right. It was to find outcomes." In the closing story, ''Nothing is Happening Because There is a Point'', a couple discuss their relationship and whether destiny played any part in it. The following rather incisive comment on logic stands out from this exchange "....Words can insist that other words following them have to be true, but logic doesn''t bring about marriages, or there probably wouldn''t be any."
There is much,much more to savour in this collection , which for the short story afficianado is a veritable feast of nectared sweets. Huw Lawrence's touch is masterful throughout and each story is as elegant as it is insightful. I will be filing this collection on my bookshelf next to Raymond Carver and John Cheever and returning to it often.
new single..."Just The Mention Of Your Name" - now on Amazon for download!
By Darren Parry, 2010-03-28
| First Fifty Ticket Holders Entered Into Competition For $50 Gift Card!
The first fifty persons to purchase tickets for our 'Night of The Living Bards' event will be entered in a grand prize draw. Four lucky winners will receive a $50 gift certificate to spend on the night. Tickets, priced at $7, are selling fast so in order to ensure your participation in the prize draw and to avoid disappointment on the night BUY NOW!
You can purchase tickets online by going to this url:- http://www.eventbee.com/view/americymru/event?eid=736303212 and clicking on 'Register' in the top left hand corner. If you would prefer to reserve tickets directly from the event organizers please email americymru@gmail.com to make appropriate arrangements.
'The Night of The Living Bards' which is a Left Coast Eisteddfod event will take place between 5 and midnight on Thursday October 7th 2010 at the Buffalo Gap in Portland, Oregon. See you there:)
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One of the joys of Llangollen is that it brings together in friendly competition some of the finest musical talent the world has to offer . Mervyn Cousins , Executive Director, Llangollen International Eisteddfod.
Llangollen boasts many International Stars staring in their own concerts every night of the Festival week. However, during the day one can see a plethora of future International stars in the making in healthy competition on the same stage. Stifyn Parri, Local Entrepeneur/Concert Producer.
Llangollen Festival is a powerful magnet drawing in singers, dancers and performers from all four corners of the globe and transforming this small town in the Dee Valley into a feast of colour, sound and energy. This, of course, brings a wealth of first-class entertainment to our doorsteps here in Wales- a unique opportunity to experience the finest national and international talent battling it out in exhilarating competition for one action-packed, no-holds-barred week! This year the Eisteddfod is all set to embrace compelling competitors and performers from Europe , the USA , the Caribbean and Asia .
DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY CHORALE MANILA- PHILIPPINES Competing on Friday 9 July.
The DLSU Chorale is based at the De La Salle University in Manila and, in addition to winning 1 st Prize in the Folkloric Special Category of the Bela Bartok 21st International Choir Competition in Debrecen in 2004 they also have a European tour under their belt together with two full tours of the USA in 2002 and 2004.
What competitions are you taking part in this year? We will be participating in the Chamber and Folk Choir Competitions in Llangollen, but have also entered competitions in Germany and Italy. How many competitions have you entered? The group has entered several International Competitions since 1992. How are you travelling to the UK? We will be travelling from a choir festival in Switzerland, and then travelling by train to UK. How many different types of transport will you have used? Plane, trains, chartered coaches. What mode of transport will you be using whilst in Wales? Train and coach. Have you competed in Llangollen before? Which competition was it...what was the result? Based on the group's history, with a different conductor, the group was there in 1992. They placed 2nd in the Chamber Choir and Third in Folk Choir. Have you been to Wales before? No. UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS SINGERS - PHILIPPINES Competing on Thursday 8 th and Friday 9 th July.
With the added participation of the University of Santo Tomas Singers , the Philippines will be particularly well represented this year! Founded in 1992, the UST Singers is a mixed choral ensemble composed of a select group of students and alumni representing the different colleges and faculties of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas the oldest university in Asia, (celebrating its 400 th Anniversary this year). The choir has achieved both national and international recognition as one of the top choirs in the world and, in 1995, they triumphed at the 49th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod winning four First Prizes including the coveted Choir Of The World. Their visit to Llangollen is part of a worldwide tour which starts on April 9 th .
