As part of Volunteer Week, we are featuring a story each day from a volunteer, where they share their experiences of Llangollen International Eisteddfod.
Volunteers’ Week: Pat the Hat
As part of Volunteer Week, we are featuring a story each day from a volunteer, where they share their experiences of Llangollen International Eisteddfod.
International Eisteddfod announces Llangollen Online
#ConnectingtheWorld
1 June – 11 July 2020
The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod (LIME) is delighted to announce Llangollen Online #connectingtheworld, which will be free to view and runs from today until 11 July, to ensure we are staying home together but continue to promote a connected international community during the current difficult times.
In March, the International Eisteddfod announced the postponement of 2020’s festival due to the global pandemic of COVID-19. Determined to give an International Eisteddfod experience, it was clear that there needed to be some way for our international community of participants, performers, visitors and volunteers to stay connected and come together through these hard times.
LIME Artistic Director, Edward-Rhys Harry said: “It felt vital to bring our global community together to share music and dance and of course, continue a message of peace and harmony. Normally at this time of year, our staff, volunteers and local community are working full speed to deliver the festival, and we have also had lots of messages from overseas participants telling us how much they are missing us and the experience. So in some way we wanted to be able to connect and share on a different platform this year as best we can.”
From today (1 June) working in collaboration with media partners, Rondo Media, audiences will be able to watch competitions and vote online for their favourite moment via the Llangollen.TV platform. The archive footage will be presented in five categories: Mixed, Chamber and Youth Choirs; Single Voice and Barbershop Choirs; Children’s Choirs; Folk Groups and Choirs; and Adult and Youth Dance. Vote winners in each category will be announced daily during Eisteddfod week (7-11 July).
Gareth Williams, Rondo Media said “Over the past few weeks, we’ve been going through the Eisteddfod archive which includes 25 years of footage showcasing performers from 57 different countries and well over 10,000 competitors. In 2019, leading up to Eisteddfod week, we held an online voting competition to find the Choir of the World Champions. It proved to be hugely popular and so we knew there was appetite amongst our core International Eisteddfod audiences for something similar. We have also been working with S4C for many years to share the International Eisteddfod with audiences beyond Llangollen and across the whole of Wales. Combining online competitions with the documentary felt like a good way to give a Llangollen Eisteddfod experience with a difference during these difficult times globally.”
During Eisteddfod week, audiences can look forward to new content to complement the archive footage. This includes Heddwch a Harmoni: Byd gwâr yw ein byd o gân, lines by renowned Welsh poet, Mererid Hopwood, which focus on the Eisteddfod’s founding principles, namely the aim of bringing international communities together in peace and harmony.
Edward-Rhys Harry said, “There is a whole host of activity surrounding this, on Tuesday, the Peace Message will be children and youth-centric, so will, in effect, replace the Children’s Day message this year. The Thursday message will be centred around several major events: a message from our President Terry Waite, the new commission by Mererid Hopwood, who will help narrate this, along with a number of our volunteers, children and other participants, and a song of peace and hope.”
Voting opens today on Llangollen.TV and closes on 30 June 2020. More details of the programme and events will be released over the coming weeks.
Llangollen Online – presented in partnership with Rondo Media 
Llangollen.TV 2020 is sponsored by Linguassist 
Volunteers’ Week: Karen
As part of Volunteer Week, we are featuring a story each day from a volunteer, where they share their experiences of Llangollen International Eisteddfod.
COVID-19 Update: Welsh Government Supports Flagship Cultural Events
Two of Wales’ flagship cultural events have been provided financial support by the Welsh Government to help with the impact of COVID-19.
Llangollen 2020: COVID-19 Update
Following the latest government advice about the Coronavirus pandemic, we have made the decision to postpone the 74th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in July 2020. We are now working hard with our partners and artists to reschedule for Llangollen 2021.
**Cancelled** (Updated 16/3/20) Llangollen Eisteddfod celebrates ‘friendship, harmony and goodwill’ as it hosts its second annual Cymanfa Ganu
UPDATE 16/3/20
***We have been monitoring developments around Coronavirus (COVID-19) and have come to the decision to cancel our scheduled Cymanfa Ganu on the 27th March in St Collen’s Church. Customers who had already purchased tickets for the Cymanfa Ganu will be refunded.
Please be assured that we will continue to monitor and communicate with you about our plans for Llangollen 2020 in July as the situation develops.***
A UK première, Elin Manahan Thomas and a ‘Llangollen-Special’ performance by Only Men Aloud
We are delighted to announce more details of our Langollen 2020 line-up which includes the UK première of Bobbi Fischer’s Magnificat featuring soloist Elin Manahan Thomas and a ‘Llangollen-Special’ performance by Only Men Aloud.
International Eisteddfod Artistic Director, Dr Edward-Rhys Harry said:
“It is a real coup to have the UK première of Bobbi Fischer’s Magnificat at Llangollen 2020 and to be able to welcome back the exceptional Elin Manahan Thomas. It has also been a joy to work closely with Only Men Aloud to create a special repertoire around our founding mission of peace and harmony in what promises to be a wonderful and unique performance by this well-loved choir.”
Fusion (Wednesday 8 July) sees eclectic musical elements from different cultures sit side by side. The first part of the evening will present the UK première of German composer, Bobbi Fischer’s Magnificat, where this traditional choral work is fused with rhythm and harmonies of Latin America with Samba, Rhumba, Bossa Nova and Cha-Cha.
International Dance Day at Ty Pawb
The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod will be hosting a free ‘International Dance Day’ workshop for all ages and abilities at Wrexham’s Ty Pawb on Saturday 1st February, from 11am until 1pm. (more…)
Llangollen Eisteddfod Launches 2020 Programme
This week, Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod reveals its 2020 line-up (7-12 July 2020) and has opened its priority booking in time for Christmas.
The unique celebration of global peace and harmony returns for its 74th Eisteddfod, with daily performances and competitions, featuring some of the most prestigious artists and choirs from around the world, culminating with the world renowned Choir of the World award.
