Posts Tagged: Music

Entries Open for Llangollen 2018

Festival of music, dance and peace opens for entries for the 2018 International Eisteddfod

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is calling out to talented singers, dancers and instrumentalists to join others from across the globe and enter its competitions, which will take place from 3rd – 8th July 2018.

Successful entrants will compete for a range of prestigious titles including Dance Champions of the World, International Voice of the Future, International Voice of Musical Theatre and the jewel in the crown of the festival, Choir of the World.

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Pieces by Musical Directors past and present to be performed at 70th Eisteddfod

Music composed by both the first and current Musical Directors of the iconic cultural festival will be performed at the 70th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod next month.

At the glittering Thursday evening concert opera legend Bryn Terfel will sing a Welsh piece penned by W.S Gwynne Williams, the Eisteddfod’s first Musical Director, after a rousing opening Fanfare by his latest successor, Eilir Owen Griffiths.

Eilir said: “Bryn Terfel will be singing the song Tosturi Duw as a tribute to my illustrious predecessor while I’ll be giving the world premiere of my own Fanfare which is also a celebration of this very special occasion.” (more…)

How do you solve a problem like a marimba – just ask Merle

How do you solve a problem like marimba – that’s been one of the headaches for Merle Hunt at this week’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

A marimba is a giant, eight-foot long percussion instrument weighing over 350 pounds and finding one and a home for it was the tricky question facing retired schools inspector Merle, Overseas Competitors’ Liaison Officer at the famous festival.

The £10,000 instrument is being played in competition this week by Elise Liu, a diminutive 17-year-old from the Hong Kong Schools Music and Speech Association which sends two competitors to Llangollen every year. (more…)

Llangollen winner will be invited to join Aussie Gold Rush

A fabulous 10,000-mile trip Down Under to one of the world’s biggest cultural festivals is the prize for one lucky winner at this summer’s 70th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

The title of International Voice of Musical Theatre in July will come with a paid-for trip to Australia’s Gold Coast Eisteddfod in October to sing in their Musicale event.

The invitation follows a visit to last year’s Eisteddfod by representatives of the Gold Coast Eisteddfod, held in Queensland’s stunning tropical beachside city for the past 33 years.

The Musicale follows seven weeks of competition featuring over 70,000 singers and dancers, most of them under 20, and including 350 bands and orchestras, 175 choirs, almost 1500 dance groups and over 3,000 solo dancers. (more…)

Singing queen Kerry heads for Llangollen

The singer dubbed the First Lady of the West End is heading for Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod this summer.

Organisers of the iconic festival have signed up Kerry Ellis who has starred in smash hit musicals in London’s West End and Broadway in New York and is a long-term collaborator of Queen guitarist Brian May.

She will be topping the bill in the Voices of Musical Theatre concert on Wednesday, July 6, when she’ll be sharing the stage with Britain’s Got Talent winners Collabro,  the classical and musical theatre boy band.

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First choir to sing at Llangollen prepares for historic return

The first ever choir to sing at the world-famous Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod is to make a symbolic return to celebrate the festival’s 70th year.

The Colne Valley Male Voice Choir, based in Huddersfield, has scooped six titles at the historic festival over the years as well as five second places and two third prizes – but back in 1947 they missed out.

The 70-strong choir, which was founded in Slaithwaite in 1922, was the first to take to the Eisteddfod stage in 1947 and it was up against choirs from Hungary, the eventual winners, Spain, Italy, Denmark and Holland as well as Wales and England.

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Appearing in Llangollen will be a “dream come true” for top tenor

Superstar tenor Joseph Calleja will be fulfilling a long-held ambition when he appears at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Not only will he be following in the footsteps of his hero, Luciano Pavarotti, the Maltese singer will also be appearing with one of his best friends, the globally acclaimed bass baritone, Bryn Terfel.

Joseph and Bryn will be taking to the stage together for the Classical Gala Concert marking the 70th Llangollen Eisteddfod since the iconic festival was founded in 1947 to promote peace and harmony in the world. (more…)

Search for world’s best young singers given a massive boost

An iconic competition to find the world’s best young singers has been given a massive boost by a pioneering care organisation.

Pendine Park has agreed to more than triple the prize money up for grabs in the prestigious Voice of the Future competition at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

According to the festival’s Musical Director, Eilir Owen Griffiths, increasing the annual prize to £5,000 from 2017 onwards will “catapult the competition into a whole new league”.

He said: “This is a truly remarkable gesture which will lead to a big surge in interest for new vocal talent.

“The timing is especially appropriate as we will be celebrating our 70th anniversary in 2017 and looking forward to an even brighter future.”

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Son of Llangollen Eisteddfod founder remembers festival’s heady early days

The son of the man who founded the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is to be a guest of honour at the 70th festival this July.

Peter Tudor, now 84, remembers how his father, visionary Welsh journalist Harold Tudor, came up with the idea of a grand cultural gathering to help heal the scars left by World War Two.

Peter vividly recalls the excitement generated as competitors from across Europe began to gather for the first festival in the small Denbighshire town in the summer of 1947.

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Llangollen Eisteddfod on a roll after top bakery serves up early dough

Bakery bosses have served up an early boost for the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Earlier this year the festival launched a cash appeal because the 2015 event was heading for a financial loss.

The appeal raised £50,000 and now long-term sponsors the Village Bakery are paying next year’s sponsorship money ahead of time.

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