Posts Categorized: Music

SCOTTISH LEGENDS TEXAS TO HEADLINE LIVE AT LLANGOLLEN PAVILION 2025

THURSDAY JUNE 26 2025

TICKETS ON SALE 9AM FRIDAY OCT 4

 

Following on from their critically acclaimed sold-out UK arena tour, Texas will be bringing their popular, crowd loving live show to Llangollen next summer.

 

Fronted by Sharleen Spiteri, Texas will showcase five decades of music from the worldwide classic I Don’t Want A Lover to the modern-day hits of Mr Haze and Keep on Talking when they headline Live at Llangollen Pavilion on Thursday June 26.

 

With more than 40 million albums sold, their songs continue to resonate with fans across the world including the ever popular Say What You Want, Summer Son and Inner Smile.

 

Tickets go on sale at 9am Friday (Oct 4) from llangollen.net and www.ticketmaster.co.uk

 

Speaking about the headline Llangollen concert, Sharleen Spiteri said: “I came to Llangollen for a gig this summer and was blown away by the incredible atmosphere and beautiful venue. We’ll have a great night with you next June and I can’t wait to see you all.”

 

The announcement is part of an ongoing partnership with Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

 

Cuffe and Taylor co-founder Peter Taylor said: “We’ve had the pleasure of working with Texas before and they always put on the best show. They’ve produced hit after hit over 35 incredible years, so their Llangollen debut is definitely not one to miss!”

 

Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Dave Danford added: Texas are undoubtedly one of the UK’s most beloved and enduring bands of the last few decades, and we’re delighted that they’ll be playing a show in the Llangollen Pavilion next summer. Sharleen Spiteri visited us during this year’s festival, and it’ll be great to have her back to take centre stage, along with the rest of the band, for a night to remember!”

 

It has already been announced that global pop rock sensation The Script will headline Live at Llangollen Pavilion on Thursday July 3.

Llangollen Eisteddfod once again welcomes the world to Wales

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has opened group applications for its unique festival for its 78th year in 2025, which takes place from Tuesday 8 to Sunday 13 July. Choirs and dance groups from around the globe can now apply to compete in the world-renowned celebration of music and dance.

Dave Danford, Artistic Director of the Llangollen Eisteddfod said, “We are delighted to be launching our syllabus for 2025, as we prepare to welcome competitors from home and abroad to North East Wales next summer. We are building on our ambitious 2024 festival, and expecting a very high standard across all of our competitions.”

In 2024, over 3,000 competitors came to Llangollen from 30 different countries. The festival is hoping to top this in 2025, as invitations land with the best amateur choirs and dance groups from around the world. In 2024, Côr Glanaethwy from Bangor won the coveted Pavarotti Trophy, along with the title of Choir of the World. The Young Choir of the World was won by Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir from the USA, and Soul Oasis Cultural Ambassadors from Trinidad and Tobago were the Lucille Armstrong Dance Champions.

The most famous winner of the competitions in Llangollen was Luciano Pavarotti in 1955, when he was a member of the Corale Rossini, a male voice choir from Modena, winning first prize at the International Eisteddfod. He later said that this was the most important experience of his life, and that it inspired him to become a professional singer. Since the festival was launched in 1947, tens of thousands of people from around the world have competed in the festival’s unique competitions.

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is located in the idyllic town of Llangollen in North East Wales. The majority of the competitions taking place in their magnificent 4,000-seater Pavilion.

Group applications are now open with full details of the competitions available from eisteddfodcompetitions.co.uk

Applications for the solo competitions open on 1 December 2024.

