The founder of an international harp festival will be signing off in style with a long goodbye.
Renowned harpist Elinor Bennett will be centre stage at a special concert to launch the Wales International Harp Festival next spring.
The launch concert will be taking place at the Pritchard Jones Hall at Bangor University at 7.30pm on Saturday, October 22, celebrating 55 years of performing by Elinor and the 100th anniversary of the university’s School of Music.
Other highlights will include performances from tenor Aled Wyn Davies, soprano Mary Lloyd Davies, flautist Rhiannon Mathias and the Côr Seiriol choir.
It will feature pieces played over the years by Elinor, who has been the festival’s Artistic Director since 1978 and also signal the end of her tenure in the post.
After the launch, Elinor will embark on a tour 12 concerts and masterclasses across Wales where she will be playing with different harpists – most of whom she has taught – at each venue.
The aim of the tour is to drum up interest in the harp among young musicians and encourage harpists of all ages to compete at next year’s festival.
Approaching a significant birthday next April, Elinor, who lives in Bontnewydd near Caernarfon with her husband, former Plaid Cymru President Dafydd Wigley, said it was time to step back and allow someone else to take over the reins.
Looking forward to the launch concert, she said: “There’s a varied programme which I hope will appeal to everyone and also raise awareness of the harp festival itself.
“This will be my last harp festival, I’m not going to do any more organising after this one and the baton will be passed onto someone else.
“I don’t know who yet but there are many, many people who have the ability to take it on but I want to go out with a bit of a bang.”
Elinor will play the famous Concerto for Harp by Handel with the Bangor University Ensemble and the programme will also feature The North Wales Harp Ensemble, conducted by Tudor Eames who was a pupil of Elinor.
Meanwhile, the Gwynedd & Anglesey Youth Brass Band will perform alongside the Society of Triple Harpists and Côr Seiriol .
Elinor added: “The artistes taking place have some connection with myself over the years. I’m pleased that Aled Wyn Davies, the acclaimed tenor, from Llanbrynmair. His grandparents once lived in the farm where my parents lived.
That is under Llyn Clywedog now but I was able to go down there with Aled in the summer after the water levels dropped and was able to see the building again. So he’s coming to sing and that will be lovely.
“Soprano Mary Lloyd Davies is from Llanuwchllyn where I spent a large part of my childhood.
“The other soloists are Mared Emlyn who will play a concerto by Debussy on the harp and flautist Rhiannon Mathias. She is of course the daughter of William Mathias and the connection with him is very important.”
She said the programme is varied because her career has been quite varied ranging from classical performances as a soloist and with orchestras to accompanying rock musicians on various albums.
“I wanted it to be as varied and as accessible as it was possible to be,” said Elinor.
The pre-festival tour called Dwylo ar Dannau’r Delyn (Hands on Harp Strings) will include masterclasses conducted by Elinor and some of her ex-students and colleagues, held in community locations throughout Wales, to promote the festival and re-ignite interest in harp music following the Covid pandemic.
The fifth Wales International Harp Festival will bring together leading exponents of the instrument from around the world to Galeri Caernarfon from April 5-11, 2023.. Organised by Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias (William Mathias Music Centre), it will feature concerts, masterclasses, workshops and lecture recitals.
According to Elinor, performances will be given by world-class artistes representing various aspects of the harp spectrum.
“The Latin-American harpist from Colombia, Edmar Castaneda, will share a concert with Welsh harpist, Catrin Finch.
The great French artist, Isobel Moretti, returns to Caernarfon to perform the classics of the French harp repertoire. It will be wonderful to welcome back the iconic Deborah Henson-Conant from the USA, to present a jazz and improvisation evening in her own inimitable way.
“Retiring President of the United Kingdom Harp Association, Sioned Williams, will present a lecture-recital on John Thomas, Pencerdd Gwalia, a composition workshop will be given by John Metcalf,
“The festival commission is a new work, entitled Llechi (Slate), by harpist and composer, Math Roberts, with poetry by Wales’ National Poet, Ifor Ap Glyn.
