Latest news with #PendineArtsandCommunityTrust
North Wales Chronicle
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Musician connects with people living with dementia
Nia Davies Williams, musician in residence at Pendine Park care organisation, led a dementia-friendly workshop at the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham. The session, held in the Encore tent on the Eisteddfod Maes, was part of the Cân i Godi Calon (Song to Lift the Spirits) singalong. It featured traditional Welsh songs performed by Ms Williams and Emyr Gibson, a well-known Welsh actor and singer. Jason Bennion with residents Irene Bishop and Josephine Price (Image: Mandy Jones) Among the attendees was 91-year-old Peter Cotton, a former tenor saxophonist. Mr Cotton said: "I have been to the National Eisteddfod many times over the years, it's always good to be back. "It is one of the largest cultural festivals in Europe and I'm proud to see it has returned to Wrexham." Fellow residents Josephine Price and Irene Bishop also enjoyed clapping along and welcomed the chance to join in. Ms Williams has worked for a decade as musician in residence at Pendine's Bryn Seiont Newydd care home in Caernarfon, specialising in dementia care. She has also researched the impact of music on people with dementia, exploring how singing and listening to music can reduce feelings of isolation and trigger memories. Her book, Sketches of Broken Minds: A Musician's Experience of Working in Dementia Care, was published earlier this year. Nia Davies Williams (Image: Mandy Jones) Ms Williams said: "It's so good to be here today at what is the most important cultural festival in Wales, giving people a taste of the work we do at Pendine Park. "We have tried in a fun, inclusive and interactive way to replicate the kind of music sessions which we regularly enjoy with residents at Bryn Seiont Newydd and demonstrate how music can be such an uplifting way to enhance people's moods and trigger a whole range of memories." Pendine Park supported the workshop through its Pendine Arts and Community Trust (PACT) and is among the Eisteddfod's sponsors for 2025. Sarah Edwards, consultant artist in residence at Pendine Park, said: "It was an amazing opportunity to further the message of how arts and music have so much therapeutic value in the lives of people going through a variety of health issues. READ MORE: 'Beautiful' five-bedroom period home on market for £475k Golden celebration couple lead way down memory lane Seh added: "At Pendine Park it is often referred to as the golden thread which runs through everything we do. "We were thrilled to be able to bring along some of our residents from Hillbury and Gwern Alyn care homes in Wrexham to enjoy the workshop and get a chance to visit the Eisteddfod which is such a major event in the city's calendar this year. "It is so good for them to be here at the centre of such a historical event in our community."
South Wales Argus
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Monmouth tenor Andrew Henley named world's best young singer
Andrew Henley, 34, was named the world's best young singer at the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition during the Llangollen International Eisteddfod. He received the award from Nicoletta Mantovani, widow of the legendary opera singer Luciano Pavarotti. Mr Henley said: "It is one of the most unbelievable nights of my life. "I was so thrilled to be presented with the trophy by Nicoletta. "I grew up listening to Pavarotti. "His records and the Three Tenors albums were always on in our house. "He was my absolute hero. "To think that I have now performed at the same venue where he performed is amazing. "This is my first time at Llangollen Eisteddfod and it has been such a joyous occasion." Mr Henley won following a sing-off against soprano Eiry Price from Pencaenewydd, Gwynedd. He performed Che Gelida Manina from La Bohème, Gebet by Wolf, and Love Went a-Riding by Bridge. The judges, Martin Fitzgerald, head of music at the English National Opera, and operatic soprano Sarah Tynan, praised both finalists and described the decision as a difficult one. Sir Bryn Terfel said he was hugely impressed by both finalists (Image: Rick Matthews) The competition was sponsored by the Pendine Park care organisation through the Pendine Arts and Community Trust. Nicoletta Mantovani paid tribute to sponsors Mario and Gill Kreft and the Eisteddfod's mission. She said: "Culture cannot exist without angels and I'm so pleased that here you have such special friends in Mario and Gill Kreft, they are among the Eisteddfod's angels, who know how culture can unify people from so many different communities and cultures." Mario Kreft said: "He will always be a part of this Eisteddfod, he had a genuine affection for the festival and for the Llangollen community as a whole." Sir Bryn Terfel, who returned to the main stage at Llangollen that evening, also praised the young performers. He said: "I was backstage watching them and hugely impressed by both. "It was a closely fought contest and it is refreshing to think we have such great young opera talent coming through."
Leader Live
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
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." READ MORE: Parade of Nations celebrated by hundreds in colourful spectacle at Eisteddfod 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."
