Mared’s dream win leads to Gold Coast
THE Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod’s International Voice of Musical Theatre 2018 winner, Mared Williams travelled to Australia for a prestigious Gold Coast performance.
As part of her prize, 21-year-old Mared, from Llannefydd, joined hundreds of exceptional artists in the Gold Coast Eisteddfod’s Musicale. The show is a rousing celebration of musical theatre and one of the highlights of the seven-week long Australian festival of dance and music.
After wowing audiences and adjudicators on the stage of the Royal International Pavilion this July, Mared travelled over 10,000 miles to the picturesque Gold Coast for a once in a lifetime performance.
Mared said: “I’ve always been a huge supporter of the Llangollen Eisteddfod, especially growing up in North Wales and visiting the Eisteddfod every year as a pupil of Ysgol Llannefydd and Ysgol Glan Clwyd.
“Winning International Voice of Musical Theatre and performing on that amazing stage has always been a goal of mine.
“Representing Wales and getting the chance to perform on the other side of the world, somewhere as beautiful as the Gold Coast was surreal and something I will never forget.
“I’d urge anyone with a passion for music and performance to enter the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod’s competitions and go into it aiming to have a wonderful day out, celebrating the diversity of different cultures, making connections all over the world, whilst doing what they love.”
The Gold Coast Eisteddfod features more than 70,000 singers and dancers, 330 bands and orchestras, 175 choirs, almost 1,500 dance groups and over 3,000 solo dancers.
The cost of Mared’s visit to the prestigious Australian festival has been covered completely by the Gold Coast Eisteddfod, a prize that will be up for grabs once again at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod 2019.
Judith Ferber, the Gold Coast Eisteddfod’s General Manager, said: “We were delighted to welcome Mared to the Gold Coast this year and were blown away by her incredible performance and heavenly voice at the Musicale.”
Interim Music Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Edward-Rhys Harry, added: “Working with the Gold Coast Eisteddfod helps us to further raise our international profile, opening doors for new and exciting soloists from across the globe and acting as a springboard for glittering musical careers.
“We would like to thank Judith and the team for welcoming our 2018 winner and once again agreeing to offer this fantastic prize to the winner in 2019.”
The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is currently accepting entries for groupcategories. The deadline for Choral, Ensemble and Dance Categories is Friday November 23. Entries for soloists will open in December – see www. eisteddfodcompetitions.co.uk for more information.