“Written for a chamber ensemble and vocal soloists, it will celebrate the unique culture of the slate-mining areas of Gwynedd, recently awarded World Heritage Status by UNESCO,” said Elinor.
Harpists are also invited to take part in four competitions at the festival, with the aim of giving children and older harpists a platform to perform, receive comments from internationally esteemed harpists and make friends with young musicians from other parts of the world.
The closing date for applications for the competitions is January 2, 2023
“From the Chief Musician competition to the young harpists’ section, there are opportunities for many varied styles and genres, including the World Music competition on any kind of harp from Celtic to Triple and Kora to pedal..
“Participants in each of the four categories are encouraged to create their own choice of programmes, and include one or two items listed in the published syllabus.
Elinor said: “In the youth and children competitions, equal scholarships will be awarded for the three top performances, to help talented young harpists to receive continuing expert tuition.
The Wales International Harp Festival team is extremely grateful for the support given by Camac Harps and Telynau Vining and for sponsorship from many funding bodies including the Arts Council of Wales, Ty Cerdd and Colwinston Charitable Trust and invites anyone interested in sponsoring scholarships and prizes at the Festival to get in touch.
“Please join us over Easter in Caernarfon for a joyful and enriching experience.”
Details about the launch concert, the tour and the competitions are available on the Festival website www.walesharpfestival.co.uk
Great to see that two of our talented alumni students, Gwenno Morgan and Patrick Rimes will be taking part in this special event…
Four World Premiers by Beethoven, ap Sion, Puw and Rimes
Tregaron National Eisteddfod 2022
At the turn of the nineteenth century, George Thomson, a Scottish publisher sent a number of Welsh, Irish and Scottish folk song to the German composer, Ludwig van Beethoven. He sent others to Franz Joseph Haydn. Thomson was also a musician and friendly with the poet Robert Burns. Around 1809, Beethoven began setting these folk songs for Thomson who subsequently published them. They were scored for voice and piano trio in the typical style of the Classical period. The astonishing fact was that Beethoven composed 179 of these arrangements from the three above countries, more than any other genre of his oeuvre.
It was hoped that these would have come to light in 2020, celebrating 250 years since Beethoven’s birth year, but covid intervened. The project was then postponed until 2022 and slightly revamped. Other Welsh contemporary composers were invited to contribute. “O Dresden i Dregaron” (From Dresden to Tregaron); from Germany to Wales, will now include four world premiers by Beethoven, Pwyll ap Sion, Guto Puw and Patrick Rimes. Two arrangements by Haydn will also be performed and one by Sioned Webb, first performed by the soprano Elin Manahan Thomas and the European Union Chamber Orchestra. Dafydd Idris, the folk singer from Pontypridd will sing the folk song in their familiar unaccompanied versions. The tenor is the local and internationally acclaimed operatic singer Robyn Lyn Evans and the trio will consist of Gwenno Morgan (piano), Patrick Rimes (violin), Jordan Williams (cello) and Sioned Webb (piano). The performance will take place in the Babell Lên on the 1Eisteddfod field at Tregaron on Monday evening, August 1st at 7.30pm.
The evening’s producer and co-ordinator is the musician and radio presenter Sioned Webb.
A musical pensioner has added another string to his bow by passing his grade 8 cello exam at the age of 74.
Desmond Burton gave up the instrument as a child but decided to pick it up again half a century later after retiring from his job as an English language tutor at Bangor University.
Aged 67, he restarted lessons with tutor Nicki Pearce at Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias (William Mathias Music Centre) in Caernarfon.
He passed the highest possible grade with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music with flying colours, earning compliments from the examiner who said it was a privilege to listen to him playing.
His rediscovered talent with the bow has led him to join the Caernarfon Community Orchestra which was established by Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias to encourage music making amongst adults with any level of experience on their instrument.
