Latest news with #EisteddfodyrUrddDuraMôr2025
Business News Wales
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business News Wales
Eisteddfod yr Urdd 2025 Chair and Crown Unveiled
The Chair and Crown for Eisteddfod yr Urdd Dur a Môr 2025 were unveiled during a special evening at The Towers, Swansea. Angharad Pearce Jones from the Brynaman area has designed and created the Chair, sponsored by Soar-Maesyrhaf Chapel. Nicola Palterman from Neath has created the Crown, sponsored by primary schools in the West Glamorgan Region. Some of the final pieces of steel from Tata Steel's works were used in the designs of the two prizes, paying tribute to the local industrial heritage of this year's Eisteddfod yr Urdd, which will be held at Margam Park, Port Talbot. 'Creating this year's chair has been a wonderful privilege and a dream come true. It's something that's been on my wish list for many years,' says Angharad Pearce Jones, the award-winning artist who is originally from Y Bala, but who has lived in the Brynaman area for 20 years. The chair is inspired by the local steel works and industry, and a combination of the Welsh steel and flat steel produced in Port Talbot was used to create it. Angharad was given a guided tour of the Tata Steel site and saw parts that were not visible from the main road, such as countless pipes, and these parts can be seen on the finished chair. 'I'm lucky that I had the last piece of Welsh iron ore from Tata's works for the chair, and I was determined to create a chair that felt positive – a celebration rather than a sad symbol of the past. My intention was to create a contemporary and appealing chair for the young person who will hopefully win it. I want them to be able to enjoy the chair forever.' Angharad won the gold medal for fine art at the 2024 National Eisteddfod at Rhondda Cynon Taf, and she's currently designing a permanent sculpture for the site of the Ruthin Craft Centre. The chair is sponsored by the Soar-Maesyrhaf Chapel, Neath. Angharad visited this Welsh chapel while researching the history and the building for further inspiration: 'Remarkably, the woodwork and the red and cream colours of the steelworks' pipes were similar to the chapel's colours. There was a strong sense of correlation between the two sites. Many of the Welsh-speaking people who used to attend the chapel were also employed in the steelworks, and the chapel will be reflected in the design as well. 'I had a lot of fun and success competing on the Urdd stage with school choirs in Y Bala. Our school won the choir competition five years in a row. We were famous and we released a CD. I've competed in gymnastics, on the piano and as a soloist, and my daughter has just competed in the Urdd's rugby 7s competition. We owe a great debt to the Urdd.' This year's crown is sponsored by the primary schools of the West Glamorgan Region. They were looking for someone local to create the crown and Nicola Palterman jumped at the opportunity when asked. 'I've had several interesting design commissions over the years, from wedding rings to prizes such as the Prince William Cup, but this is the first crown,' explains the luxury jewellery designer. 'My business partner, Laura Thomas, has designed a crown for the National Eisteddfod in the past, and now I've had the opportunity to design a crown for Eisteddfod yr Urdd.' Born and bred in Neath, Nicola went on to study at the Birmingham School of Jewellery before being offered a job as a luxury jewellery designer at Aur Cymru, Dolgellau. She set up her own jewellery shop in Dolgellau 30 years ago, before deciding to establish a business back in her hometown. After sharing a studio and workshop with local jeweller Laura Thomas, the pair decided to merge their businesses and create 'Jewel and Grace' eighteen months ago. In discussions with the sponsors and the local committee, everyone agreed that the culture and history of the area needed to be reflected in the design: 'I wanted the design to be based on the steel and sea theme. The waves of the coastal landscape in the Aberavon area can be seen, while the birds are a strong symbol in this year's Welcome Song and offer much hope for the future. But the design also recognises the importance of the steel industry, which has been the lifeblood of people over the years. 'The material is a striking combination of the 'young', shiny silver; tin coated with a layer of local steel from Tata's works; and blue velvet that represents the maritime element on the cap. I've also added small blue diamonds to introduce an element of luxury that has been a hallmark of my work over the years. I think it's the first time ever that the Eisteddfod yr Urdd crown contains diamonds.' The Chairing ceremony will be held on the Thursday of the Eisteddfod, sponsored by the Ivor and Aeres Evans Trust. The Crowning ceremony will take place on the Friday of the festival, sponsored by Cardiff University. The Urdd also thanks the following for sponsoring the festival's other main Medals and ceremonies: Monday: The Art, Design and Technology Medal and the Young Artist Scholarship's ceremony is sponsored by Cronfa Elw William Park Jones. Tuesday: The Drama Medal is sponsored by Cymdeithas Ddrama Gymraeg Abertawe. Wednesday: The Welsh Learners Medal is sponsored by Learn Welsh Swansea Bay Region and the Bobi Jones Medal by Tŷ'r Gwrhyd, with the ceremony sponsored by the National Centre for Learning Welsh. Saturday: The Chief Composer Medal is sponsored by local choirs, namely Parti Llwchwr, Morriston RFC Male Voice Choir, Dunvant Male Voice Choir, Swansea Philharmonic Choir, Ospreys Choir, Côr Nedd.
