Royal seal of approval as Prince continues as Patron of famous festival

The Prince of Wales has agreed to remain as Patron of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for a further term.

It continues a long relationship between The Prince of Wales and the iconic festival which he has visited three times – most recently last year, alongside The Duchess of Cornwall.

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Sounds of summer: readers’ festival experiences from around the world (The Guardian)

An excerpt from a short piece in The Guardian newspaper written by one of our volunteers:

‘The whole crew is like a giant family’ 

I’m from a village just a few miles away from Llangollen in north-east Wales, where the Eisteddfod festival is held every year. I haven’t missed a festival since I was born, so I’ve been to 20 of them. 21 if you count when Mum was five months pregnant with me.

I was working there this year. I’m part of the sound crew on the main stage, which I’ve continued to do every year since I did it for Year 10 work experience. The festival is generally well organised, although it had a few hiccups as with any event of its scale. (more…)

Bristol teacher makes annual trip to present trophy at famous festival

A 94-year-old retired teacher from Bristol took centre stage at a world famous music festival when she presented a trophy in memory of her brother to a champion choir.

It was a homecoming for Enid Evans at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Denbighshire – the Welsh-speaker from Llanrhaeadr yng Nghinmeirch, near Denbigh, in the Vale of Clwyd, sang at the very first Eisteddfod in 1947.

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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…)

Former Snowflake revisits the scene of her 1947 triumph

A member of a Cardiff children’s choir that won at the first ever Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has been an enthusiastic visitor to the 70th festival.

Grandmother Janette Snaith now lives in Colchester with her husband, Bryan, a retired clergyman, but back in 1947 the 14-year-old from Victoria Park, Cardiff, was a member of the famous Snowflakes choir. (more…)

Scrumdiddlyumptious event celebrates children’s author

Fantastic Mr Fox, Willy Wonka, Matilda and her nemesis Miss Trunchball all had a role to play as the Llangollen International Eisteddfod celebrated a Roald Dahl-themed Children’s Day.

The scrumdiddlyumptious event was organised to celebrate the centenary of the birth of the Welsh-born literary genius and also saw the conclusion of a Denbighshire Schools Takeovers 2016 project. (more…)

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.

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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…)