The centre provides high quality instrumental and voice lessons to hundreds of people on a range of instruments, as well as organising a variety of community events throughout Wales.
While the majority of the students are of school age, Desmond is one of over 50 adult learners who attend weekly lessons at either Galeri Caernarfon or their satellite centres in Denbigh and Pwllglas, near Ruthin.
Desmond has also been able to play in chamber ensembles organised by the music centre.
Encouraged by his daughter Carolyn, a talented violinist, they enjoy informal music sessions with his guitar-playing wife, Porjai, at their home in Menai Bridge.
He said: “Many people think I’m mad taking these exams, why should I put this extra stress on myself but you don’t have to do. Many people who have joined the orchestra at the Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias do so just to enjoy themselves making music.
“I’m quite competitive and I love to set myself a challenge and in taking an exam you learn to play pieces to a very high standard and that’s what I wanted to do.”
Desmond, originally from Lichfield in Staffordshire, had cello lessons at school as a teenager but did not take any exams at that stage. The instrument his father bought for him from a member of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra when he was 12 or 13 lay idle to gather dust and was not played for more than 50 years.
He added: “When I retired from Bangor University seven years ago, I had more time to take up something and it seemed appropriate to take cello lessons. I never took it very seriously as a child, so I thought I should come back and try a bit harder.
“Musical instruments are not cheap and I already had a cello. It is quite a good cello, an early nineteenth century instrument from Germany and I’m still playing it. I’ve had to put new strings on it and buy a new bow because it had been idle for so many years but it’s still a very good cello, I’ve no intention of changing it.
“Nicki is a brilliant teacher. She is so patient and is quickly able to sort out any problems I might have. She is inspirational. I would not have been able to pass the exams without her. It’s as much her Grade 8 as mine,” he added.
Desmond’s daughter Carolyn, who studied music at Birmingham University and now works for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, said words could not describe how proud she was of her Dad.
She said: “I was very supportive when he picked up the cello again after he retired. He really loves playing the cello and I’ve been happy to help him in preparing for the various exams he has taken.”
“I’m very proud that he has passed so many and reached the highest grade. I hope this will inspire others to take up a musical instrument whatever their age,” she added.
Tutor Nicki said: “Desmond is such a delight to teach. He comes to his weekly lessons and he’s always prepared. Even if there’s something tricky, he’ll always put himself to it and he’s an inspiration.
Picture: Rick Matthews
“Examiners don’t always write extra comments on their reports but on Desmond’s report there was a comment that said it was a genuine privilege to listen to him playing.
“He just goes to show that it doesn’t matter at what point in life you do things like these exams, you can do them.
She added: “We’re now actively looking for more members for the community orchestra. It is a great way for adults who have maybe not touched their instruments for years to pick it up again and have a go in a friendly and supportive environment,” she added.
Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias director Meinir Llwyd Roberts said: “People may think music lessons are for children and young people only but there is a welcome for all ages at Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias – it’s never too late to start lessons. The number of adults receiving one-to-one lessons has increased over recent years, which is very good news.
“The lockdown caused the doors to close for a while and forced us into other ways of working, mostly online, but things have restarted in earnest now and it is great to see the full orchestra back in rehearsal. Anyone can join no matter their experience and the emphasis is very much on enjoying making music.”
The Caernarfon Community Orchestra, organised by Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias, meets on Tuesday evenings, normally from 8pm-9.30pm at Theatr Seilo in Caernarfon. More information online at www.cgwm.org.uk or call 01286 685230.
A giant bust of Beethoven is wowing visitors to an arts centre – and heading for the record books.
The huge pȃpier-maché and timber sculpture at Galeri in Caernarfon is believed to be the world’s biggest version of the stellar composer’s head.
The massive model, 5ft 6ins tall and weighing in at five stone, was made for the International Piano Festival that’s dedicated this year’s event to a belated celebration to mark the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth
Organised by Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias (William Mathias Music Centre) every four years, the festival showcases recitals by professional musicians, and hosts prestigious piano competitions – with prizes totalling nearly £10,000.