Business News Wales
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business News Wales
Four Local Volunteers to be Honoured at Eisteddfod yr Urdd 2025
As preparations scale up for Eisteddfod yr Urdd Dur a Môr 2025 this month, Urdd Gobaith Cymru is thanking a group of volunteers for decades of voluntary work for the youth organisation. Each year, individuals who have made a special contribution to Wales' largest youth organisation are honoured by the Urdd. This year, attention turns to West Glamorgan, and four volunteers will be named Honorary Presidents of Eisteddfod yr Urdd 2025 in a special ceremony on the Maes (the festival ground). The four Honorary Presidents of Eisteddfod yr Urdd Dur a Môr 2025 are Davida Lewis, Janet Jones, Menna Bennett Joynson and Wayne Pedrick. Llio Maddocks, Director of the Arts, Urdd Gobaith Cymru said: 'The four who are being honoured this year have given over 160 years of support to the movement. Volunteers play a vital role in the work and reach of the Urdd, and we're delighted to recognise the dedication of these particular four volunteers at a special ceremony at the Eisteddfod on Monday, 26 May.' Davida Lewis Brought up in Swansea, Davida Lewis has spent her life in the Eisteddfod's local area. She established two local choirs: 'Côr Plant Waunarlwydd' in 1965 and 'Côr Waunarlwydd' in 1970. The choirs have had considerable success locally and internationally for 60 years. The choirs still exist, and even though Davida has transferred the reigns to a new conductor, she still enjoys participating as a member. Being awarded the title of Honorary President at the Eisteddfod in her own area will be a crowning achievement, after her wealth of experiences and successes in Eisteddfodau over the decades. Janet Jones Brought up in Loughor, Janet has lived in Neath for over 40 years. Music is in her blood and over the years she has competed regularly on stages, winning several major prizes at Eisteddfod yr Urdd and at the National Eisteddfod. Janet is the conductor of 'Parti Llwchwr'. She has shared her musical talents by teaching children to sing and perform at Eisteddfodau and numerous events over the years. She established 'Adran Nedd' in 1993 to offer cultural and Welsh experiences to the youth of the area. Following the success of the group, she established 'Uwch Adran Nedd' to continue to provide experiences to older children. She has also been an active member of the Neath and Afan Local Committee, as well as Chair of the Regional Committee. Janet is one of the Vice-Chairs of the Executive Committee for this year's Eisteddfod yr Urdd. Menna Bennett Joynson Menna was born in Llanidloes before her family moved to Llanuwchllyn and then to Aberystwyth. She grew up in a musical and cultured household and was familiar with singing and participating in Eisteddfodau from an early age. At Eisteddfod yr Urdd, she has had considerable success in the field of 'cerdd dant', while she also coached pupils to sing and compete in her role as a music teacher at Ysgol Rhydfelen. In 1976 she moved to Swansea with her husband and raised three children locally. Menna established 'Adran Sgeti' in 1978 which later developed into 'Aelwyd yr Urdd Sgeti'. Over the years, they went on to have considerable success at Eisteddfod yr Urdd. Menna was appointed music teacher at Ysgol Gyfun Gŵyr and a peripatetic harp teacher in the area. She talks of her gratitude to the Urdd, adding that all the experiences she and her pupils have had have greatly enriched her life. Wayne Pedrick Wayne's first experience of Eisteddfod yr Urdd was through his children, Lisa and Aled, when they were pupils at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Gwaun Cae Gurwen and Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera. Both loved to compete, with Aled winning the 2003 Bryn Terfel Scholarship at the Tawe, Neath and Afan Eisteddfod. Wayne worked at the local coal plant, and in 1998 he got a job as a peripatetic brass teacher. In that role, he encouraged and supported his pupils to compete at Eisteddfod yr Urdd, both as soloists and as an ensemble. He was appointed Head of the Peripatetic Music Service in Neath Port Talbot in 2016 and helps run three youth and junior orchestras, three youth and junior brass bands and a Youth Choir and Big Band. Wayne also regularly adjudicates instrumental competitions at regional and national Eisteddfodau. Eisteddfod yr Urdd Dur a Môr will be held at Margam Park between 26 and 31 May.
