One of Wales’s brightest emerging composers is counting down to one of the biggest moments of his career as he prepares for the world premiere of his new work at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod 2026. 
Cardiff-born composer Sam Buttler will premiere his new bilingual work, Greeting the Dawn, as the opening piece of the landmark concert Uniting Nations: One World on Tuesday 7 July. The performance is the culmination of the Eisteddfod’s Harmony Without Borders composition initiative, supported by the Arts Council of Wales, which was created to nurture the next generation of composers while celebrating Wales’s rich musical heritage.
The world premiere will launch one of the most anticipated evenings in the festival’s recent history, with Sir Karl Jenkins, President of the Eisteddfod for 2026, conducting his acclaimed One World later in the programme.
For Sam, seeing his music brought to life by choir and orchestra on one of the world’s most famous musical stages is a dream come true.
“Preparations are going well,” he said. “The singers are rehearsing and I hear they’re having a great time learning the piece. I can’t wait to hear it.”
The title, Greeting the Dawn, draws inspiration from two iconic Welsh poems: Niwbwrch by Dafydd ap Gwilym and Y Wawr by Hedd Wyn. Together they tell the story of someone arriving in an unfamiliar place, receiving a warm welcome from its people before witnessing the beauty of a new dawn.
“I wanted to write something about being welcomed somewhere because I think that’s a fundamental aspect of the Llangollen Eisteddfod and the Harmony Without Borders project,” Sam explained. “The piece follows someone arriving in the evening, being welcomed by the town and its people, and then experiencing the dawn the following morning.”
Writing a bilingual work for choir and orchestra presented both challenges and opportunities.
“The biggest challenge was the timescale,” he said. “I like to live with my music for a while, but this had to be written quite quickly. I’d also never set Welsh text before, so that was a wonderful challenge and a real test of my Welsh language skills.”
“The biggest joy has been writing for choir and orchestra together. There’s something incredibly special about combining voices and orchestra. I love writing for large forces, so this has been a fantastic opportunity.”
Asked what audiences can expect, Sam laughed: “A lot of notes! But also a real sense of joy and excitement.”
More importantly, he hopes the work will set the tone for the entire festival.
“I hope it starts the Eisteddfod off with a bang. I hope people leave feeling that music has the power to unite us all. When people come together to sing and play, they create something magical, and I hope audiences leave with a sense of hope and wonder at what music can achieve.”
Dave Danford, Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, said:
“One of the most exciting parts of our work is creating opportunities for the next generation of composers, and Sam has embraced that opportunity brilliantly. Greeting the Dawn captures the warmth, welcome and international friendship that have defined the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for almost 80 years.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the Arts Council of Wales for supporting our Harmony Without Borders initiative, which has made this commission possible. Investing in new music and emerging talent is vital to ensuring the future of choral music remains vibrant and relevant.
“To open Eisteddfod 2026 with a world premiere by a young Welsh composer, before Sir Karl Jenkins conducts One World during his year as our President, is a powerful statement about who we are as a festival. We celebrate the world’s greatest musical traditions while creating new ones, and we can’t wait for audiences to hear Greeting the Dawn for the very first time.”
The world premiere of Greeting the Dawn will open Uniting Nations: One World on Tuesday 7 July, before Sir Karl Jenkins conducts his celebrated One World, alongside a full performance of Peace Child: The Musical.
Together, the programme reflects the Eisteddfod’s commitment to celebrating internationally renowned artists while nurturing the next generation of musical talent. It promises to be one of the defining moments of Eisteddfod 2026, celebrating peace, hope, creativity and the power of music to bring people together across cultures, generations and borders.
