A Festival of
Welsh Music in London

The inaugural Festival of Welsh Music in London took place on 16-17 February 2024. We’re incredibly proud of the success of our sold-out weekend of events. Here are some highlights:

London Welsh Young Singer competition

Cynhaliwyd Gŵyl Cerddoriaeth Gymreig Llundain am y tro cyntaf ar 16-17 Chwefror 2024. Rydym yn hynod o falch o lwyddiant y penwythnos, lle gwerthwyd pob tocyn. Dyma rai uchafbwyntiau:

Cystadleuaeth Canwr Ifanc Cymreig Llundain

The programme

Friday 16 February - London Welsh Young Singer Preliminaries

The Welsh Church of Central London, Eastcastle Street, W1W 8DJ

Talented, up-and-coming singers each performed some pieces from their repertoires, including a piece sung in the Welsh language, to compete for a place in the London Welsh Young Singer Competition Final.

Friday 16 February - Night of the Choirs

The Welsh Church of Central London, Eastcastle Street, W1W 8DJ

Visiting mixed-voice Welsh choirs showcased their repertoire for a wonderful evening of choral music. Grand finalists from the London Welsh Young Singer Competition also performed to compete for 1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes as well as for the Audience Prize. 


Saturday 17 February - Gala Concert

Regent Hall, Oxford Street, W1C 2DJ

Four choirs united for a celebration of Welsh music performing:

Rhaglen

Nos Wener 16 Chwefror - Cystadleuaeth Canwr Ifanc Cymreig Llundain: Rhagbrofion

Eglwys Gymraeg Canol Llundain, Eastcastle Street, W1W 8DJ

Cantorion ifanc dawnus yn perfformio rhai darnau yn yr iaith Gymraeg i gystadlu am le yn Rownd Derfynol Cystadleuaeth Canwr Ifanc Llundain.

Nos Wener 16 Chwefror - Cyngerdd Noson y Corau

Eglwys Gymraeg Canol Llundain, Eastcastle Street, W1W 8DJ

Corau gwadd cymysg Cymreig yn arddangos eu repertoire mewn noson fendigedig o gerddoriaeth corawl. Hefyd, enillwyr Cystadleuaeth Canwr Ifanc Cymreig Llundain yn cystadlu am wobrau 1af, 2il, 3ydd yn ogystal ag am Wobr y Gynulleidfa.

 

Dydd Sadwrn 17 Chwefror - Cyngerdd Gala

Neuadd Regent, Oxford Stret, W1C 2DJ

Pedwar côr yn uno i ddathlu cerddoriaeth Cymreig drwy berfformio: 

Participants

Night of the Choirs Concert

Choirs: Cor Eifionydd, Cor Llundain, the London Welsh Chorale

Conductors: Pat Jones, Will Thomas, Dr Edward-Rhys Harry

Accompanists: Dafydd Chapman (piano), Will Thomas (organ)


Gala Concert

Conductors: Owain Arwel Hughes CBE, Prof. Paul Mealor LVO CSTJ, Dr Edward-Rhys Harry

Soloist: Jessica Robinson

Instrumentalists: Zands Duggan, Aeron Preston, The British Sinfonietta

Choirs: Côr Eifionydd, The Harry Ensemble, Harlow Chorus and the London Welsh Chorale


Find details about the London Welsh Young Singer Competition participants here.

Yn Cymryd Rhan

Cyngerdd Noson y Corau

Corau: Côr Eifionydd, Côr Llundain, Corâl Cymry Llundain

Arweinyddion: Pat Jones, Will Thomas, Dr Edward-Rhys Harry

Cyfeilyddion: Dafydd Chapman (piano), Will Thomas (organ)


Cyngerdd Gala

Arweinyddion: Owain Arwel Hughes CBE, Yr Athro Paul Mealor LVO CSTJ, Dr Edward-Rhys Harry

Unawdydd: Jessica Robinson 

Offerynwyr: Zands Duggan, Aeron Preston, The British Sinfonietta

Corau: Côr Eifionydd, The Harry Ensemble, Harlow Chorus a Corâl Cymry Llundain


Mae mwy o fanylion am ymgeiswyr Cystadleuaeth Canwr Ifanc Cymreig Llundain yma. 

