Latest news with #NorthWalesInternationalMusicFestival
Western Telegraph
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Western Telegraph
Final call for entries to Pendine Young Musician of Wales
Royal composer Paul Mealor has extended a final call for entries to the Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition. Open to instrumentalists and singers, the competition will be held during the North Wales International Music Festival at St Asaph Cathedral, from September 11 to 20. Mr Mealor emphasised the potential impact on participants' careers, saying: "It's a very special competition that can launch a career and we're indebted to Pendine Park for sponsoring it." The competition, funded by the Pendine Park care organisation, offers a generous prize pool for the top four finalists. The overall winner will receive the silver Pendine Trophy and £2,000 in cash. The second prize winner will secure £1,000, and two runners-up will be awarded £500 each. The performances of all four finalists will be broadcast live on BBC Radio Cymru. A panel of judges, including Professor Helena Gaunt, Principal of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama; Rebecca Evans CBE, a world-renowned operatic soprano; and Alun Jones, the festival's executive vice-chair and former principal of Chetham's School of Music, Manchester, will select the winners. While the judges deliberate, last year's winner, Cardiff-based harpist Heledd Wynn Newton, will entertain the audience. The competition is open to all young musicians, either born or residing in Wales, or Welsh nationals living abroad, who were under 21 on January 1, 2025. Applicants under 18 will need the permission of their teacher or parent to enter. Mr Mealor added: "If there's any young instrumentalists or vocalists who want to have a chance to win thousands of pounds in prize money and to perform live on BBC Radio Cymru, they need to get their skates on." Entrants must upload their performance via a link on the festival's website to be judged anonymously. Selected participants will advance to the semi-final to perform a 10-minute programme, with four finalists competing the following night. Festival founder Mario Kreft said: "Our aim is to encourage and foster young, emerging talent and the Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition has all the makings of a very prestigious event. "I think in years to come it will be one of the premier competitions for young musicians and will hopefully assist them and propel them in their careers." He added: "Like Paul, I would urge young musicians right across Wales to submit their entries now. "We can't wait to hear them perform, and to follow their futures in the world of music." The closing date for entries is 5pm on Friday, July 4. Entry forms can be downloaded from the festival's website.
South Wales Guardian
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Final call for young musicians to enter contest in Wales
Royal composer, Paul Mealor, believes the Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition at the North Wales International Music Festival could be a substantial boost to their budding careers. The competition, now in its second year, is seeking entries from instrumentalists and singers for the 2025 contest, to be held at St Asaph Cathedral from September 11 to 20. Professor Mealor said: "It's not too late for young musicians to enter the competition – there's still a few weeks left. "We've already had a load of entries but we want to make sure we reach out to rising stars in every corner of Wales." Young instrumentalists or vocalists must upload a video or audio clip and complete an application form by the deadline at 5pm on Friday, July 4. More details on how to enter can be found on the festival's website, The competition is being funded by the Pendine Park care organisation through the Pendine Arts and Community Trust, which supports community and arts activities. The winner will receive the silver Pendine Trophy along with a cash prize of £2,000. The second-place winner will receive £1,000, and two runners-up will each receive £500. All four finalists' performances will be broadcast live on BBC Radio Cymru. Professor Mealor said: "It's a very special competition that can launch a career and we're indebted to Pendine Park for sponsoring it." The judges, who will choose the finalists, are Professor Helena Gaunt, principal of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama; Rebecca Evans CBE, a world-renowned operatic soprano; and Alun Jones, the festival's executive vice-chair and former principal of Chetham's School of Music, Manchester. While the judges deliberate, last year's winner, harp virtuoso Heledd Wynn Newton from Cardiff, will entertain the audience. Professor Mealor said: "The people who reach the final will all win a generous cash prize while the winner will be presented with a magnificent silver salver donated by Pendine and be invited to perform next year as well. "The competition is open to young musicians either born or living in Wales or who are Welsh nationals living abroad. "Entrants must have been aged under 21 on January 1, 2025, to be eligible. "If you're under 18 you will need the permission of your teacher or parent to enter." Mario Kreft, organiser of the competition, said: "After the success of the inaugural competition last year, we're really excited about the prospects for the 2025 contest. "Our aim is to encourage and foster young, emerging talent and the Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition has all the makings of a very prestigious event. "We recognise how important the arts are to our lives in all its forms. "Music matters just as much to people who live and work in social care as it does to young and old in wider society."