Rhyl Journal
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Archdruid of Wales Mererid Hopwood to appear at festival
Mererid Hopwood, the Archdruid of Wales, will appear at the North Wales International Music Festival in St Asaph as part of the event's fringe programme, sponsored by Pendine Park through its Pendine Arts and Community Trust. She will read a poem originally written to uplift people during the Covid-19 pandemic. Mererid Hopwood, archdruid of Wales, said: "Such events often create a quite magical atmosphere and I'm excited at being invited to take part." Her appearance is scheduled for 9.30pm on Thursday, September 18 at Jacob's Ladder café, following the evening concert at St Asaph Cathedral. Mererid Hopwood, who became the first woman to be awarded the chair at the National Eisteddfod in 2001 when it was held in Denbigh, has fond memories of the Vale of Clwyd. She will read from her new book Mae, a collection written in both Welsh and English. She said: "I'll be reading poems from my new book Mae as well as some others. "Most of them are in Welsh but I have written poems in English and several more have been translated." Mae includes poems about peace, injustice, the environment, and family. The title comes from a piece commissioned during the first Covid lockdown in March 2020. She said: "Someone from S4C phoned up and said they wanted a poem to cheer people up who were stuck at home." Paul Mealor, artistic director of the festival, said: "It's the second time we've staged these fringe events and they were so successful last year we've decided they'll return again this year." Other fringe highlights include pianist Cyrill Ibrahim performing Harmonie du Soir at St Asaph Cathedral, jazz guitarist Joshua Lascar at the New Inn on Saturday, September 13, and a cabaret night with Jillian Bain Christie and John Frederick Hudson on Friday, September 19. Mr Mealor said: "Our first comedy evening was hugely successful and Manon James will again be appearing at the New Inn along with Katie Gill and it'll be an evening of laughs and more laughs." Ms Hopwood has previously collaborated with Mr Mealor. She said: "During Covid I wrote the words for a piece composed by Paul called Gweddi Cymru (Wales' Prayer). "It was for the BBC's annual St David's Day concert and my words were read over the music." The festival opens on Thursday, September 11, with Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja, who Mr Mealor describes as "the world's finest lyric tenor." Other headliners include the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, vocal ensemble Apollo5, and the Black Dyke Band. Film and TV composer Debbie Wiseman OBE will make her festival debut this year with performances of her well-known themes by the NEW Sinfonia orchestra. The festival will also host the second Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition. This year's closing concert will feature the North Wales Choral Union and Orchestra conducted by Trystan Lewis. Community events include a Tots & Children's concert, a dementia-friendly concert, and Mindfulness through Music workshops. Tickets and more information are available online.
Rhyl Journal
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Opera star to perform at North Wales International Festival
Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja, described as "probably the world's greatest tenor," will perform at the opening concert of the North Wales International Music Festival at St Asaph Cathedral on Thursday, September 11. Mr Calleja, whose voice has drawn comparisons to the late Luciano Pavarotti, is a regular at the world's top opera houses, including the New York Met, La Scala in Milan, and Covent Garden in London. Paul Mealor, the festival's artistic director, said: "I would say that Joseph Calleja is probably the world's greatest tenor – he has done everything. "Joseph has performed in all the top venues and all the major opera houses, from the Met in New York and La Scala in Milan – and he is just getting better and better. "To bring him to St Asaph for the very first time is amazing for us. "It's simply the highlight of the festival." Mr Calleja's appearance was secured thanks to his friendship with Mario and Gill Kreft, owners of the Pendine Park care organisation and headline sponsors of the festival. The couple are long-time supporters of the event through the Pendine Arts and Community Trust, which funds cultural and community activities across Wales. Joseph Calleja said: "I have very many fond memories of Wales, including Llangollen with Bryn a few years ago. "He is Wales's greatest son and I love him a lot. "I can't wait to come back frankly because I am also good friends with Mario and Gill and I know it is a special year for them because Pendine is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. "At the concert I'll be singing some popular songs, so it'll be an easy going night. "We're not going to go too serious but it's serious enough that opera lovers will enjoy." Mario Kreft said: "Joseph is a generational operatic talent who is right at the top of his game, as is our own homegrown hero, Sir Bryn Terfel. "The acoustic at the cathedral is among the best in the world so it will provide a perfect backdrop to hear Joseph's magnificent tenor voice at its very best." Other headliners at this year's festival include the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, choral group Apollo5, and the Black Dyke Band. Film and TV composer Debbie Wiseman OBE will also make her festival debut, with the NEW Sinfonia orchestra performing a selection of her well-known theme tunes. The festival will also feature the second Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition, funded by the Pendine Arts and Community Trust. More information and tickets are available online.
