Choir of the World winners Côr Glanaethwy

Soul Oasis Cultural Ambassadors were crowned Dance Champions

A talented performing arts group who have competed at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for the past 32 years are celebrating after landing the coveted title of 2024 Choir of the World during the festival’s grand finale Core Week concert on Saturday evening.

Winners Côr Glanaethwy was established by joint owners Rhian and Cefin Roberts in Bangor over 30 years ago.

After their stunning victory, a jubilant Rhian said: “The group has been performing and competing at Llangollen since 1992 and, with different line-ups, has taken part in over 100 competitions over the years.

“We’re excited, thrilled and surprised to have won the title. We think Llangollen is the best place of all to compete and we just love coming here.”

This year’s packed programme of competitions at the Eisteddfod, which has been celebrating peace and international understanding through the medium of music and dance since 1947, reached its thrilling climax at the finale concert which also saw the final of the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition and the crowning of the Dance Champions contest winners.

Since its introduction in 1987 Choir of the World has become established as the pinnacle of the Eisteddfod’s competitive sessions, attracting singers from across the globe to compete for the Pavarotti Trophy.

The trophy was donated to the Eisteddfod in 2005 by the great Pavarotti in memory of his late father Fernando Pavarotti who first sang at Llangollen with his choir from Modena in Italy in 1955. His son, who went on to bestride the world of opera, was also part of that choir.

Along with the prize money of £3,000, taking the glittering trophy back to Ysgol Glanaethwy in Bangor where they have been based since the early 1990s, were the Côr Glanaethwy choir who, kitted out in their striking woodland costumes, sang a hauntingly beautiful selection of four Welsh folk songs taken from the Mabinogion, the ancient book of Celtic mythology.

The outright winners of the Choir of the World title were chosen from the winners of the Eisteddfod’s five chief choral categories of Chamber, Mixed, Female, Male and Open.

Coming through from the Open category, Côr Glanaethwy fought off formidable competition from Cantamus Camerata from Oklahoma State University in the USA (Chamber), Tegalaw from Bala in Gwynedd, north Wales (Female). Meantime Chorus from London (Male) and GC Ensemble from the Phillippines (Mixed).

Also during Saturday’s concert the Most Outstanding Conductor, chosen from choirs in the final, was awarded the Jane Davies Conductor’s Prize, a trophy donated in memory of Jayne Davies the former Vice President of the Eisteddfod, who won three international trophies with her own Hafren Ladies’ Choir in the 1970s. It was presented by her daughter, Dr Rhian Davies to the conductor of Cantamus Camerata, Dr Christopher Haygood.

Pendine International Voice of the Future winners, from left, sponsor Mario Kreft, winner Shimona Rose, runner-up Manon Ogwen Parry and finale concert presenter Sian Thomas

On the night, young opera singers also competed in the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition, which has become a stepping stone to a professional career for numerous winners in the past.

The solid silver salver plus a cheque for £3,000 was donated by its sponsor Mario Kreft, proprietor of the evening’s arts-loving sponsor, the Pendine Park care organisation, through the Pendine Arts and Community Trust (PACT), founded by Mario and his wife Gill. Runner-up, who received £1,000, was soprano Manon Ogwen Parry from Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Winner this year was superb soprano Shimona Rose from Singapore who has a dual career as an opera singer and music therapist.

The finale concert also saw the crowning the 2024 Dance Champions, with the winners of the festival’s various folk dancing categories, providing a dazzling spectacle on the Pavilion stage.

The Soul Oasis Cultural Ambassadors from Trinidad and Tobago captured the top prize with a dazzling routine, including a limbo sequence, to take the Lucille Armstrong Trophy and a cheque for £1,000 supported by the Society for International Folk Dancing in memory of Lucille Armstrong. Making the presentation to them was the Eisteddfod’s Deputy Chair John Gambles.

The concert opened with a performance from The Kaleidoscope Project  – formally known as the Inclusion Project – which showcases the many under-represented and non-competitive groups whose talented members contribute a great deal to their communities, as well as to the world of the performing arts.

The Eisteddfod’s Artistic Director Dave Danford said: “The concert, which came as the perfect conclusion to a highly successful Core Week for our festival, showcased and rewarded the stunning range of talent, across a number of disciplines, which we have been privileged to host during the 2024 Eisteddfod.