Originally scheduled to take place in 2020, it had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and is now taking place between October 15 and 18.
But organisers are continuing with their tribute to the German music icon whose works rank among the most performed in the world.
The hypnotic installation was created by acclaimed North Wales artist Catrin Williams and her husband Bedwyr ab Iestyn who also used wire and recycled materials to make it.
With eerily dark eyes and wildly dishevelled hair, it hangs from the main foyer ceiling at Galeri where it is already causing a sensation.
It was nearly two years in the making, created during the height of the pandemic and national lockdowns and took up most of the couple’s garage at their home in Pwllheli.
Catrin said: “It was an unusual time, and we came to have quite a strange relationship with this giant figure in our garage. He was part of our ‘lockdown bubble’.
She said: “I painted it in the garden during fine weather over summer and it caused intense curiosity among our neighbours who could see it from their bedroom windows. They must’ve wondered what on earth was going on.”
International concert pianist Iwan Llewelyn-Jones who is the piano festival’s artistic director said the sculpture is unique.
He said: “Artistically it is like a Damian Hurst style experience, a little bit scary, but you just can’t take your eyes off it. That is exactly how we wanted it when we asked Catrin to do her magic.
“Beethoven had a tormented life, being a magnificent composer but suffering the torture of going deaf early in adulthood. We wanted the statue to convey some of that torment.”
Iwan and Catrin have also been leading creative workshops in local schools, linking art and music interpretation.
Iwan said: “The goal of our piano festival is to focus on three areas – performance, competition and education. There has always been a rich culture of music and music education in Wales and through our community outreach projects we aim to build on this, helping nurture an interest in music among pupils from an early age.”
During the workshops at Ysgol Llanrug, Caernarfon, and Ysgol Glancegin, Bangor, Iwan played played Beethoven works and Catrin led an arts session in which Year five pupils interpreted the music through drawing.
A large paper canvas was laid across the floor and children used ink pots, paints and other colouring materials to intuitively create original designs.
Ysgol Llanrug teacher Alaw Tecwyn said it was a delight to welcome Catrin and Iwan into school after so many months when they have had to forgo music lessons and group singing due to pandemic restrictions.
She said: “To have the sound of live music in our hall again and see pupils so inspired is heart-warming. It brings a sense of normality back into school.”
A graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music, Alaw is an accomplished operatic singer and teaches music. At the end of the arts session she sang a soprano solo piece for the group, the Meirion Williams composition, Mai, accompanied by Iwan on piano.
Two other schools, Ysgol Cybi, of Holyhead, and Ysgol Edmund Prys, of Blaenau Ffestiniog, were also involved in outreach projects developed by Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias with funding from Arts and Business Cymru’s Culture Step programme in support of the partnership with Roberts of Portdinorwic who are sponsoring the main prize at the Festival. This project will culminate with a virtual concert on the theme of Saint Saen’s Carnival of the Animals, featuring musicians Elin Taylor on cello, Teleri-Sian on piano and Glian Llwyd also on piano.
The concert will be available to watch online on Sunday October 17, at 6.30pm, as part of the festival’s hybrid format devised to adhere to pandemic social distancing.
Other concerts available to view online feature top classical musicians including globally famous Wrexham-born piano maestro and Beethoven specialist Llyr Williams. He headlines the festival opening night concert, streamed on Friday, October 15.
Also on the virtual programme is a concert of chamber music by violinist Sara Trickey, cellist Sebastian van Kuijk and Iwan Llewelyn-Jones, and world premieres of four newly commissioned works by prominent Welsh composers Pwyll ap Sion, Joseph Davies, Sarah Lianne Lewis and Bethan Morgan-Williams featuring Soprano Alys Roberts.
In addition audiences are invited to Galeri to watch live as a series of thrilling competitions take place. There will be 16 competitions in each of three categories for junior solo pianists, senior solo pianists, and accompanists. Competitors include talented young pianists from different corners of the world with the potential to be big names of the future.