What competitions are you taking part in this year? The University of Santo Tomas Singers are taking part in 4 categories: MIXED CHOIRS, CHAMBER CHOIRS, FOLK CHOIRS and YOUTH CHOIRS. How many competitions have you entered? As of yet, this is the choir's 16th time to participate in an international choral competition.
Did you have difficulties securing visas? Weve got our visas easily. Where will you be staying whilst in Wales? Hopefully with host families just like in 1995 and 1998. How many of you are coming over? 31 of us are coming (30 singers and our conductor).
THE YOUNG PEOPLES CHORUS OF NEW YORK CITY - USA Competing on Wednesday 7 th , Thursday 8 th and Friday 9 th July
The children have been buzzing for months with excitement about our upcoming trip to Wales. They are anticipating seeing the country, learning the culture, but most of all they are eager to experience the high art presented at the Eisteddfod. And, of course, we cant wait to take to the stage ourselves and show Wales our New York City spirit. Elizabeth Nez , Conductor, The Young Peoples Chorus of New York City.
The Young Peoples Chorus of New York City is an award-winning, internationally acclaimed youth ensemble that has sung everywhere from Carnegie Hall to Smetana Hall in Prague and St. Martin in the Fields in London and this summer makes its third trip to Japan for a 15-city tour. YPC performs repertoire ranging from classical, jazz and pop, to music from many of the worlds cultures and has commissioned more than 50 new works from composers who include Pulitzer Prize, Oscar, and MacArthur genius grant winners. The chorus has won five gold medals at the World Choir Games in Germany and Austria and top prizes at other choral competitions in the U.S, Canada, Spain, and the Czech Republic. It has won awards for adventurous programming and education outreach from Chorus America and been cited as a national model of artistic excellence and diversity by the Presidents Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
What competitions are you taking part in this year? The Young People's Chorus of New York City will be participating in categories 7: Senior Childrens Choir, 8: Junior Childrens Choir, and 22: Folk Showcase.
How many competitions have you entered in Llangollen this year? Three.
How will you be travelling to Wales? We will travel to London by plane and from there to Llangollen by bus.
What mode of transport will you be using whilst in Wales? Bus.
Have you competed in Llangollen before? No, the YPC has never travelled to Wales as a group.
Did you have any difficulties securing Visas? Since we are a childrens choir who are paying for our trip from the US, we do not need to secure Visas and will enter the country with passports.
Where will you be staying whilst in Wales? We hope to be staying in hotels.
How many of you will be coming over? Our group will be comprised of approximately 60 people: 10 adults and 50 children. Will you be bringing any special costumes or props? We will sing in our regular concert uniforms and may feature an urban look during our Folk Showcase. DAWNSWYR SIR CONWY - WALES Competing on Wednesday 7 th July
There will be plenty of Welsh talent on show too and amongst them will be the dextrous feet of Dawnswyr Sir Conwy. We've been dancing as a group since the G yl Cerdd Dant music festival was held in the Conwy Valley a few years ago, says their Leader Dr Prydwen Elfed Owens . We're mostly made up of local teachers, which is great because they all go back to their schools to form dance groups of their own. Weve competed successfully at the National Eisteddfod and weve also represented Wales on several trips overseas. Our fundamental aim is to raise awareness of our rich folk traditions and, of course, to have fun!
What competitions are you taking part in this year? The Dawnswyr Sir Conwy are taking part in competition number 171, Folk Dancing for Groups.
How many competitions have you entered in Llangollen this year? One.
Have you competed in Llangollen before? We have never competed in Llangollen before but we have competed in the National Eisteddfod of Wales and Local Eisteddfods.
How many of you will be at Llangollen? There will be 26 of us.
Will you be bringing any special costumes or props? There will be twelve women dancing in traditional Welsh hats. One member of the dance groups great great great Grandfather, David Edwards of Amlwch was a famous Welsh hatter. We have obtained one of his original hats with his name on it and have had twelve hats made by a local hatter in the exact same style as the original David Edwards hat which was unique to him. Another prop that we will be using is the Mari Lwyd. SOUL SOUNDS ACADEMY CHOIR SRI LANKA Competing on Wednesday 7 July and performing on Childrens Day 6 July.