“We send our heartiest congratulations to everyone – not just these very worthy winners – who has travelled, some great distances – to take part in our competitions and wish them the very best in the future. We also hope to welcome them back to Llangollen in the very near future.”

Kerry Ellis and John Owen-Jones with the International Chorus choir

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod transported the very best from the London stage to the heart of north Wales with its Direct From The West End concert on Thursday evening.

Musical theatre greats Kerry Ellis and John Owen-Jones, both with a string of major hits to their credit, backed by a tremendous young choir and a fabulous orchestra, brought their formidable vocal talents to bear on a packed programme of big-show favourites, from Les Miserables to Funny Girl and from Cats to Cabaret.

Singing solo they were sizzling, he with ‘This is the Moment’ from Jeckyll and Hyde and ‘Some Enchanted Evening’ from South Pacific, and she in the title song from Cabaret and Wicked’s ‘Defying Gravity’.

As a duet they were simply dazzling, as in their joint opening number ‘Beauty and the Beast’ from the show of the name and, later, ‘The Last Night of the World’ from Miss Saigon, which had the large Pavilion audience on the edge of their seats.

The duo also had some great fun with a couple of their best-loved pieces. Kerry clearly relishes every moment of belting out the title song from Anything Goes as does John with his deeply poignant presentation of Bring Him Home from Les Miserables, a show with he is rather familiar with after playing the lead role of Jean Valjean twice on Broadway.

When they were not holding the audience spellbound, onto the stage came a choir comprising talented young singers from the Hammond School and the Seattle Girls Prima Voce, which had been brought together specially for the 2024 Eisteddfod under the banner of the International Chorus. Making an initial impact with the breezy You Can’t Stop the Beat from Hairspray, they followed up with plenty more stylish numbers.

The choir joined the two stars and, backed by the powerful Llangollen International Orchestra, they provided a memorably moving finale piece in You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel, which brought a fitting standing ovation.

Musical Director for the evening was the accomplished Iestyn Griffiths.

Llangollen singer Shea Ferron, winner of the Eisteddfod’s coveted Voice of Musical Theatre award

Earlier in the evening 21-year-old Llangollen singer Shea Ferron was announced as the winner of the Eisteddfod’s coveted Voice of Musical Theatre award. Eisteddfod Artistic Director Dave Danford presented him with a trophy and £2,000 prize money supported by Mrs Joan P Astley in memory of Bill and Evelyn Appleby, supporters of the festival for many years.

Wales welcomes the world. Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod brought a feast of the finest music and dance to the Pavilion stage on Wednesday evening.

The array of fabulous entertainers featured in the Wales Welcomes the World concert included former Royal harpist Alis Huws, Britain’s Got Talent finalists Johns’ Boys Male Chorus, multi-award winning folk band Calan and world-renowned conductor Anthony Gabriele.

The whole glittering affair began with the traditional Celebration of Nations in which the flags of the 30 countries competing in this year’s festival were proudly paraded through the audience and up onto the stage to be greeted by rapturous applause.

There was also a presentation to the winners of the prestigious Young Choir of the World title who had won through to the final during competition rounds earlier in the day.

The Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir from Oakland, California, were presented with a trophy presented to the Eisteddfod by one of its former chairmen, Dr Rhys Davies, and his wife in memory of his son Owen who died aged 33 in 2016.

During the first rapturous appearance of Alis Huws, who performed to a global audience of millions during the coronation of King Charles III, a special message recorded by much-loved former Eisteddfod president Terry Waites was read out in which he shared his belief that harmony, as in music, is the key to world peace.

The consequences of conflict which results from disharmony was poignantly illustrated in a beautiful sequence from festival competitors Prolisok dancers from the Ukraine who recreated a pastoral scene from their homeland which is brutally disrupted by war. Even more moving was when the faces of some the dancers’ close friends killed in the fighting were projected onto the screen at the back of the stage, prompting a standing ovation.

Folk band Calan, which comprises four of Wales’s most talented virtuoso musicians, provided a lively and rousing display of their traditional Welsh music which enthralled the large audience. Later they thrilled even further during a scintillating collaboration with Llangollen International Orchestra, conducted by Anthony Gabriele.