2024 Competition Results

Please see below the results from the 2024 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod competitions:

Wednesday 3rd July

A7 Senior Children’s Choirs

1st – Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir, USA

2nd – Voices of Singapore Children’s Choir, Singapore

3rd – Kajetán, Czech Republic

 C3 Children’s Traditional Folk Dance Group

1st – Nachda Punjab Youth Club, India

2nd – Pathway Dance Troupe, Zimbabwe

3rd – Mother Touch Groups of Schools, Zimbabwe

A8 Youth Choirs

1st – GC – Ensemble, Philippines

2nd – Xaverian College Concert Choir, England

B8 International Instrumentalist of the Future (9-14)

Winner – Ho Ngai Ting, Hong Kong

Runner up – Amelia Weber, Jersey

A6 Junior Children’s Choir

1st – Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwyncelyn, Cymru

2nd – Lindley Junior School Choir, England

3rd – Cor Glanaethwy, Cymru

B5 Vocal Solo (12-14)

1st – Fflur McConnell – Cymru

2nd – Ava Lea-James, England

3rd – Non Prys, Cymru

Thursday 4th July 

E1 Instrumental Ensemble

1st – Soul Oasis Cultural Ambassadors, Trinidad and Tobago

2nd – Clywedog Steel Pans, Cymru

3rd – Derwent Harps, Cymru

A9 Children’s Folk Song Choirs

1st – Hamilton Children’s Choir, Canada

2nd – Kajetán, Czech Republic

3rd – Cor Glanaethwy, Cymru

B7 International Instrumentalist of the Future (15-21)

Winner – Heledd Newton, Cymru

Runner-up – Paak Yu Jetthew Lee, Hong Kong

C1 Traditional Folk Dance Group

1st – Soul Oasis Cultural Ambassadors, Trinidad and Tobago

2nd – Prolisok, Ukraine

3rd – Gabhru panjab de, India

A10 Children’s Open Choirs

1st – Kajetán, Czech Republic

2nd – Hamilton Children’s Choir, Canada

3rd – Bax Choir, Heath Mount School, England

B2 Voice of Musical Theatre

Winner – Shea Ferron, Cymru

Runner-up – Celyn Stewart, Cymru

Friday 5th July

A1 Mixed Choirs

1st – GC – Ensemble, Philippines

2nd – Choir Collegium Medicum UMK, Poland

D2 Dance Dance (duet, trio)

1st – Sophie Klovak and Steffan Modla-Thomas, Ukraine

2nd – Otantik Bunka, Japan

B1 International Voice of the Future

1st – Shimona Rose, Singapore

2nd – Manon Ogwen Parry, Cymru

3rd – Charlotte Pawley, England

4th – Llinos Haf Jones, Cymru

5th – Joanna Cooke, England

6th – Louisa Stirland, Ireland

C2 Choreographed/Stylised Folk Dance Group

1st – Soul Oasis Cultural Ambassadors, Trinidad and Tobago

2nd – Prolisok, Ukraine

3rd – Nachda Punjab Youth Club, India

B6 Instrumental/Vocal Folk Solo

1st – Branwen Jones, Cymru

2nd – Llinos Haf Jones, Cymru

3rd – Salaar Asim, Pakistan

A2 Chamber Choirs

1st – Cantamus Camerata, USA

2nd – GC-Ensemble, Philippines

3rd – Choir Collegium Medicum UMK, Poland

B4 Vocal Solo (15-17)

1st – Leisa Lloyd-Edwards, Cymru

2nd – Branwen Jones, Cymru

3rd – Izzy Davies, England

A11 Adult Folk Song Choirs

1st – Soul Oasis Cultural Ambassadors, Trinidad and Tobago

2nd – GC-Ensemble, Philippines

3rd – BVG: The Indian Choir of England, India

B3 Vocal Solo (18-19)

1st – Isabel D’Avanzo, England

2nd – Rhiannon Roberts, England

3rd – Elisabeth Matthews,  United Kingdom

Saturday 6th July 

E1 Community Bands

1st – Wrexham Concert Band, Cymru

2nd – Mold Town Concert Band, Cymru

3rd – Chester Big Band, England

A3 Female Voice Choirs (SSAA)

1st –  Cantamus Camerata, USA

2nd – Tegalaw, Cymru

3rd – Di Voci, England

C4 Llangollen Dance Off

1st – Prolisok, Ukraine

2nd – Soul Oasis Cultural Ambassadors, Trinidad and Tobago

3rd – Karen’s Dance Classes, Cymru

A5 Open Choirs

1st – Cor Glanaethwy, Cymru

2nd – Meantime Chorus, England

3rd – Hamilton Children’s Choir, Canada

A4 Male Voice Choirs (TTBB)