There will also be an opportunity to enjoy live performances in Galeri’s atrium by duo Sian James and Sioned Webb and CGWM alumni student Gwenno Morgan.
Organisers emphasised that it would not be possible to stage the festival without support from its sponsors including the Arts Council of Wales, Bangor University, Colwinston Trust, Foyle Foundation, Gwynedd Council, Pendine Park care organisation via the Pendine Arts and Community Trust, Roberts of Portdinorwic, Ty Cerdd, Snowdonia Fire Protection, A&B Cymru and several individual donors.
For more details about the festival timetable, to order virtual concert tickets or find out how to sponsor a note visit www.pianofestival.co.uk
World renowned pianist Llyr Williams will headline a virtual concert at a top festival.
The Wrexham-born maestro will perform works by Beethoven, Chopin and Schubert on a stunning new Steinway piano for the Wales International Piano Festival.
It will be the first time the classical music star has appeared at the festival which is held every four years, organised by Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias (William Mathias Music Centre), Caernarfon.
The event showcases recitals by outstanding professional musicians as well as hosting prestigious piano competitions – with prizes this year totalling nearly £10,000.
Despite 18 months of logistical setbacks caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2021 festival has attained a full complement of competition entrants.
There will be16 competitors in each of three categories for junior solo pianists, senior solo pianists, and accompanists. It is one of only a handful of festivals in the world which includes an accompanist category.
This year the festival takes on a hybrid format with the evening concerts pre-recorded and streamed online, while competitions and other events will happen live at Galeri Caernarfon.
Organisers say it would not be possible to put on the festival without the support of the sponsors which include the Arts Council of Wales, Colwinston Trust, Foyle Foundation, Gwynedd Council, Pendine Park care organisation via the Pendine Arts and Community Trust, Roberts of Portdinorwic, Ty Cerdd, Snowdonia Fire Protection, A&B Cymru and several individual donors.
The Llyr Williams concert has been recorded in advance and will be streamed online on the October 15 to open the festival.
Music lovers will be able to buy tickets to watch the virtual recital on the festival’s website www.pianofestival.co.uk which will be available to view for 24 hours.
Llyr is a globally acclaimed performer and a specialist in Ludwig van Beethoven works with several of the composer’s complete sonata cycles under his belt. He has performed at iconic venues including Carnegie Hall, New York, and Wigmore Hall, London.
His affinity with Beethoven’s music fits in perfectly with the Wales International Piano Festival 2021’s central theme, paying homage to Beethoven and his considerable legacy. Llyr’s programme will include Beethoven’s Sonata Opus 31, no 3 (The Hunt), and Frédéric Chopin’s majestic ‘Funeral March’ Sonata.
Iwan Llewelyn-Jones, the festival’s Artistic Director, said: “Llyr is an extraordinary musician and a consummate performer and we are delighted to welcome him to the 2021 festival.
The concert was recorded at Bangor University’s Powis Hall with Llyr performing on the magnificent new Steinway concert grant piano recently purchased by the university.
After recording, Llyr described the Steinway as remarkable: “It really draws out all the different colours of the music.”
The festival was originally due to be staged in May 2020 to mark the year of the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth in December 1770.
But due to the effects of global pandemic lockdowns and concert venue closures worldwide it had to be postponed twice
Iwan said: “After the uncertainties of the last 18 months and the ongoing pandemic situation we made the bold decision to adopt a hybrid format. It means people will be able to enjoy watching these magnificent performances online from the comfort of their own homes.”
Llyr said: “I feel honoured to be helping to mark the two and a half centuries which have passed since Beethoven’s birth, and especially so as we didn’t get to celebrate as fully as he deserved last year which was the actual 250th anniversary year.”
Also on the festival’s virtual programme is a concert of chamber music with a performance of Beethoven’s Archduke Trio by Sara Trickey (violin), Sebastian van Kuijk (cello) and Iwan Llewelyn-Jones.
