News
Musical pensioner Desmond makes grade with cello after half century gap
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...
Wishing everyone all the best over Christmas
It has been a challenging year due to the pandemic but we are delighted that we have been able to re-start our face to face sessions since September. Thank you to everyone for their support. We look forward to a 2022 full of music making. Here’s a special performance...
World’s biggest Beethoven bust is a massive hit
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...
Piano virtuoso Llyr Williams headlines at festival
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...
Charli Britton
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...
It’s important to stay positive. Keep going
Back in January after the shock that came before Christmas that we were in another lockdown. It felt different this time. Wouldn't this Christmas be the same, and how long will this lockdown last? We were all facing an uncertain time again. When we got back together...
Annual Report April 2019 – March 2020
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. Download the Report
Success of our Virtual Piano Day
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,...
Osian Ellis (1928-2021)
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...
Still singing, still believing! Keeping in touch in 2020
It's been a year since we all faced our first lockdown. No one knew what was in front of us. A week before the official news we had to take a very difficult decision and postpone each session. I didn't know when we would be able to meet again. It was an uncertain time...
Switch to online classes enables top harpist to teach protégé 7,500 miles away in Patagonia
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...
“This is the time of Corona to me”
The talented Harlech crew were challenged to record their experiences from the first lockdown. https://vimeo.com/580716825 There was a fantastic response with the crew contributing verbally, with photographs, and countless phone conversations! The group's ideas and...