Posts Categorized: Featured

Llangollen language school puts up scholarship for Eisteddfod competitors

ONE lucky overseas competitor at this year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod stands to benefit from an all-expenses paid English course courtesy of the town’s newly relaunched language school.

After successfully trading under the name of ECTARC from its base in Parade Street for a number of years, the school has now been re-branded as The Mulberry School of English.

(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…)

Californian gold rush as choir wins world crown

A choir from California struck gold at a major international music festival.

The Bob Cole Conservatory Chamber Choir clinched the prestigious Pavarotti Trophy in the Choir of the World competition at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Among those they pipped for top spot was the Welsh choir, Cȏr Glanaethwy, who were also finalists in Britain’s Got Talent. (more…)

Llangollen Eisteddfod receives peace award from Rotary International

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has been honoured for its contribution to world peace.

The iconic festival was presented with a Rotary International Peace Award by the organisation’s organisation’s 1180 District during a special ceremony on the pavilion stage.

And the leading Rotarian whose brainchild the accolade is says that she couldn’t think of a more deserving recipient than the festival itself, which is this year celebrating 70 years of furthering peace and harmony across the world through music and the arts. (more…)

Sons of founder of iconic festival make emotional return to 70th Eisteddfod

THE sons of the founding father of the iconic festival made an emotional return as VIP guests at the 70th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Brothers Peter and Selwyn Tudor both attended the event on Friday and were met by the Eisteddfod president Terry Waite CBE and the chairman, Rhys Davies, and Selwyn and his family stayed on for the Friday night concert. (more…)

Portuguese Consul forges new cultural links with iconic festival

A Portuguese community leader in Wrexham has been helping to rekindle cultural links between her home country and Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

A ladies’ choir from Oporto was amongst the first competitors at the inaugural festival in 1947.

Then, two years ago, a Portuguese choir was one of the highlights of a hospice summer fete in Wrexham town centre where they were congratulated on their performance by Eisteddfod President Terry Waite who said he’d like to see more competitors and visitors from the country at the festival.  (more…)

The best festival in the world

Jools Holland brings Llangollen Eisteddfod to foot-stomping climax

Boogie-woogie legend Jools Holland brought Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod to a foot-stomping climax and hailed it as the “best festival in the world”.

The former Squeeze pianist, band leader, author, TV and radio presenter and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra  starred in the final concert to bring the curtain down on this year’s festival. (more…)

Refugee’s labour of love is a record of iconic festival’s history

A tapestry created by a refugee from 1950s Czechoslovakia who became a Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod volunteer is to go on display at next year’s festival.

The framed tablecloth, decorated with the hundreds of embroidered signatures of former Eisteddfod visitors and competitors, hangs in the festival’s Press Office but retired language teacher, Darina Gaffin, of Froncysyllte, who herself volunteers as one of the eisteddfod’s Floral Team, wants to see her mother’s work go on public show. (more…)