1st – Meantime Chorus, England

2nd – Brythoniad Male Voice Choir, Cymru

3rd – Bolstertone Male Voice Choir, England

 

Young Choir of the World – Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir, USA

Conductors Prize – Mrs Elin Llywelyn-Williams

Choir of the World – Cor Glanaethwy, Cymru

Jayne Davies Conductors Prize – Dr Christopher Haygood

Lucille Armstrong Dance Champions – Soul Oasis Cultural Ambassadors, Trinidad and Tobago

Pendine International Voice of the Future – Shimona Rose, Singapore

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold+ Tickets Up For Grabs For Llangollen Eisteddfod’s Six Core Concerts

Music fans are being given a ‘golden’ opportunity to experience Llangollen Eisteddfod’s Six Core Concerts in style this summer.

The Core Week of the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod will open this year on Tuesday July 2nd with a headlining set from music legend Tom Jones, who kicks off six days of evening concerts, with mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins closing the week on Sunday July 7th.

Between these dates, audiences can enjoy a huge variety of evening events, featuring award-winning folk band Calan, royal harpist Alis Huws, Britain’s Got Talent favourites Johns’ Boys Male Chorus, West End and Broadway stars Kerry Ellis and John-Owen Jones, and two-time GRAMMY award-winning jazz sensation, Gregory Porter. (more…)

SNOWMAN BROUGHT TO LIFE IN LLANGOLLEN THIS CHRISTMAS!

  • NEW Sinfonia partners with the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod this Christmas.
  • There will be 2 concerts at the Llangollen Pavilion on December 23, led by refugees to promote peace.
  • They will present The Snowman with Live Orchestra, NEW Voices (inc. refugees) and NEW Sinfonia.

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod are continuing their partnership with NEW Sinfonia and are promising “…unique Christmas Concerts promoting peace at the Llangollen Pavilion Hall this Christmas.”  They have announced 2 concerts in Llangollen on Saturday, 23rd December at 12pm and 3.30pm. Both concerts feature performances by NEW Voices and NEW Sinfonia.

Refugees from Ukraine will lead, sing and perform with NEW Sinfonia in these concerts.  Each concert will culminate with a performance of the quintessential festive film, The Snowman, with the music performed live by NEW Sinfonia.

The concerts will take place on Saturday, 23 December in the hall at the Llangollen Pavilion. The events will raise money for a refugee charity and the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.  They have the twin aim of promising a truly magical experience for families at Christmas with a message of peace and reconciliation.   This follows on from their critically acclaimed White Flower (Lleisiau Llan) concert at the Llangollen Eisteddfod in July.

Robert Guy, NEW Sinfonia Co-Artistic Director said, “The Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod has long been the cornerstone of the cultural landscape in North Wales and we believe our organisations are naturally placed to work together promoting peace.  We are also continuing our work with refugees from Ukraine who will be leading our performances which we hope will be truly magical.   This concert will be truly breath-taking and we can’t wait to present The Snowman like people in Llangollen haven’t seen before.”

Life Vice-President of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Keith Potts said, “The White Flower concert in July was amazing and promoted our ethos of peace and reconciliation.  This message is as relevant as it was when we started our Eisteddfod in 1947.  We are delighted to be continuing our partnership with NEW Sinfonia this Christmas.  These are concerts not to be missed and we believe people will have a magical experience whilst remembering those who don’t enjoy the peace we do in the UK.”

To get tickets to either concert – please go to: https://www.newsinfonia.org.uk/

2023 Competition Results

Competition Results – Wednesday 5 July 2023
A7 Children’s Folk Choirs, A8 Junior Children’s Choirs, A9 Senior Children’s Choirs, Children’s Choir of the World Awards and Conductors Prize. 