Soprano Alys Roberts, will join them to give the world premieres of four newly commissioned works by the prominent Welsh composers Pwyll ap Sion, Joseph Davies, Sarah Lianne Lewis and Bethan Morgan-Williams.
Using traditional Welsh music and literature and drawing inspiration from Beethoven, the composers have created highly evocative works that explore time and place with atmosphere and drama.
The final evening concert will see a performance of French composer Camille Saint-Saens’ iconic masterpiece Carnival of the Animals which also provides the inspiration for community outreach projects and school workshops which the festival team is undertaking in the run up to the main weekend.
Further details of how to view the three virtual concerts can be found on the festival website, www.pianofestival.co.uk
In the piano competitions entrants have their sights on a top prize of £700 in the junior category, £3,000 in the senior and £1,500 in the accompanist category.
Catrin Morris Jones, who is one of the administrative team organising the festival, said “We look forward to welcoming the competitors to Galeri Caernarfon and it will also be possible for members of the public to come to watch the competitions. Final timetable and details will be announced on the website soon.”
: “It has been a challenging 18 months but we are determined to deliver a fantastic festival. We have some money left to raise in order to reach our fundraising target and we have set up forms on our website for people to take part in Sponsor a Note – which is basically sponsoring us via choosing your favourite piano key.”
For more details about the festival timetable, to order tickets or find out how to sponsor a note visit www.pianofestival.co.uk
It was with great sadness that we heard of the passing of Charli Britton.
Charli made a huge contribution to Welsh pop music as a drummer with rock band Edward H Dafis and several other bands.
We are extremely grateful to him for sharing his passion and expertise with dozens of young aspiring drummers from North West Wales through his work as a tutor at the Canolfan for 15 years. He was a kind and popular tutor who inspired his students.
He was also a very talented graphic designer who was responsible for designing several of the Canolfan’s marketing materials. Always willing to go the extra mile and a pleasure to work with.
He will be sorely missed. Rest in peace Charli and thank you.
2019-2020 has been another busy year for CGWM and it was wonderful to celebrate twenty years since the Centre opened its doors by inviting some of our past and present pupils to mark the occasion at a special concert in Galeri.
After our highly successful Piano day last year we were determined not to let the current situation with Covid-19 defeat us, so we moved this year’s Piano Day on-line. The response was very encouraging with 65 performances given by pianists of all standard and ages, not only from the UK but as far afield as Germany and Thailand. The repertoire performed ranged from Classical and Romantic pieces to Jazz, Ragtime & Blues and 20th Century.
Our esteemed panel of piano experts, Dafydd Meurig Thomas, Gwawr Owen and Evgenia Startseva gave constructive feed-back to all the performers. Evgenia reflected that “it was an enormous pleasure and enjoyable experience. The performers were really impressive.”
The feedback from parents and performers was most enthusiastic with many positive observations:
“Thank you very much for the opportunity for our children to play in the Piano Day and get such useful and confidence boosting feedback!”
“It’s so important for these pianists to have the opportunity to perform beyond a competitive atmosphere, and for that we appreciate the Day immensely.”
“The Piano Day has been a very rewarding experience with a very homely feel even though it was on ZOOM – thank you for all your hard work.”
We had a very informative and enlightening ‘Question and Answer’ session during the afternoon which elicited the following comment from an audience member:
“I thoroughly enjoyed the Q & A session. One can often feel isolated as a tutor and I firmly believe that such sessions, where problems can be aired and good practices shared, are of enormous benefit to many of us.
We are delighted to have created this wonderful on-line community of pianists, parents, and teachers and look forward to planning many more events of this nature in the near future.
It is with sadness and regret that we wish to record the death of harpist and scholar, Osian Gwynn Ellis at the age of 92. He was a great friend and supporter of the work of the William Mathias Music Centre and the Wales International Harp Festival & he will be sorely missed.