Sri Lanka will be represented this year by the delightful Soul Sounds Academy Choir . The choir was runner-up in the Youth Choir category in Llangollen in 2004 and, since then they have gone from strength to strength, having performed in both Australia and China. In January 2005 the choir came together as one to work towards a project to raise funds for the victims of the devastating Asian tsunami of 26 December 2004 . They were asked to perform for a single, alongside stars like Cliff Richard , Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones , Russell Watson , Robin and Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees , Steve Winwood , Boy George , Chicago and others, raising millions for the charity. What competitions are you taking part in this year? We are performing on the World Stage on Childrens Day and in the Senior Childrens Choir competition.
How many competitions have you entered in Llangollen this year? One.
How will you be travelling to Wales? We will be flying to the UK and then travelling by bus.
What mode of transport will you be using whilst in Wales? We will be travelling by bus.
Have you competed in Llangollen before? Yes, we won the Youth Choir category in 2004.
Have you had any difficulties securing Visas? Hopefully not.
Have you been to Wales before? Yes.
Where will you be staying whilst in Wales? We hope to be staying in student accommodation.
How many of you will be coming over? There will be forty competitors plus supporters. Will you be bringing any special costumes or props? Yes, we plan to wear traditional dress throughout our time at the Eisteddfod.
COMPETITORS CLUB:
The Competitors Club is a haven on the field for all Llangollen competitors, where food, drink, tea and coffee is provided free of charge to all. Local support, be it financial and/or food and drink, is always greatly appreciated.
Last years winners of the Choir of the World Competition- the Westminster Chorus from California are sadly unable to attend this year to defend their crown but the good news is that their vast legion of new fans in Wales ( and worldwide ) will be able to see them via a special webcast on April 17th from the Vic Lopez Auditorium at Whittier High School in Whittier, CA. Their spokesperson Colin Plain is excited about the prospect- This is sure to be a fantastic show, so come on out and enjoy a great night of barbershop singing! For more details about this webcast log in to the Choruss website at www.westminsterchorus.org Other notable absentees from across the Atlantic this year will be long-time Llangollen favourites the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club . Regular Festival-goers will no doubt recall that the choir participated in the Eisteddfod throughout the sixties, seventies and eighties and this year they are proudly celebrating their 150th anniversary as an ensemble. They plan to present their alumni with a special award to commemorate this important milestone and we are proud to announce that the Llangollen emblem will feature prominently on this award as a testimony to the importance of the International Eisteddfod in the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club distinguished history.
JAMAICAN FOLK SINGERS JAMAICA Competing on Friday 9 th July
The sunshine and exuberance of the Caribbean will be reflected in the glorious presence, once again, of the Jamaican Folk Singers . According to the groups musical director Christine MacDonald the purpose of this exhilarating ensemble is to share the richness, variety and significance of the islands musical heritage with people all over the world. "It is the love of Jamaica and a sense of loyalty and dedication to the preservation of Jamaica's folk music heritage that keeps the group going , she says. Additionally, we take great pride in sharing the music that has been unearthed and the beautiful arrangements of its founder, Dr. Olive Lewin. The group's activities are very relevant today and will continue to be relevant because of the need for people to know about their country and history, and this can help to instil pride."
What competitions are you taking part in this year? The Jamaican Folk Singers will be competing in the following two competitions Competition 22 Folk Showcase and Competition, Competition 23 Folk Group.
How many competitions have you entered in Llangollen this year? Two . How will you be travelling to Wales? The group will be traveling to London via plane, then to Manchester via plane and from there by bus to Wales.
What mode of transport will you be using whilst in Wales? While in Wales, the group will travel by bus using transportation provided by the Eisteddfod organizers to get to and from the Eisteddfod grounds.
Have you been to Wales before? It will be group's second visit to Wales, the first being to do a performance scheduled as part of one of the group's concert tours to London.
Have you competed in Llangollen before? This will be the first time that the group will be participating in the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
Did you have any difficulties securing Visas? The cost to acquire the appropriate visas has been a challenge, but the group is arranging to get assistance from the local Ministry of Culture to assist in the group's overall travel arrangements.
Where will you be staying whilst in Wales? The group has indicated its interest in taking advantage of the accommodations offered by the organizers of the Eisteddfod.