A7 Children’s Folk Choirs:
1stCôr Heol y March, Cymru
2ndCantilon Chamber Choir, Canada
3rdCôr Glanaethwy, Cymru 

A8 Junior Children’s Choirs:
1stLindley Junior School Choir, England
2ndWalhampton School Chapel Choir, England
3rdThe Musical Originals Training Choir, Jersey 

A9 Senior Children’s Choirs:
1stCantilon Chamber Choir, Canada
2ndCantabile Girls Choir, England
3rd – Côr Heol y March, Cymru 

Children’s Choir of the World:
Winner – Lindley Junior School Choir, England
Conductors Prize – Jo Williamson 

 

Competition Results – Thursday 6 July 2023
C1 Traditional Folk-Dance Group, C3 Children’s Folk Dance Group, B6 Young Musician, C2 Choreographed/Stylised Folk Dance Group, B4 Junior Singer and B3 Young Singer. 

C1 Traditional Folk-Dance Group:
1stLoughgiel Folk Dancers, Northern Ireland
2ndLabschool Kebayoran Senior Highschool, Indonesia
3rdKYKLOS – Hellenic Performing and Literary Arts Group, Canada/Greece  

C3 Children’s Folk Dance Group:
1stLoughgiel Folk Dancers, Northern Ireland
2ndLabschool Kebayoran Senior Highschool, Indonesia
3rdNachda Punjab Youth Club, India  

B6 Young Musician:
1stEmma Buckley, Cymru
2ndAlwena Mair Owen, Cymru
3rdCerys Jones, Cymru 

C2 Choreographed/Stylised Folk Dance Group:
1stSoul Oasis Cultural Ambassadors, Trinidad and Tobago
2ndLabschool Kebayoran Senior Highschool, Indonesia
3rdLoughgiel Folk Dancers, Northern Ireland  

B4 Junior Singer:
1stRubie Le Masurier, Jersey
2ndErin Matthews, England
3rdChung Yin Joan Tso, Hong Kong  

B3 Young Singer:
1stDivine Simbanegavi, England
2nd – Oscar Fairclough, England
3rd – Heini Hughes, England

 

Competition Results – Friday 7 July 2023
B5 International Musician of the Future and B1 International Voice of the Future Semi-Final.  

B5 International Musician of the Future:
1stTom Hall, England (Percussion)
2ndGeorge Fradley, England (Piano)
3rdTomos Arthur Boyles, Cymru (Piano)  

B1 International Voice of the Future Semi-Final:
1stSamantha Lewis, England
2ndOwain Rowlands, Cymru
3rdJeannette Lee, China
4thCharlotte Kelso, Australia
5thNonkululeko Zondo, South Africa
6thZihua Zhang, China 

 

Competition Results – Saturday 8 July 2023
A1 Mixed Choir, A3 Equal Voice Choirs, A5 Open Choirs and A6 A Cappella Choirs.
Saturday evening Finale: Choir of the World, Lucille Armstrong Dance Award and B1 Pendine International Voice of the Future. 

A1 Mixed Choirs:
1stKAMMERCHOR MANILA, Philippines
2ndDelaware Choral Scholars, USA
3rdAzusa Pacific University Chamber, USA 

A3 Equal Voice Choirs:
1stLe Voci, England
2ndHeartbeat Chorus, England
3rdRisca Male Voice Choir, Cymru 

A5 Open Choirs:
1stDelaware Choral Scholars, USA
2ndAzusa Pacific University Chamber, USA
3rdHeartbeat Chorus, England 

A Cappella Choirs:
1stCantilon Chamber Choir, Canada
2ndAzusa Pacific University Chamber, USA
3rdCôr Glanaethwy, Cymru  

Saturday evening Finale: 

Choir of the World:
Winner – KAMMERCHOR MANILA – Philippines
Jayne Davies International Conductor’s Prize – Heather Johnson of Cantilon Chamber Choir – Canada 

Runners Up to COTW:
Cantilon Chamber Choir – Canada
Delaware Choral Scholars – USA
Le Voci – England 

Lucille Armstrong Dance Champions 2023:
Winner – Labschool Kebayoran Senior Highschool – Indonesia 

Runners Up –
Loughgiel Folk Dancers – Northern Ireland
Soul Oasis Cultural Ambassadors – Trinidad & Tobago 

Pendine International Voice of the Future:
Winner – Zihua Zhang – China
Runner-Up – Owain Rowlands – Wales
Charlotte Kelso – Australia 

 

Competition Results – Sunday 9 July 2023

D2 Community Bands
1stChester Big Band, England
2ndWrexham Concert Band, Cymru
3rd Mold Town Concert Band, Cymru  

B2 Voice of Musical Theatre
Winner – Makenna Malkin, USA
Runner up – Shea Ferron, Cymru
Fflur Davies, Cymru 

Dylan Thomas’s radio masterpiece brought back to life 70 years on

A famous radio broadcast by poet Dylan Thomas about Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is being recreated to mark its 70th anniversary. 