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Last chance for Pendine Young Musician of Wales entries
Royal composer Paul Mealor has urged talented instrumentalists and singers to compete in the 2025 event, part of the North Wales International Music Festival. He said: "It's not too late for young musicians to enter the competition." Applicants have until 5pm on July 4 to submit a video or audio clip and an application form for the festival, which runs from September 11 to 20. More details are available at The event, in its second year, is sponsored by Pendine Park care organisation. The winner will receive a silver Pendine Trophy and a £2,000 cash prize, while the runner-up will secure £1,000 and two additional finalists will be awarded £500 each. The performances of all four finalists will be broadcast live on BBC Radio Cymru. Mario Kreft, co-founder of the competition, said: "Our aim is to encourage and foster young, emerging talent and the Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition has all the makings of a very prestigious event." The festival will see last year's winner, Heledd Wynn Newton, entertain the audience whilst the judges deliberate.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Final call for young musicians to claim Pendine Trophy
A final call has been issued for Gwent's young musicians to vie for the revered Pendine Young Musician of Wales title and up to £4,000 in prizes. Royal composer Paul Mealor has urged talented instrumentalists and singers to compete in the 2025 event, part of the North Wales International Music Festival. He said: "It's not too late for young musicians to enter the competition." Applicants have until 5pm on July 4 to submit a video or audio clip and an application form for the festival, which runs from September 11 to 20. More details are available at The event, in its second year, is sponsored by Pendine Park care organisation. The winner will receive a silver Pendine Trophy and a £2,000 cash prize, while the runner-up will secure £1,000 and two additional finalists will be awarded £500 each. The performances of all four finalists will be broadcast live on BBC Radio Cymru. Mario Kreft, co-founder of the competition, said: "Our aim is to encourage and foster young, emerging talent and the Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition has all the makings of a very prestigious event." The festival will see last year's winner, Heledd Wynn Newton, entertain the audience whilst the judges deliberate.
Leader Live
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Last call for Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition
Entries are now open for the second Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition, taking place during the 2025 North Wales International Music Festival at St Asaph Cathedral from September 11 to 20. The competition is open to instrumentalists and singers aged under 21 as of January 1 this year, who are either born or living in Wales, or Welsh nationals living abroad. Professor Paul Mealor, royal composer and co-founder of the competition, said: "It's not too late for young musicians to enter the competition – there's still a few weeks left. "We've already had a load of entries but we want to make sure we reach out to rising stars in every corner of Wales. "If there's any young instrumentalists or vocalists who want to have a chance to win thousands of pounds in prize money and to perform live on BBC Radio Cymru, they need to get their skates on. "It's a very special competition that can launch a career and we're indebted to Pendine Park for sponsoring it." The competition is funded by the festival's headline sponsor, Pendine Park, through the Pendine Arts and Community Trust. The winner will receive the silver Pendine Trophy and a £2,000 cash prize. The runner-up will receive £1,000, and two other finalists will each receive £500. All four finalists will perform live on BBC Radio Cymru. The judging panel includes Professor Helena Gaunt, principal of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama; internationally acclaimed soprano Rebecca Evans CBE; and Alun Jones, the festival's executive vice-chair and former principal of Chetham's School of Music. Last year's winner, Cardiff harpist Heledd Wynn Newton, will perform during the judges' deliberations. Mario Kreft MBE, co-founder of the competition alongside Professor Mealor, said: "After the success of the inaugural competition last year, we're really excited about the prospects for the 2025 contest. "Our aim is to encourage and foster young, emerging talent and the Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition has all the makings of a very prestigious event. "I think in years to come it will be one of the premier competitions for young musicians and will hopefully assist them and propel them in their careers. "From our perspective it totally fits in with our ethos as an inclusive, inter-generational care group. "We recognise how important the arts are to our lives in all its forms. "Music matters just as much to people who live and work in social care as it does to young and old in the wider society." To enter, applicants must upload a video or audio performance and complete an application form by the deadline of 5pm on Friday, July 4. If under 18, entrants must have permission from a parent or teacher. Submissions will be judged anonymously, and selected candidates will be invited to perform a 10-minute programme in the semi-final. Four will advance to the final round. READ MORE: Aviation enthusiasts get rare glimpse of Swiss aerobatic team at Hawarden Professor Mealor said: "The people who reach the final will all win a generous cash prize while the winner will be presented with a magnificent silver salver donated by Pendine and be invited to perform next year as well." More information and entry forms are available on the festival website at Tickets for the North Wales International Music Festival 2025 will go on sale from Thursday, June 12.
