Ysgoloriaeth Bryn Terfel 2009
Young talent at its best in Bryn Terfel Scholarship
Eight of this year's Urdd National Eisteddfod main winners will battle it out for this year's Scholarship, which is worth £4,000. The competition will be broadcast live from the Dragon Studios at Pencoed on Sunday evening on S4C, with Nia Roberts and Ifan Jones Evans presenting.
Prior to that, on Saturday evening, we'll have an opportunity to get to know the contestants better in a special programme which follows the preparations for the big night, including workshops with the experts who will be mentoring the competitors.
The competitors this year come from Rhos-on-sea, Llandysul, Cowbridge, Pentir near Bangor, Rhyd-y-main near Dolgellau, Pencader, Nebo near Caernarfon and Cardiff. The eight in the running are Siân Crisp (winner of the Solo from a Musical aged 19-25), Glain Dafydd (Instrumental Solo 19-25), Rhian Davies (Individual Recitation 19-25), Huw Ynyr Evans (Cerdd Dant Solo 19-25), Steffan Jones (Solo 19-25), Elen Morgan (Individual Theatrical Presentation 19-25), Anna Pardanjac (Solo Folk Dance for girls under 25), and Ellen Williams (Folk Song Solo 19-25).
The panel of adjudicators are tenor Rhys Meirion; actors Emyr Wyn and Rhodri Miles; harpist Meinir Heulyn; folk song expert Nia Clwyd; and dance expert, Mansel Phillips.
Rhys Meirion says, "This is my first time as an adjudicator for the Scholarship and I'm looking forward to the experience immensely. I regard it as an honour to be part of this important competition which is now firmly established and which attracts national respect. It's important that the young people treat the competition as a concert. We'll be looking for a performance that convinces us and for someone who captures the imagination and shows potential."
The competition's mentoring panel is as experienced as the adjudicators. The members of the panel who will be offering valuable advice to the competitors will be singers Paul Carey Jones, Aled Hall, John Owen Jones and Wynne Evans; harpist Ieuan Jones, theatre and film director Elen Bowman; actor Ifan Huw Dafydd and dancer Lowri Walton.
Bryn Terfel says, "It's a great pleasure to be involved with this competition, knowing that the Urdd continues to thrive and expand, giving the young people of Wales an opportunity to develop and promote their varied talents by means of a wide range of exciting and innovative activities."