The reading from actor, writer and director Celyn Jones will form the centrepiece of a mini programme of events to celebrate the literary magician’s 15-minute masterpiece on the BBC’s Home Service when he visited in 1953. 

The vivid verbal images conjured an enchanting and unforgettable picture from the unique event and was delivered in his deep, resonant voice. 

But it’s been revealed that the historic broadcast very nearly didn’t happen because at one point Thomas lost his notes on the way back to the BBC’s studio in Cardiff. 

That same year the late Queen Elizabeth also attended the Eisteddfod shortly after her Coronation. 

The festival had been established six years earlier under the dark shadow cast by the Second World War as a way of promoting peace through musical harmony and dance. 

Since then hundreds of thousands of competitors from all over the planet have beaten a path to Llangollen. 

The picturesque town in the Dee Valley where “Wales meets the world” is now gearing up for the first  full length festival since the Covid-19 pandemic struck. 

It all gets underway on Tuesday, July 4, and the competitions and concerts continue until Sunday, July 9, with thousands of singers and dancers from around the world due to take part. 

Each day features a full programme of competitions in the Pavilion and a line-up of stalls and exhibitions on the field along with the competitors from around the world, many in colourful dress while three open-air stages run a stream of live performances. 

Entertainment on the outside site includes workshops, talks, international showcases, outdoor theatre performances, circus skills, sound bath sessions, yoga, belly dancing, beginner’s Welsh and  salsa. 

The Globe Stage will feature music acts spanning folk, jazz, world and indie. 

There will also be an international flavour to the cuisine available in the new Globe Food Court. 

Visitors will be able to “go around the world in 80 minutes” with stalls serving food from different countries including India, Greece, Jamaica, Mexico, Germany and Italy. 

According to the Eisteddfod’s executive producer, Camilla King, they were particularly keen to celebrate the anniversary of Thomas’s memorable broadcast. 

She said: “Although sadly Dylan Thomas died in New York a few months after his visit to Llangollen, his priceless legacy will live on because he is rightly regarded as one of the literary greats. 

“We felt it was particularly appropriate to remember not only his brilliant broadcast but also the wider canon of his work which turned him into a superstar poet.” 

The activities will include a presentation by Prof Chris Adams, vice chair of the Eisteddfod and a member of its  Archive Committee, who revealed the poet was paid the princely sum of 20 guineas for his endeavours.  

Prof Adams said that  Swansea-born Thomas had “generated verbal images of the early Eisteddfod whose power resonates to this day”. 

It was all the more remarkable, he said, because locals recall he had spent a lot of his time in Llangollen in the pub, with the Wynnstay Hotel (now The Three Eagles) being a favourite watering hole. 

That was borne out by the late Aneirin Talfan Davies, the BBC producer who was despatched to Llangollen to keep an eye on Thomas, who accompanied by his wife, Aeronwy and their daughter, Caitlin. 

Talfan Davies, who was himself a talented poet, later told how Thomas had spent the week  “wandering aimlessly through the streets of Llangollen, with the odd half hour spent in the eisteddfod tent and many hours in the  bars of the town’s pubs.” 

He also described the poet’s way of working which involved “writing notes on cigarette packets, and the panic on the way back to Cardiff when Thomas feared he had lost the material”. 

Thankfully, the notes came to light in the nick of time and the finished, finessed piece has been described as a classic example of his genius with words. 

Apart from the competitions and remembering Dylan Thomas, other highlights include a concert starring Alfie Boe and musical theatre supergroup Welsh of the West End on the first night of the Eisteddfod on Tuesday, July 4. 