John Boys’ Male Chorus, who were named Choir of the World at the 2019 Eisteddfod, delighted with a diverse selection of numbers ranging from the Welsh favourite Calon Lân to There Ain’t Nothing Like a Dame from the musical South Pacific.

They came back to join in the grand finale when all the evening’s artistes gathered on stage to present a hauntingly melodic piece of music specially arranged by the Eisteddfod’s Artistic Director Dave Danford which led smoothly into the Welsh national anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.

Pupils from Garth, Pentre and Froncysyllte deliver the annual Peace Message from the Pavilion stage.

Hundreds of excited youngsters from schools across north Wales packed into the Pavilion on Tuesday to hear Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod’s iconic Peace Message delivered from the main stage.

The message represents the true ethos of the Eisteddfod, which was founded in 1947 to foster peace and reconciliation through music in the aftermath of World War Two, and is a highlight of Children’s Day on the festival’s first day.

Written this year by Eisteddfod volunteer Elen Mair Roberts, the Peace Message was thoughtfully delivered by the pupils of three schools in the area – Ysgol Pentre, Froncysyllte County Primary and Garth Primary.

It began with the poignant words: “Peace is like a calm river that flows gently through our lives, bringing harmony and happiness. It means treating each other with kindness, respect and understanding,”

And it finished with powerful sentiment: “Even small acts of kindness, like helping a friend or sharing a smile, can make a big difference. We should embrace diversity and celebrate our differences. Each person is unique, and that’s what makes our world so beautiful.”

The message ended with the song, by Patsy Ford Simms and arranged for the Eisteddfod by Elen Mair Roberts and orchestrated by Eisteddfod Artistic Director Dave Danford, “We Are the Future of Tomorrow”.

Earlier the young crowd had been treated to special performances by Indian martial arts group Paallam Arts CIC, which the children cheered loudly as they went through a hectic fighting routine with sticks.

This was followed by a lively song-and-dance routine from the Pathway Group of Zimbabwe and an inter-active bilingual performance by award-winning storyteller Tamar Eluned Williams, accompanied by a four-piece ensemble of musicians from Sinfonia Cymru on harp, violin, percussion and guitar.

This told a tale from deep in the woods of long, long ago and had the children in the audience joining in loudly – in English and Welsh – whenever promoted from the stage.

The same performances and the Peace Message were repeated for an equally large group of children later in the day.

Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Dave Danford said: “The annual Peace Message is a wonderful tradition going back to the very beginning of the festival which embodies the true ethos of the Eisteddfod, that of peace and understanding through music and dance.

“This year it was beautifully and thoughtfully delivered by young people themselves to two very large and appreciative audiences.”

The Railway Children give a cheer as they arrive at Llangollen station from Corwen.

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod teamed up with the town’s heritage railway to turn back time by more than 60 years for scores of eager schoolchildren.

On Tuesday July 2, the first day of this year’s Eisteddfod, 160 pupils from three schools in the Dee Valley boarded a train to transport them in style between Corwen and Llangollen railway stations to enjoy Children’s Day which is traditionally held on the first day of the core festival.

And that’s something that’s not happened since the summer of 1963 when the last ‘Eisteddfod special’ left Corwen before the line was closed as part of the infamous Beeching rail cuts the following year.

Since then dedicated railway volunteers have gradually re-opened the whole of the 10-mile-long line, with the final link being completed last summer when the new £1.25 million Corwen station was officially opened by Lord Hendy, chairman of Network Rail.

This enabled a party of youngsters plus their teachers to travel into Llangollen station on Tuesday July 2 to enjoy a fun-packed day at the Eisteddfod along with their counterparts from schools across north Wales.

The three lucky Dee Valley schools involved in the time-shifting travel experience were Ysgol Bro Dyfyrdwy in Cynwyd, Ysgol Caer Drewyn in Corwen and Ysgol Carrog.

They were welcomed on Llangollen station by town crier Austin “Chem” Cheminais.

Ian Lebbon, chairman of the Eisteddfod’s marketing committee who organised the special excursion, said: “Llangollen and Corwen Railway agreed to run the special service for pupils to attend our children day instead of travelling by coach. Not only was this good for our environment but added to the children’s excitement.

“The last children to use this exact route would have been pupils from Llangollen’s Ysgol Dinas Bran travelling from Corwen in 1963, which means it has taken over 60 years to return such a service.