Sponsors

The festival couldn’t have taken place without the support of our kind and generous sponsors:

Geraint and Meurig Bowen donated a prize for the London Welsh Young Singer Competition in memory of their father, Kenneth Bowen, who, following a career as a tenor of international renown, formed the London Welsh Chorale and was its Musical Director from February 1983 to December 2008. He also enjoyed serving as an Adjudicator of many past London Welsh Young Singer competitions. 

Emma Davies donated a prize to the London Welsh Young Singer Competition in memory of her partner, Tim Brennan, who sang with the Chorale as a tenor and was a fervent supporter. We miss him hugely. 

Paul Foster donated to the Festival in memory of his wife, Jan, who was so supportive of the London Welsh Chorale. We miss her lovely smile beaming out from the front row at every concert.

Geraint Lewis gave invaluable advice on how to run the London Welsh Young Singer Competition, which he helped organise in its former incarnation, and donated towards the running of the this relaunch. 

Martin, Baron Thomas of Gresford OBE, KC donated a prize for the London Welsh Young Singer Competition. Martin is the Honorary President of the London Welsh Chorale.

Grateful thanks also for generous donations from: Lisa Carlisle, Ann Green, Kadia Harrison, Bethan Hughes, Haydn and Susan Jones, Elisabeth Siberry, Alison and Terry Stacey, Lynne and Peter Tew, Gwenllian Williams, J Williams, David Young

Noddwyr 

Ni fyddai wedi bod yn bosib cynnal yr ŵyl heb gefnogaeth ein noddwyr hael a charedig:

Rhoddodd Geraint a Meurig Bowen wobr ar gyfer Cystadleuaeth Canwr Ifanc Cymreig Llundain er cof am eu tad, Kenneth Bowen, a ffurfiodd Corâl Cymry Llundain yn 1983 yn dilyn gyrfa ryngwladol fel tenor o fri, ac a fu’n Gyfarwyddwr Cerdd y côr hyd at Ragfyr 2008. By hefyd yn mwynhau beirniadu Cystadlaethau Canwr Ifanc Cymreig Llundain y gorffennol.

 

Rhoddodd Emma Davies wobr ar gyfer Cystadleuaeth Canwr Ifanc Cymreig Llundain er cof am ei phartner, Tim Brennan, aelod a chefnogwr brwd o’r Corâl. Mae colled fawr i ni ar ei ôl.

 

Rhoddodd Paul Foster i’r ŵyl er cof am ei wraig, Jan, a fu mor gefnogol o Corâl Cymry Llundain. Rydym yn gweld eisiau ei gwên hyfryd yn rhes flaen pob cyngerdd.

 

Fel un o drefnwyr Cystadleuaeth Canwr Ifanc Cymreig Llundain yn ei ffurf gwreiddiol, rhoddodd Geraint Lewis gyngor amhrisiadwy ar sut i gynnal y gystadleuaeth, yn ogystal â cyfranu tuag at yr ail-lansiad yma.

 

Rhoddodd Martin Thomas, y Barwn Thomas o Gresffordd OBE, KC wobr ar gyfer Cystadleuaeth Canwr Ifanc Cymreig Llundain. Martin yw Llywydd Anrhydeddus Corâl Cymry Llundain.

 

Diolch hefyd am roddion hael oddi wrth: Lisa Carlisle, Ann Green, Kadia Harrison, Bethan Hughes, Haydn and Susan Jones, Elisabeth Siberry, Alison and Terry Stacey, Lynne and Peter Tew, Gwenllian Williams, J Williams, David Young

Gallery | Oriel

2025

We’ll be back for the London Festival of Welsh Music 2025. More details coming soon. 

Byddwn yn ôl ar gyfer Gŵyl Cerddoriaeth Gymreig Llundain 2025. Cyhoeddir mwy o fanylion yma yn fuan.