Wednesday will see The White Flower: Into The Light, a concert of remembrance for the fallen of Sarajevo and Ukraine, featuring the NEW Sinfonia orchestra with soloists from Bosnia, Wales and Ukraine, with the centrepiece formed by Karl Jenkin’s much loved work, The Armed Man. 

The popular procession of international participants and celebration of peace takes place on Thursday, followed by Flight, a new mixed-media dance, music and theatre work by visionary artists Propellor Ensemble, inspired by migratory patterns in nature and humanity. 

On the Friday night Guy Barker’s Big Band will take the stage with Strictly Come Dancing singer Tommy Blaize. 

Saturday features the blue riband event, the Choir of the World competition for the coveted Pavarotti Trophy, and also Dance Champions and the Pendine International Voice of the Future 2023. 

There is a new look to the final day of the Eisteddfod on Sunday with an all new live final which sees rising vocal stars battle it out to claim the title Voice of Musical Theatre, and Cân i Llan, a new song-writing competition for unsigned acts aged 14-22, providing a platform for emerging voices in contemporary popular music.  

Camilla King added: “Entertainment on the outside site spans across three main stages with further daily pop-ups and includes workshops in the Amphitheatre with Small World Theatre Company inviting visitors to create their own white flower sculpture and Propellor Ensemble building a giant instrument from recycled materials. 

“There will also be daily Lego building, arts and crafts, floral sessions from the Eisteddfod’s famed arrangers, circus skills with Jester Jack, Xplore Science, yoga, sound bathing, belly dancing and the chance to learn new skills from the wide ranging visiting competitors.  

“Talks on the Dome Stage feature Calan’s Bethan Rhiannon ‘From clog dancing to comedy’, poet Mererid Hopwood leading a panel for the annual Peace Lecture, reflecting on the incredible Women of Wales Peace Petition. 

“International showcases take the Globe Stage from acts including the Tibetan Tashi Lhunpo Monks, SOAS Min’yo Japanese folk music, Bosnian and Ukrainian performers, and music from Filkin’s Drift, Seprona, Kilbride Brothers, The Billy Thompson Trio, The Bartells, Chester Big Band and Lilly Boughey amongst many others.” 

Tickets & What’s On: www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk/whats-on/

 

 

Jazz legend and Strictly star will light up Llangollen Eisteddfod

A jazz legend who played with Ol’ Blue Eyes Frank Sinatra will be teaming up with the voice of Strictly Come Dancing for a night to remember in North Wales. 

Strictly singer Tommy Blaize will be joining Guy Barker and his Big Band for a “powerhouse performance” in a star-studded concert at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod at 8pm on Friday, July 7. 

It’s a return to the festival for Guy who has also shared the stage with other superstars including George Michael, Sting, Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Phil Collins, Sammy Davis Jr and Liza Minnelli among many others. 

The first of Guy’s two previous appearances at Llangollen Eisteddfod was in 2003, backing iconic husband and wife duo Johnny Dankworth and Cleo Laine and he returned to play with bass-baritone Sir Willard White in 2009. 

This time he’ll be conducting his own 15-piece band along with Strictly Come Dancing lead singer Tommy Blaize as well as Clare Teal and Vanessa Haynes and sax player Giacomo Smith. 

Guy, 65, has fond memories of performing at Llangollen and he said: “I played with Willard White when he did a tribute to Paul Robeson and before that I was there with John Dankworth and Cleo Laine. 

“I remember the stage and the backstage area well and the audience were so enthusiastic. It’s a great place to play.” 

Guy’s background is in showbiz. His mum is actress Barbara Barker, now 95, who appeared in the first seven episodes of Coronation Street and later in Z Cars and Emmerdale Farm while his late father, Ken, was an actor and stuntman. 

“In the opening scene of The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, my dad’s the one running naked into the sea on the beach,” said Guy: “It was six in the morning and it was freezing. 

“He loved the Swing era and learned the clarinet and he encouraged me to play the trumpet so we could do duets and bought me my first two albums, one by trumpeter Louis Armstrong. 

