Talented tenor Rhydian wins Bryn Terfel scholarship

A 22-YEAR-OLD tenor from Maesteg, is the winner of this year’s Bryn Terfel Urdd Scholarship.

Rhydian Jenkins was named winner at the final held at Barry’s Memorial Hall Theatre.

The Scholarship aims to nurture the talents of some of Wales’ foremost young performers and offers a prize of £4,000 towards further training in their field of the performing arts.

As well as £4,000 towards training Rhydian will have the opportunity to perform at one of the worldwide celebrations on St David’s Day 2020.

Other competitors were Cai Fôn Davies from Bangor, Daniel Calan Jones from Cardiff, Morgan Llewelyn-Jones from the Gwendraeth Valley, Thomas Mathias from Aberystwyth and Steffan Lloyd Owen from Pentre Berw.

The competitors were all selected during the Urdd Eisteddfod 2019 in Cardiff and the Vale, by a panel of judges from various performing arts.

“We were completely unanimous,” said judge Einir Wyn Jones of the panel’s decision.

“The competition was fantastic, and all the competitors were very memorable. But one competitor, in particular, thrilled us. His comprehensive programme, the way he communicated with the audience and, for me personally, his subtlety. He truly is amazing.”

Rhydian is studying vocal and performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. He was an undergraduate at Cardiff University studying Welsh before completing a PGCE course at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

He has had previous success on the National Eisteddfod stage, winning the Dr Aled Lloyd Davies Award for Cerdd Dant Solo in Cardiff in 2018. Further successes came in Conwy this year with a first for the Tenor Solo, the Under 25 Lieder prize and the Lady Herbert Memorial Prize.

Rhydian is also a promising rugby league player and plays for Pontypridd.