DIGITAL SHOWCASE
Special concert will be curtain-raiser for virtual Urdd Eisteddfod
ADIGITAL concert starring a group of “sensational young singers” will launch this year’s virtual Urdd Eisteddfod. The spectacular showcase has been put together by serial festival winner Steffan Hughes, a multitalented musician, singer and choir master, who hails from Llangwyfan in the Vale of Clwyd.
The Urdd National Eisteddfod had been due to take place down the road in Denbigh last year but it’s now been pushed back until 2022 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last year, the Urdd instead held a virtual event, Eisteddfod T, which proved to be a huge success with 6,000 competitors taking part.
It’s back again this year and the show, Steffan Rhys Hughes a Thalentau Sir Ddinbych (Steffan Rhys Hughes and Talents from Denbighshire), is the curtain raiser for the week-long festival of competitions, concerts and other online activities which will be broadcast on S4C, Radio Cymru and on social media.
The Denbighshire showcase that’s being held at 7pm on Sunday, May 30, is being sponsored by iconic North Wales firm Ifor Williams Trailers, long-standing supporters of the Urdd who have factories in Corwen, Cynwyd, Sandycroft and on Deeside Industrial Estate.
The hour-long gig spotlights talented young musicians and singers, some already making names for themselves in the West End.
It was pre-recorded at Theatr Clwyd, Mold, and will be broadcast online by S4C.
Performers include singer-songwriter Mared Williams, currently appearing in Les Miserables in London, along with Catherine Zeta Jones-scholarship winner Celyn Cartwright who will be duetting with Arwel Lloyd.
Steffan, a member of the Classical Brit-award winning group Only Men Aloud, will be performing and presenting the concert. E-tickets, priced at £15, are available from the Urdd Eisteddfod website, www.urdd. cymru/eisteddfod and all proceeds will go towards the Denbighshire Urdd Eisteddfod. Anyone who buys a ticket will be sent a link before the event which will enable them to view the concert on any digital device including a phone, tablet or television.
It will be available to watch for 48 hours after the May 30 premiere.
Steffan, 25, said: “It puts Denbighshire’s wealth of young singing stars centre stage and pays tribute to the fact that many of them honed their craft by competing in past Urdd Eisteddfod competitions.”
Steffan, now based in Cardiff, performs regularly on S4C and presents his own radio show, Sioeau Cerdd Steffan Rhys Hughes (Steffan Rhys Hughes Musicals), on BBC Radio Cymru.
He was delighted his old friend Mared Williams was able to take part.
She squeezed in recording of the concert between preparing for her appearances as part of the ensemble in Les Miserables at the Sondheim Theatre, London.
Mared, originally from Llannefydd, was the winner of the International Voice of Musical Theatre at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in 2018. She has performed overseas and recently released her debut solo album of original music.
The programme also features folk duet Prion, comprising Celyn Cartwright, from Denbigh, and Arwel Jones. Singer-songwriter Arwel – also sometimes known by his stage name Gildas – is from Llansannan and well known for collaborating with the Al Lewis band.
He said: “To be able to support Eisteddfod T is also a great thing to do. I’ve always been involved with the Urdd Eisteddfod, as a child competing, gigging, or the various competitions with the schoolchildren now as a teacher.”
A classical quartet has also come together for the concert, featuring Sion Eilir Roberts, of Ruthin, Elis Jones, of Efenechtyd and sisters Ruth Erin Roberts and Ceri Haf Roberts of Henllan.