“Music was all I knew and I’ve never done anything else.” 

The people Guy has played with reads like a musical who’s who and one of his career highlights was backing Sinatra in front of 45,000 fans in Italy. 

He has also recorded eight solo albums, two of which were nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, and since 2008 he has been the Musical Director and arranger for the annual Jazz Voice concert at the Barbican, which opens the London Jazz Festival and has a long-standing role with the Cheltenham Jazz Festival. 

He arranged the music for the films The Talented Mr Ripley and The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by the late film director Anthony Minghella who said: “Guy Barker is that rare thing – a brilliant soloist, a born leader and a generous accompanist. He can play so your heart breaks or your head swivels.” 

Llangollen Eisteddfod executive producer Camilla King said: “We’re delighted that we’ve been able to book Guy Barker for a return visit for what will be a truly memorable night. 

“The audience can expect punchy brass, New Orleans soul and a journey through the history of jazz song, featuring both classics and surprise new arrangements, including a re-imagined Tom Waits number. 

“It’s going to be a fantastic, one-off set drawn together with Guy’s inimitable sense of storytelling through music.” 

Guy Barker’s Big Band will take the stage at Llangollen as part of a high quality series of concerts which kick-off on the Tuesday evening, July 4, with Eisteddfod favourite Alfie Boe who joins forces with musical theatre super-group, Welsh of the West End. 

Wednesday will see The White Flower: Into The Light, a concert of remembrance for the fallen of Sarajevo and Ukraine, featuring the NEW Sinfonia orchestra with soloists from Bosnia, Wales and Ukraine, with works including extracts from Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man culminating in the Eisteddfod’s traditional message of peace and hope for the future of all nations. 

The popular procession of international participants and celebration of peace takes place on Thursday, followed by Flight, a new theatrical work by visionary artists Propellor Ensemble, inspired by migratory patterns in nature and humanity. 

Saturday features the blue riband event, the Choir of the World competition for the coveted Pavarotti Trophy, and also Dance Champions and the Pendine International Voice of the Future 2023. 

There is a new look to the final day of the Eisteddfod on Sunday with an all new live final which sees rising vocal stars battle it out to claim the title Voice of Musical Theatre, and a new song-writing competition for emerging voices in contemporary popular music.  

“On the field, community bands, brass, silver, wind, compete, and audiences can choose their winner of the new Eisteddfod Dance Off.” 

As well as the concerts, each day features a full programme of competitions in the Pavilion and a line-up of stalls and exhibitions on the field along with the competitors from around the world, many in colourful dress while three open-air stages run a stream of live performances. 

Each year around 4,000 participants take to the stage with around 25,000 visitors attending. 

There will also be lots of entertainment on the outside site including workshops, talks, international showcases, outdoor theatre performances and circus skills. 

For full programme details and to buy tickets go to: www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk/whats-on/ 

Cân i Llan (A Song for Llan): Songwriting competition for untapped talent officially launched!

Calling all budding contemporary music stars: a new songwriting prize has been launched to discover and support grassroots popular music, giving a platform to the next generation of original commercial music artists.

Cân i Llan (A Song for Llan), is open to unsigned individuals and bands aged 14-22yrs, writing and performing in any contemporary commercial style, from any country and in any language. Acts must submit two examples of original song material to enter, and selected acts will perform sets of up to 8 minutes in the first round on Sunday 09 July. The best writers continue to our live final that evening.

The stage of the Royal Pavilion Llangollen has played host to a starry line-up of popular music acts during the 76 years of the International Eisteddfod, including Status Quo, Van Morrison, The Stereophonics, McFly, Jools Holland, Kizzy Crawford, Elles Bailey, Shirley Bassey and The Manic Street Preachers.

Could you be the next act to join their ranks? Apply by 28 June to find out.

Entry Fee: £5 visit our main website to pay.

Call for singers to join 200-strong choir

A search has been launched for singers from across North Wales to join a massed choir of 200 voices to call for world peace. 

The performance at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod will pay tribute to the thousands of men, women and children massacred in the 1990s war in Bosnia and shine a light on the desperate plight of those currently suffering in war-torn Ukraine. 