How many of you will be coming over? Presently, plans are proceeding to have 25 members of The Jamaican Folk Singers represent the group at the 2010 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
Will you be bringing any special costumes or props? The group will be traveling with special costumes designed for participation in the Eisteddfod, these being costumes to be worn on stage and while on the Eisteddfod grounds. Llangollen 2010 welcomes the world with open arms and, once again, the world rushes in. Ticket Office 01978 862001 (or general number 862000). Llangollen 2010 July 5 July 11
Monday 5th: Katherine Jenkins Opening Gala Concert An evening of stunning music to begin the festival and celebrate the reopening of the Royal International Pavilion. This promises to be a night to remember! ( www.kj.tv ) 55, 35
Tuesday 6th : Karl Jenkins: The Armed Man A Mass for Peace . Beethoven: Piano Concerto Number 3, Brahms: Academic Festival Overture. Sinfonia Cymru. Ll r Williams, Piano . Sinfonia Cymru makes its Llangollen debut under the baton of Karl Jenkins as he conducts his own Mass for Peace with a Wales and the World choir. The extraordinary Ll r Williams is at the piano for Beethovens third concerto. An absolute must! 35, 25
Wednesday 7 th : One World, One Stage : The legendary- and justifiably celebrated Welcome Ceremony and Procession of Performers through the Pavilion. As ever, this will be an unforgettable evening of truly global music and dance which is a favourite with Eisteddfod regulars and a marvellous taster of the week to come. Expect performances from Pakistan, Wales, USA, and North Africa, amongst others. 18, 14
Thursday 8 th : Shine with the Bond Quartet : A typically eclectic Llangollen mix, with a new twist. Brilliant dancers perform everything from Bhangra to BreakDance. An international choir of 100 young children come together in peace and harmony, and then the upbeat string players of multi-million CD-selling Bond shine and sparkle. 20, 15
Friday 9 th : Only Men Aloud : The hugely popular and Classical Brit-nominated Only Men Aloud at Llangollen for the very first time! The boys will be singing Welsh favourites and other exciting pieces and will be joined by musical friends from around the world. 30, 20
Saturday 10 th : Choir of the World and Champions of Brass : The incomparable Choir of the World competition preceded by the world champions of brass! Wales own Cory Band in concert in the first half, before the weeks winning choirs sing off for the Pavarotti Trophy. 25, 15
Sunday 11 th : Nigel Kennedy : One of the worlds great musical stars, the inimitable Nigel Kennedy returns to the festival in spectacular style with his full orchestra and band to perform a smash-hit programme of Bach and Ellington which he is performing in Wales for the first time. 55, 40, 25
Day Sessions:
Tuesday 6th: International Childrens Day : Exotic Traditions: Be transported to the Indian subcontinent, and Sudan, by musicians, dancers and acrobats. Includes Kawa Circus breathtaking brand of dance and fun. This is especially for Primary Schools and 5000 children are expected. 5 per child pre-booked teachers free.
Wednesday 7th: International Song and Dance : Choirs and folk dancers from 20 countries. Also featuring the best young soloists in the world in an event that has been the launching pad for young stars such Faryl Smith in recent years. Performers from five continents on the outside stages the whole world in one place! Pavilion ticket (including ground entry): 20, 15, 12. Ground Admission: 9 (senior citizen 8, children under 16 5)
Thursday 8th : Youth Entertains : Young singers and Folk Dancers of the world Join the musical party with 1000 young performers; Childrens Dance, Youth Choirs, the biggest Junior Childrens Choirs competition, and Songs from the Shows. Enjoy Jazz and Roots, Hip-Hop and Bollywood, and colour everywhere. There will be special Youth Day packages for Secondary Schools. Pavilion ticket: 15, 12. Ground Admission: 9 (senior citizen 8, children under 16 5) .
Friday 9th : International Celtic and Folk Day : For many this represents the true essence of Llangollen: Mixed and Chamber Choirs, plus the spectacular all-new Folk competitions. Folk music spills out onto the Eisteddfod field, with an extra Celtic flavour. Bands from Wales lead a colourful mix of sights, sounds, dance and art to the outside stages. Pavilion ticket: 15, 12. Ground Admission: Ground Admission: 9 (senior citizen 8, children under 16 5).