A native of Ffynnongroyw, Flintshire, Osian was brought up in Denbigh, the son of the Rev. T.G. Ellis, a Wesleyan minister, and his first harp teacher was Alwena Roberts (‘Telynores Iâl’). As a child, he sang and performed with his mother and other members of his family, in concerts throughout Wales.
Following a period studying the harp with Gwendolen Mason at the Royal Academy of Music (London), he succeeded his teacher as harp Professor at the institution from 1959 until 1989. Early in his career, he appeared in popular television programmes on BBC Wales, and gave numerous performances of poetry and music with actors such as Dame Peggy Aschcroft, Dame Sybil Thorndyke, Cecil Day-Lewis, Hugh Griffith and Richard Burton.
As the most prominent & outstanding harpist of his time, as harp teacher, composer, arranger, penillion singer and scholar, he contributed widely to the nation’s traditional music as well as to developments in the European classical music of his day. In his numerous recordings with Sain, Philips, Lyrita, Meridian and Decca, he highlighted the varied harp repertoire, including 18th, 19th and 20th century Welsh compositions. He travelled extensively during his career, promoting the harp and the music of Wales on all four continents.
Osian Ellis was Principal Harpist of the London Symphony Orchestra from 1961, and worked with the eminent conductors of the time, such as Pierre Monteux, Pierre Boulez, Colin Davis, Antal Dorati, André Previn and Claudio Abbado. He was a regular soloist with the LSO and, as the founding harpist of the Melos Ensemble, his recording of Ravel’s Introduction et Allegro won the Grand Prix du Disque in Paris in 1962.
From the early ’60s, he worked & collaborated with the renowned English composer, Benjamin Britten, & Osian played in several performances and recordings at the Britten Festival (Aldeburgh). This partnership resulted in the harp gaining its place in several of Britten’s works – including, the War Requiem (1962), Midsummer Night’s Dream, Curlew River (1964), The Prodigal Son (1968) and his most important harp work, Suite for Harp (1969).
From 1973 – 1980, following Benjamin Britten’s illness, Osian Ellis performed many concerts with Peter Pears (tenor), and several new works were written for them. He later performed with his son, the late Tomos Ellis (tenor), giving several performances in Wales and overseas.
Osian Ellis encouraged many contemporary composers from Wales & further afield to write new works for harp – including, William Mathias, Alun Hoddinott, Rhian Samuel, David Wynne, Malcolm Arnold, Robin Holloway, Elizabeth Machonchy, William Alwyn, Carlo Menotti and Jorgen Jersild.
As a scholar, he published several seminal works on the history of the harp in Wales, the Robert ap Huw Manuscript, John Parry (Ruabon) and Cerdd Dant. His volume, The Story of the Harp in Wales, was published by the University of Wales Press (Cardiff) and he contributed to a myriad of television and radio programmes in Wales and London.
He was a member of the executive committee of the Welsh Folk Song Society and Cymdeithas Cerdd Dant Cymru. He received numerous honours from the University of Wales, Bangor University as well as from the nation’s leading musical institutions and a CBE from the Queen. As a harp teacher, he influenced generations of aspiring musicians and harpists, including Elinor Bennett and Sioned Williams.
After celebrating his 90th birthday, he was further inspired to compose two new works: ‘Cylch o Alawon Gwerin Cymru’ (for Bryn Terfel and Hannah Stone) and his work for solo harp, ‘Lachrymae’.
We extend our deepest condolences to his son, Richard Llywarch, daughter-in-law Glynis, and grandchildren David and Katie in their sadness.
A switch to online classes because of the covid crisis has enabled an acclaimed music centre in North Wales to provide lessons around the world.
Among the tutors at Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias (William Mathias Music Centre), which has bases in Caernarfon, Denbigh and Ruthin, is internationally renowned harpist Elinor Bennett who is now teaching one of her young protégés 7,500 miles away in the Welsh colony of Patagonia in Argentina.
The long-distance tutoring through the medium of Welsh is a dream come true for talented teenage harpist Helen Green who loves the lessons with her music idol.
