Scholarship

Ysgoloriaeth Urdd Gobaith Cymru Bryn Terfel 2011

URDD GOBAITH CYMRU BRYN TERFEL SCHOLARSHIP WINNER 2011

GLAIN DAFYDD

On Sunday evening, September 25, Glain Dafydd from Bangor, North Wales won the Urdd Gobaith Cymru Bryn Terfel Scholarship 2011 in a concert at Dragon Studios, Pencoed near Bridgend.  The Scholarship, worth £4,000 was presented to Glain at the televised concert, which hails the finale of this year’s Scholarship and its related activity.

Glain (19), a former pupil at Ysgol y Garnedd and Ysgol Tryfan and the William Mathias Centre claimed the prize after impressing the six judges with her performance  of  Au Matin by Touriner, La Source, Albert Zabel and Impromptu by Reinhold Gilère following a master class with harpist Ieuan Jones.

Glain is accustomed to performing and competing both in Wales and internationally. She has already won Tlws y Telynor and the Urdd’s Simms Scholarship as well as the Blue Riband at the National Eisteddfod, Blaenau Gwent 2010. In the same year she was very close to winning the BBC’s Young Musician competition and the Royal Overseas League. She is now studying at the University Normale de Musique de Paris under Isabelle Perrin. Glain also recently appeared as a member of the British Youth Orchestra at the Proms at the Albert Hall. 

Glain said, “Winning the Urdd Gobaith Cymru Bryn Terfel Scholarship is a key milestone in my career. It has been a privilege to take part in a competition supported by Bryn Terfel, which is recognised as one of Wales’ foremost Scholarships. Being part of the competition reflects the high musical standards which I’m trying to achieve as a harpist and it’s important for two reasons: the first is the practical, financial support and the second is to raise my profile as a performer – that’s priceless. I’d like to recognise the vital part the Urdd has played in my career as a performer over many years which reaches a pinnacle with this particular competition.”

Aled Siôn, Director of the Urdd National Eisteddfod said, “Once again the competition for the Scholarship has been great with an impressive performance from each of the competitors. The eight competitors gave exceptional performances and I would like to congratulate Glain on her success. We look forward to following Glain’s career in the future.”

What is the Urdd Gobaith Cymru Bryn Terfel Scholarship?

The Bryn Terfel Scholarship is worth £4,000 to the winner of one of the Urdd Eisteddfod's under 25 solo competitions.

Each of the 8 solo winners are invited to compete for the Scholarship during a special evening in the Autumn following the Eisteddfod. The competitors are asked to produce a 12 minutes programme to perform in front of distinguish guest judges who will decide the eventual winner of the Scholarship. The main aim of the Scholarship is to nurture the talents of Wales's best up and coming talent and give them the opportunity to develop within their field. Before the Scholarship the eight competitors receives a Master Class by an expert who will advise them on how to improve their performances and gain some extra marks. 

Previous winners of the Bryn Terfel Scholorship:

2011 Swansea and district - Glain Dafydd
2010 Ceredigion - Elgan Llyr Thomas
2009 Cardiff Bay - Catrin Angharad Roberts
2008 Conwy - Rhian Lois Evans
2007 Carmarthenshire - Manon Wyn Williams
2006 Denbighshire - Rhys Taylor
2005 Wales Millenium Center - Lowri Walton
2004 Anglesey - Rakhi Singh
2003 Tawe Nedd and Afan - Aled Pedrig
2002 Cardiff - Rhian Mair Lewis
2001 Cancelled due to Foot and Mouth diesease
2000 Vale of Conwy - Fflur Wyn
1999 Lampeter - Mirain Haf