Saturday 10th : International Family Day : Simply the best male and female choirs in the world singing everything from Bach to Barbershop. Luciano Pavarotti won on this day in 1955 so expect high standards! Also, of course, the Peace Message will be delivered to the world by local children. On the field there will be activities for all the family; music, dance, arts, crafts, story-telling, and competitions. Pavilion ticket: 20, 15, 12. Ground Admission: 9 (senior citizen 8, children under 16 5) but note that Family ticket @ 20
Sunday 12th: During the day, the festival spills out into the town in a carnival atmosphere. Music all over Llangollen! This is the Peoples Day with local, regional, and international performers combining their talents. A relaxed day for everyone, culminating in the evening concert of course! Further details later. Tickets: 5 adults, 1 for children under 16.
Season Tickets : This year sees an expanded range of Season Ticket offers; the full Season from 2009 is now known as a Gold Season, and the daytime-only package is the Silver Season. For 2010 Llangollen offers a PLATINUM Season, covering everything from Tuesday to Sunday inclusive. This represents a fantastic saving of around 25% on the full prices, with a guarantee of the same seat throughout. If you can, do take this opportunity of making it a holiday week and join us for the whole span of the festival. For those coming on the Monday evening and staying through Tuesday; there is a wonderful Vocal Solo Competition (the 15 to 20 age-range) in the Town Hall on the Tuesday afternoon before the Parade of Nations at 4.30pm (weather permitting) through the streets of Llangollen including Commonwealth Games Team Wales athletes as well as all the competitor performers from all over the world.
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Y Fi a Mistar Urdd ar Cwmni Da published by Y Lolfa is written by the man who dreamt up the idea of Mr Urdd, Wynne Melville Jones, and tells the story of how and why the character was conceived and developed and follows his personal involvement in the organisation. The publication is also the first attempt to delve into why Urdd Gobaith Cymru, Wales largest youth movement, suffered more that any other organisation in Wales as a result of the strong and divisive opinions on the Investiture in 1969. Wynne Melville Jones was appointed Public Relations Officer for the youth movement after the Investiture at Caernarfon Castle. I realised that my job was much more than raising the profile of the organisation in the press and media and that something radical had to be done to both the image and the spirit of the organisation. Younger leaders of the organisation felt dismayed and had lost interest and moral was very low, said Mr Jones The question as to whether the Urdd should send representatives to the Investiture at Caernarfon had developed into a bitter and heated argument. Members of the movements governing committees expressed concern that the movement could loose out considerably on public funding if a decision was made to snub the Investiture and the its reputation could be severely damaged within the Welsh establishment. Others, including the majority of the younger leaders, saw the ceremony as a political stunt, and a waste of money. Some were anti-royalty and others were simply just not interested. A deeply divided Urdd National Council decided by a slim majority that an invitation to send a small group of representatives from the Urdd should be accepted. Later as a result of considerable lobbying by younger members, the Council was then recalled and the decision was reversed. Some key members of the Council resigned. A compromise was reached by inviting Prince Charles, who was at the time a student of Welsh Studies at the University College of Wales in Aberystwyth, to the 1969 Urdd National Eisteddfod at Aberystwyth to present the main trophy for the County gaining the highest marks at the Eisteddfod, and that he would make the presentation in the main pavilion in Welsh. When the Prince stood on the stage to make his presentation a highly organised protest took place when hundreds of young people shouted anti-investiture slogans and walked out of the marquee. The Prince, at his own request, also visited the Urdd residential centre at Glan-Llyn on the shores of Bala lake, on the day following the investiture at Caernarfon, where he wanted to spend a relaxing afternoon with young people before going on his whistle-stop tour of Wales. Many questions have been asked, over the years, as to why the Urdd suffered more than any other organisation as a result of the internal quarrel on the Investiture. Was it a devious political stunt by George Thomas, the then Secretary of State for Wales, well known for his negative attitude towards the Welsh language and his obsession with the rise of Welsh patriotism and nationalism? Was it an attempt to cause damage to a Welsh language organisation by confusing some factions of the public in Wales who could not differentiate between the Urdd and the Free Wales Army or Cymdeithas yr Iaith? Was the Urdd an easy target and an attempt to embarrass the founder Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards