Welsh singing sensation wows ‘Down Under’

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod’s International Voice of Musical Theatre 2018 winner, Mared Williams travels to the Australian coast for prestigious Gold Coast performance.

As part of her prize, 21-year-old Mared Williams from Llannefydd, North Wales, joined hundreds of exceptional artists in the Gold Coast Eisteddfod’s Musicale. The show is a rousing celebration of musical theatre and one of the highlights of the seven-week long Australian festival of dance and music.

After wowing audiences and adjudicators with her performance on the stage of the Royal International Pavilion this July, Mared travelled over 10,000 miles to the picturesque Gold Coast for a once in a lifetime performance.

Since winning the International Voice of Musical Theatre, the talented performer has not only been singing around the world, she has also started a Masters degree in Musical Theatre at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Mared, said: “I’ve always been a huge supporter of the Llangollen Eisteddfod, especially growing up in North Wales and visiting the Eisteddfod every year as a pupil of Ysgol Llannefydd and Ysgol Glan Clwyd.

“Winning International Voice of Musical Theatre and performing on that amazing stage has always been a goal of mine. Representing Wales and getting the chance to perform on the other side of the world, somewhere as beautiful as the Gold Coast was surreal and something I will never forget.

“I am truly grateful to the Llangollen Eisteddfod for opening doors for me as a performer and providing an incredible platform for young performers across the world.

“I’d urge anyone with a passion for music and performance to enter the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod’s competitions and go into it aiming to have a wonderful day out, celebrating the diversity of different cultures, making connections all over the world, whilst doing what they love.

“Going to Australia and being made to feel so welcome by Eisteddfod organisers is a connection I will value forever, and it was achieved by just a genuine love for singing!”

The Gold Coast Eisteddfod features over 70,000 singers and dancers, 330 bands and orchestras, 175 choirs, almost 1,500 dance groups and over 3,000 solo dancers.

The cost of Mared’s visit to the prestigious Australian festival has been covered completely by the Gold Coast Eisteddfod, a prize that will be up for grabs once again at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod 2019.

Judith Ferber, the Gold Coast Eisteddfod’s General Manager, said: “We were delighted to welcome Mared to the Gold Coast this year and were blown away by her incredible performance and heavenly voice at the Musicale. Our partnership with the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod allows us to celebrate musical talent from across the globe, in the shared spirit of friendship, passion for music and performance.

“For that very reason, in 2019 we will once again be partnering with the festival to offer the winner of the International Voice of Musical Theatre competition the opportunity to perform here at the Gold Coast Eisteddfod 2019.”

Interim Music Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Edward-Rhys Harry, added: “Working with the Gold Coast Eisteddfod helps us to further raise our international profile, opening doors for new and exciting soloists from across the globe and acting as a springboard for glittering musical careers.

“We would like to thank Judith and the team for welcoming our 2018 winner and once again agreeing to offer this fantastic prize to the winner in 2019.”

The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is currently accepting entries for group categories. The deadline for Choral, Ensemble and Dance Categories is Friday 23rd November 2018. Entries for soloists will open in December – visit www.eisteddfodcompetitions.co.uk for more information.