11-07-2025
Over 600 join music workshop at Llangollen Eisteddfod
The intergenerational session was held at the Eisteddfod and organised by Pendine Park, a major sponsor of the festival.
Led by creative practitioner Emyr Gibson and Pendine's musician-in-residence Nia Davies Williams, the workshop brought together residents living with dementia and pupils from schools across North Wales and Cheshire.
Sarah Edwards, Pendine's consultant artist-in-residence, said: "These dementia music workshops are inter-generational and involve our residents living with dementia in our care homes and lots of different schools.
"They are fun, interactive music sessions and our residents really get involved in them, and the children do too.
"It's all about having fun, shaking their maracas and waving their Pendine flags – just having a good old time."
The sessions were supported by 16 care staff and 15 residents from Pendine Park care homes.
Funding came from the Pendine Arts and Community Trust, set up by Pendine owners Mario Kreft MBE and his wife Gill to back arts and community projects.
Year 5 teacher Gemma Jones, from The Rofft in Marford, said: "It was so nice to see all the residents enjoying themselves, you can see they are so engaged in the music.
"The children really enjoyed joining in and having fun."
Nia Davies Williams, musician in residence and Emyr Gibson, creative practitioner at Pendine Park's Bryn Seiont Newydd singing along with Ysgol Y Gwernant pupils (Image: Mandy Jones)
Pupil Ted, 10, said: "The music workshop was really good.
"I enjoyed the singing.
"It was really nice to spend time with older people and shaking the maracas."
Care home resident Gwen Davies said: "It was lovely to see so many children, they are so nice."
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Emyr Gibson, well known for his long-running role as Meical in the S4C series Rownd a Rownd, called the workshop a privilege.
Mr Gibson said: "It's a privilege to do this, to bring generations together, and also to help people with dementia.
"I just love the role, and holding sessions to help people with dementia, you get so much from it."
Ms Williams said the workshop embodied Pendine's core values, she said: "Music and the arts are the golden thread that runs through everything we do at Pendine."