and the Urdd Director R E Griffith both highly respected and recognised national leaders in Wales and both had been nominated to sit on Investiture Committees? Other important Welsh institutions including the National Eisteddfod of Wales and the Gorsedd of Bards attended the event in Caernarfon with no repercussions. Plaid Cymru, decided to leave the matter of the Investiture on the table and although Party President Gwynfor Evans refused to attend, which some say contributed to him losing his seat in Carmarthen, both Dafydd Wigley and Dafydd Elis-Thomas were elected to Parliament in February 1974 but the Urdd was still suffering from the aftermath 8 years after the event. Its too easy just to identify and blame outside influences, although without doubt they did play a part in this damaging episode. There were also tensions within the organisation especially among the younger leaders who felt they had very little influence on policy and on the decision making process of the organisation. The members of the influential management committees tended to be middle aged or older people, highly respected people who had strived over the years to support and nurture the Welsh language. The generation gap and miscalculated judgement of how Welsh identity had evolved and how the younger generation perceived the new Wales in the sixties and seventies is a lesson for all organisations. Recognition must be given to the aspirations and visions of the membership the organisation exists to serve and the voice of the younger generation must be heard in the decision making process. It was in this climate of low moral and fatigue that I began as PR man for the Urdd. It needed much more than a re-branding exercise and I was given the opportunity to work with others to develop new attractive ideas to appeal to a new generation of young people in Wales and Mr Urdd was one of the most successful of the campaigns and a turning point for the organisation. The Investiture had left a bad taste and it took almost ten years of hard work by many people for the Urdd to recover from the after effects of what appeared to many of its supporters to be an irrelevant and insignificant Investiture. The most important lesson is yet to be learnt- that falling into the trap of quarrelling amongst ourselves has a damaging effect on Wales The effort to rejuvenate the organisation paid off and the Urdd today is a highly successful and a vibrant organisation with a turnover of almost 8M, 50,000 members and 200 professional staff and is considered to be one of the worlds best youth organisation and the envy of many countries, said Mr Jones. MR URDD - Milestones. * Mr Urdd, a character based on the Urdds triangular badge became an overnight success for Wales largest youth organisation and 34 years later continues to be highly popular as one of the main attractions at Urdd events. * The huge demand for Mr Urdd merchandise led to the setting up of a business section within the youth organisation resulting in a relocation of the production unit from the Urdd headquarters in Aberystwyth to an advanced factory in Llanbadarn on the outskirts of town, the opening of a boutique and the setting up of a mail order service. * Sophia Gardens Pavilion in Cardiff, Waless premier venue for major events at the time, was packed to capacity in January 1979 to welcome Mr Urdd live on stage which was followed by a 12 week tour of Wales taking Mr Urdd and his roadshow to tens of thousands of children and young people in all corners of Wales. * Mr Urdd has travelled far and wide and has accompanied Welsh astronaut Dafydd Rhys Williams on a flight through space to the International Space Station on 17 April 1998. Recently, the Urdd acknowledged former library van driver Gareth Lewis of Bow Street, Ceredigion for travelling 384,000 miles in his private car with a Mr Urdd soft toy always on his dashboard. * Mr Urdd songs have been released over the years by Super Furry Animals, rugby legend Ray Gravel and Emyr Wyn (Dai Scafalde) in the S4C soap opera Pobol y Cwm. * Mr Urdd was one of the first major successful a biggest marketing campaigns in the Welsh language. Wynne Melville Jones A native of Tregaron in Ceredigion grew up as a member of the Urdd, spent ten years on the Urdd full time staff, became Chairman of the Urdd National Council and is today an Honorary President of the organisation and one of the Urdds most influential leaders. In 1979 he founded StrataMatrix as the first bilingual PR agency in Wales. The company has its headquarters in Aberystwyth and has evolved over the years into a full communications agency and is now one of the leading public affairs companies in Cardiff Bay. He is also a founding Director of Golwg Cyf the company responsible for the Welsh weekly current affairs magazine and on-line news service and a Director of the community interest company the Vestri Foundation Y Fi a Mistar Urdd ar Cwmni Da is being launched at 6.30 pm on Thursday 25 March 2010 at the Marine Hotel, Aberystwyth and is published to coincide with the Ceredigion Urdd National Eisteddfod which opens at Llanerchaeron on 31 May. www.ylolfa.com
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