PE teacher proves he's got champion quality
A 24-year-old PE teacher from Machynlleth proved he could perform as a champion singer too by winning S4C's prestigious singing competition Cân i Gymru (A Song for Wales) live on Friday night (29 February).
On Leap Year night, Aled Myrddin jumped to the front by winning the top prize of £10,000 for his song ‘Atgofion' (Memories) attracting more votes than any other entry from an expert panel and voters at home in an electrifying night at the Afan Lido Centre, Port Talbot.
In an evening hosted by Sarra Elgan and Rhydian Bowen Phillips, he beat off eight other entries in a grand TV final which had been whittled down from an original 109 entries.
Lowri Evans and Lee Mason of Newport, Pembrokeshire came second with their song 'Ti a Fi' (You and Me) winning a sweet £4,000 while Bangor University student, Ieuan Wyn, won a handy £2,000 for the song 'Gwenllian Haf' performed on the night by Gruff Rees.
Aled Myrddin, originally from Menai Bridge but now living in Machynlleth with his wife Erin, was over the moon after winning the much-vaunted award and the opportunity to represent Wales at the Pan-Celtic Festival in Donegal in a few weeks' time.
The PE Teacher at Ysgol Bro Dyfi, Machynlleth, said "It never crossed my mind that I'd win – it's a dream come true. The inspiration behind the song is my wife, Erin and my family. They've been with me throughout my journey in life, we all have our memories and I decided to relive some of mine through this song."
Aled is a familiar face to many as a member of the Christian pop group Manna and has also competed on many a national stage. He won the Cerdd Dant Solo competition for 19-25 year olds at the 2003 Urdd National Eisteddfod and competed for the Bryn Terfel Scholarship the same year.
Added Aled, "I definitely want to buy some recording equipment with the £10,000 so I can focus more on songwriting, the rest will go straight into the bank!"
The first prize was presented to Aled by the 2007 Cân i Gymru winners, Einir Dafydd and Ceri Wyn Jones.
2008 Competition
The nine songs were chosen by the judging panel; Dyl Mei, Geraint Griffiths, Einir Dafydd, Sioned Mair, Owen Powell, Ian Cottrell, Emyr Afan and Aled Ellis.
The songs
The nine songs in the final are:
- Crwysau Gwyn
- Composed by: Alistair James
- Performed by: Alistair James
- Ar Ôl i Fi Fynd
- Composed by: Dafydd Saer
- Performed by: Tesni Jones
- Atgofion
- Composed by: Aled Myrddin
- Performed by: Aled Myrddin
- Hawdd Cynne Tân ar Hen Aelwyd
- Composed by: Heather Jones a Gwenno Dafydd
- Performed by: Heather Jones
- Curo ar dy Ddrws
- Composed by: Meilyr Wyn
- Performed by: Roz Richards
- Fanna Fydda i Nawr
- Composed by: Dylan Davies
- Performed by: Dylan Davies
- Ti a Fi
- Composed by: Lowri Evans a Lee Mason
- Performed by: Lowri Evans a Lee Mason
- Dal yn Dynn
- Composed by: Eskimo
- Performed by: Eskimo
- Gwenllian Haf
- Composed by: Ieuan Wyn
- Performed by: Gruff Rees
Alistair has been performing his one man show for over seven years around the pubs, hotels and clubs of North Wales. He released his first album in 2006, and hope to release a second album in May this year. He was inspired to write this song by the story of Trawsfynydd poet Hedd Wyn who was killed in the First World War. It’s a tribute to all those soldiers who over the years have sacrificed everything for their country.
Tesni has been living in the Netherlands, and is a member of an extremely successful pop band there. Dafydd has played with a number of bands since he was 16. He came second in the Cân i Gymru competition in 1992. Although he’s been occasionally composing songs for 15 years he says that he only started writing songs seriously after studying at the Guitar Institute in London between 1999 and 2002.