The concert, called The White Flower: Into the Light, will be held at 8pm on Wednesday, July 5, just a few days before Srebrenica Memorial Day on July 11 to remember the 8,372 Bosnian Muslims who were massacred in in 1995. 

The White Flower motif has been adopted as a symbol of remembrance in Srebrenica and the 11 petals of the flower represent the day the genocide began. 

The theme of the concert was chosen to reflect the founding purpose of the Eisteddfod, an iconic event which was established in 1947 to promote peace in the aftermath of the Second World War. 

It will feature extracts from the haunting mass for peace, The Armed Man, by renowned Welsh composer Karl Jenkins as a centrepiece of the programme. 

Volunteers are needed to join the huge, specially formed choir, one of the biggest ever seen in North Wales. 

They will be accompanied by the acclaimed NEW Sinfonia orchestra that will be making its debut headline appearance at Llangollen Eisteddfod. 

NEW Sinfonia conductor Robert Guy has issued a call for singers of all ages  to sign up for the choir, with rehearsals due to get underway on May 13.  

He said there will be no barriers to taking part in this stirring occasion, adding: “It is not restricted to those with previous concert singing experience. We are opening it up to all comers, all they need is a love of singing.”    

At the heart of the choir will be a group of keen amateur singers who belong to the hugely successful NEW Voices project already established by NEW Sinfonia.  

Robert said: “It’s thanks to the huge success of our NEW Voices project that we already have a core group of enthusiastic amateur singers ready to step up and sing at Llangollen. But we need lots more singers, especially tenors and basses.  

“We will need 200 voices in all so we are urging anyone with a passion for singing and a desire to take part in this momentous event to sign up quickly now.”  

NEW Voices includes refugees who have settled in North Wales following conflicts or persecution in their own countries. They have found solace in singing together and made new friends through the common language of music. 

Among them is a young Ukrainian conductor Polina Horelova who with her young family was forced to flee her home city of Mariupol after the Russians invaded and razed the city.  

It is hoped Polina will conduct the traditional Ukrainian folk piece River Song during the concert of remembrance. 

Robert added: “We are proud that NEW Voices comprises such a wide mix of musical abilities and a range of nationalities. We encompass singers from Wales, Ukraine, Iraq, Iran, Algeria and El Salvador, among other countries.  

“For our White Flower: Into the Light programme we need sopranos, altos, tenors, basses and young voices too; we encourage everyone to come forward.  

“There will be regular rehearsals so people need not fear that they are not good enough or lack confidence. We are here to guide them through the whole wonderful process.” 

Rehearsals will be at two hubs, one in Tŷ Pawb community arts centre, Wrexham, and the other at St Asaph Parish Church. They meet on Saturday mornings from 10am-12 noon. There is also a facility for people to join rehearsals via Zoom video conferencing technology. 

Llangollen Eisteddfod Executive Producer Camilla King said: “We have been thinking about doing something on this theme and scale for some time but it is only this year that the various strands have come together to create what promises to be a magical evening. 

“It is heart-breaking to look back on the Bosnian war and realise that a whole cultural identity was under attack.  

“As well as the relentless murdering of the population, its entire heritage was targeted, artworks destroyed and cultural icons demolished. Now just two decades later very similar monstrosities are happening in Ukraine right now. 

“We wanted to put on a concert to highlight that humanity at its heart is so much better than this. We wanted to reflect the ethos of peace, friendship and cultural diversity which is at the very roots of the International Eisteddfod and is the reason why it was founded in the first place all those years ago in 1947. 

“It will be a thought-provoking, contemplative evening but it will also be uplifting as it highlights important themes of hope, togetherness and overcoming division.”  

Camilla added: “I am expecting demand for tickets will be high as there is no doubt in my mind that this will be a truly unforgettable evening. We invite everyone to come along and enjoy.” 

For more details about the concert at 8pm on Wednesday, July 5, visit: https://international-eisteddfod.co.uk/events/wednesday-evening/ and to sign up for the choir or get more information email at  voices@newsinfonia.org.uk and robert@newsinfonia.org.uk or call Robert Guy on 07725 050510.