“We did do our best to recreate the Eisteddfod special pre-pandemic in 2019 but that was before Corwen opened and we had to board the children at Carrog, the station further along the line.

“The first train direct from Corwen to Llangollen was a great success and we had five carriages filled with very happy children who just couldn’t wait to be taken up to the Eisteddfod field.

“I’d like to thank everyone who made this very special event so successful.”

Once on the Eisteddfod field the happy train travellers were treated to a special performance in the Pavilion featuring an interactive bilingual performance by an orchestra and storyteller plus the highlight of the annual Peace Message written by Elen Mair Robert and delivered by pupils from schools in Garth, Pentre and Froncysyllte.

One of the Railway Children was 10year-old Tomos from Ysgol Bro Dyfyrdwy in Cynwyd. He said: “I really enjoyed the train journey and am looking forward to seeing the Eisteddfod where I’ve never been before. I want to see all the things on the field and hear the Peace Message.”

And 11-year-old Jayla from Ysgol Caer Drewyn in Corwen said: “This is my first time visiting the Eisteddfod and it was great to come in on the train. I’m looking for forward to seeing everything and I’ll be coming back on July 12 to see the concert by Jess Glynne at the Pavilion.”

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has teamed up with Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor for this year’s festival. Bryan Adams, Simple Minds and Paloma Faith are just some of the names who have already performed on the iconic stage at Llangollen Pavilion.

A spokesperson for Llangollen and Corwen Railway said: “The railway is very proud to have been involved in the International Eisteddfod again after a long absence of running trains to bring schoolchildren and other guests to this historic and prestigious event.

“Our beautiful station at Llangollen has welcomed many visitors to the town since it first opened, some 162 years ago.  We hope all those who travel with us over the next few weeks thoroughly enjoy their time at the Eisteddfod and take away extra special memories of travelling to the event by train.”

The Core Eisteddfod started on Tuesday, July 2 – as thousands enjoyed a Children’s Day Concert in the Pavilion and a variety of performances throughout the day, on the vibrant outside stages.

Tom Jones made his Llangollen debut on Tuesday evening as the Eisteddfod embarked on its biggest and most ambitious festival yet.

Dr Rowan Williams meets members of the dance group from Mother Touch Group of Schools in Zimbabwe outside the Pavilion where they were performing.

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams delivered the  Peace Lecture on the second day of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Dr Williams, who is also a former Archbishop of Wales and Bishop of Monmouth, is chair of Academi Heddwch Cymru, Wales’s national peace institute.

With the themes of peace and reconciliation at its core, Llangollen Eisteddfod works with Academi Heddwch Cymru in delivering its Peace Lecture and the Young Peacemakers Awards ceremony, during which young people from across Wales are celebrated for their contributions to peace.

In his lecture, delivered from the world-famous Pavilion main stage which the previous evening had hosted a smash-hit concert by Sir Tom Jones, Dr Williams, who is a strong ambassador for peace and reconciliation, drew parallels with today’s troubled world and the international situation at the time of the 1923 Welsh Women’s Peace Petition.

In 1923, the horrors of WW1 having galvanised a generation against conflict, the women of Wales organised an unprecedented campaign for world peace.

A total of 390,296 women signed a memorial petition through the Welsh League of Nations Union calling for America to join and lead the new League of Nations and 2023 marked the centenary of the campaign for which Academi Heddwch has coordinated a major project of celebratration.

In his lecture Dr Williams praised the petition as a shared vision in the face of a shared problem, something which the modern world would benefit from, he stressed.

Chairman of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Professor Chris Adams, said: “It was my proud duty to introduce Dr Williams as he delivered to us the Peace Lecture from Academi Heddiwch Cymru, of which he is chair.

“The Eisteddfod is signally honoured in the Academi’s choice of our festival as the venue for both its Peace Lecture and also its Young Peacemakers Awards.

“Dr Williams is no stranger to the task of tackling some of the great challenges of our time and I for one was looking forward immensely to hearing what he had to say to the Eisteddfod community on the subject of peace, which is so close to the heart of our festival.”

Before delivering the Peace Lecture, Dr Williams, who was Archbishop of Canterbury for a decade, was taken on guided tour of the Eisteddfod field by Professor Adams where he met a number of international performers and festival volunteers.