Aled is a physical education teacher at Ysgol Bro Ddyfi, Machynlleth. Aled will also be singing the song. In 2003, he was one of the competitors in the Bryn Terfel Scholarship competition after winning the Cerdd Dant Solo for those between 19 and 25 years old at the National Urdd Eisteddfod. He’s a member of the band Manna. Last year, he was a winner again at the National Urdd Eisteddfod, this time with a group of friends in the Under 25s Vocal Ensemble competition.
Although she’s not a stranger to Cân i Gymru, this is the first time that Heather has sung one of her own compositions in the competition. Gwenno is an actress and singer. Heather composed the melody, while Gwenno wrote the lyrics. The song was composed in a caravan in St David’s!
Meilyr is a Mathematics, Information Technology and Physics Teacher at Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni. A former pupil at the same school, Roz Richards, from Caerphilly, will sing the song. Roz is a student at Cardiff’s Royal College of Music and Drama, and this is the first time that she has sung in Cân i Gymru. This is the fourth time that Meilyr has succeeded in reaching the final round of Cân i Gymru – last year with the song Gwaed yn Dewach na Dŵr – but he’s never won the competition.
An experienced composer and singer, Dylan comes originally from the village of Rhosllannerchrugog near Wrexham. He now lives in Cardiff. Dylan says he’s been influenced by all types of music, but this song is reminsicent of the soul music of the 1970s.
During her career as a singer and composer, Lowri has won several competitions, including Best Band under 18 organised by teen programme Uned 5, and the prize for Best Acoustic Session on Radio Pembrokeshire in 2004. Lowri and Lee have released two albums, Cyw Sibrydion in 2006, and Kick the Sand in 2007. In an acoustic arrangement of this song, Lee will play the classic Spanish guitar.
Composed by Llew Davies of Salem, Llandeilo, together with Gethin Roberts, Richard Vaughan and Ross Coughlan of Cardiff. They’re also the members of the band which will be performing the song on the night. Eskimo is the only band singing in the competition this year.
Some of Ieuan’s musical influences are the Beatles, Geraint Griffiths (Eliffant), Huw Chiswell, Edward H, Tebot Piws, Delwyn Sion, John Mayer and Damien Rice. He’s a member of the Aelwyd yr Ynys choir on Anglesey. This song talks of his sister’s childhood. His sister, Gwenllian, recently celebrated her 18th birthday.
Voting Rules
This is a phone vote only, because of issues with texting when people can be charged for messages, but the vote might not be counted.
Calls will cost 25p. Call costs from mobiles may vary depending on the network provider.
The voting lines open during part 4 of the Cân i Gymru programme on S4C on Friday 29 February 2008, and will close soon after the beginning of the results show. Once the lines have closed, your vote will not be registered, and you will not be charged for the call.
You may vote as many times as you wish.
The song which receives the most votes will be the winner. In the event of a tied vote, a panel of experts will make the final decision. The panel's decision is final.
The winner will be announced on the night, as will the songs that come second and third.
2008 Competition
In a departure from last year’s format, the songs in the final will not be placed in three categories, although they were judged within those categories in the first round. This year, on the night, it will be a completely open competition, with a prize of £10,000 for the winner and the chance to represent Wales in the Pan Celtic Festival in Donegal. Composers of the songs finishing in second and third place will also receive £4,000 and £2,000 respectively.
Half of the votes will come from a specialist panel of judges at the Lido, comprising of a cross-section of people involved with music and composing in Wales, with the other half being cast by the viewers at home. It will only be possible to vote by phone this year, it will not be possible to vote by text.
The Presenters
The presenters of Cân i Gymru this year are Sarra Elgan and Rhydian Bowen Phillips. Although he has sung several times in the competition, and won in 2005, this will be his first time as a presenter on the show.
“It’s an honour to have the opportunity to present Cân i Gymru,” says Rhydian, originally from Porth in the Rhondda, and now living in Cardiff. “Sarra and I were at college together, and we’ve co-presented on Planed Plant and Bandit, so it’ll be nice to work with a friend on the big night!
“I’ll be feeling nervous on behalf of the singers and composers. A huge responsibility lies on the shoulders of the singers as they try to win the big money, and fame and glory, for the composers!”