The centre has managed to continue to conduct 65 per cent of its one to one lessons since the coronavirus pandemic struck.
Within a week of going into lockdown in March, the lessons moved online – something that also allowed the centre to extend its reach well beyond its traditional heartland.
Some face-to-face lessons have now resumed but centre director Meinir Llwyd Roberts revealed the virtual lessons are here to stay for those who are unable to attend lessons in person.
That’s music to the ears of 15-year-old Helen who said: “I feel so lucky that we have the technology to do this. To have Elinor as my mentor is a real privilege, a chance to learn so much. It’s the second-best thing to having her in the room. She’s an extraordinary teacher, an amazing harpist.”
The trans-Atlantic connection is one of the remarkable achievements secured by centre which is working hard to keep music lessons available and its teachers in work through the pandemic.
The live lessons take place online through the video communications platform Zoom.
Elinor said she immensely looks forward to the fortnightly lessons with Helen and enjoys catching up with news in ‘beautiful Patagonia’ which she has visited three times.
She said: “The miracles of modern technology have been hugely beneficial during this difficult period for musicians worldwide.
“Despite this we’ve struck up an exciting connection which Helen and I look forward to every two weeks.
“It takes great preparation on both sides to make it work and we have to factor in the three hour time difference but so far the lessons are going fantastically well.”
Elinor holds an OBE and has performed with the English Chamber Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonia Orchestra, as well as giving regular recitals on BBC radio and television. Her past students include the former Royal harpist Catrin Finch, now a renowned classical musician who was official harpist to Prince Charles from 2000-2004.
Elinor said she would not be able to mentor Helen so easily without help from Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias (CGWM) of which she is a long-standing supporter.
CGWM was established in 1999 to improve access to instrumental and singing lessons for the North Wales community and provide a work outlet for self-employed music teachers.
It encompasses 42 freelance tutors who offer individual and group tuition to more than 500 people on a weekly basis across the board from pre-school to pension ages.
These are normally in-person activities at Galeri Caernarfon, or satellite centres at Theatr Twm o’r Nant, Denbigh, and Capel Tabernacl, Ruthin and in the wider community.
Face to face activities were put on hold during the summer lockdown and recent Wales firebreak. But helped by funds from the Arts Council of Wales’ stabilisation fund made possible by The National Lottery, and the willingness of tutors to adapt, most of its music projects were transferred online
CGWM director Meinir Llwyd Roberts said: “There’s no question we’ve faced unprecedented obstacles sustaining musical education provision during the pandemic, but we’ve succeeded in adapting all our regular projects to offer some online provision. It’s opened our eyes to opportunities for using this as a method of delivering activities in the future.
“Face-to-face lessons are the best option and we can’t wait to be able to return all our projects face to face but in some circumstances where this isn’t possible the online facility is a great alternative option. We’ll be continuing to offer it in the long term, post pandemic.”
“One only has to look at the remarkable example of Elinor and Helen to see how music education really can transcend boundaries whether they be geographical, physical or emotional.”
Elinor was put in contact with Helen and her music loving family by another of her former students Esyllt Roberts de Lewis, who grew up in Wales but moved to Patagonia to teach.
After they met Esyllt recognised Helen had great potential and would benefit from more advanced tutoring. Esyllt contacted Elinor to ask if she could recommend a good mentor and was thrilled when Elinor took on board the task herself.
Helen and her mum, a violinist, were delighted.
Elinor said: “Helen is such a keen, self-motivated student, a real pleasure to work with. She was improving noticeably after just five sessions and is currently preparing to join a virtual online performance with other CGWM students. We’re hopeful of arranging it soon. She has also taken part in a music festival in Buenos Aires.”
Patagonia is a Welsh-language colony on Argentina’s border with Chile first inhabited by Welsh settlers in the 19th century. It is the only part of the world other than Wales where Welsh is commonly spoken. Helen lives in Gaiman, near Trelew, in the Chubut area.
