TWO HIGHLY acclaimed and prize-winning harpists will be reunited at a festival where their fledgling careers were given a big boost.
Glain Dafydd and Constance Luzatti were both winners in 2006 and they are returning to headline the closing concert at this Wales Harp Festival at Galeri in Caernarfon on April 16
Organised by Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias (William Mathias Music Centre) the two-day festival features concerts, masterclasses and workshops.
Glain, who hails from Bangor, Gwynedd but who now lives in London, won two of the major prizes at the inaugural Wales International Harp Festival. During the same festival Constance Luzatti won the Pencerdd (Chief Musician) prize.
Glain said: “I am really looking forward to sharing a concert with Constance.
“I won the under 16 and under 21 competition the same year she won the Pencerdd competition so the concert will bring back many memories.
“Returning to the festival, I am reminded of the fun, experiences and opportunities I had taking part in the masterclasses and concerts listening to other harpists and learning different elements as well as musical and technical aspects that are needed for different types of music.
“It will be nice to return as a tutor and share my suggestions and general knowledge with the participants.”
Glain studied at the École Normale de Musique de Paris and at the Royal Academy of Music. As a soloist, orchestral and chamber musician, Glain has performed in prestigious venues across Britain and overseas
She is a Live Music Now artist, performing in hospitals, care homes and special educational needs schools and teaches at Queen’s College London.
Glain added her repertoire at the concert will include French, Spanish, Russian and Lebanese pieces.
Meanwhile, Constance Luzatti will return to Galeri Caernarfon for the first time for more than a decade and says she’s looking forward to the emotional reunion.
Constance added: “I’ll be delighted to meet with Glain. I won the first competition at Caernarfon and I have extraordinary memories, both of the concert hall with its excellent acoustics, and the concerts I attended.
“I tried to attend everything but there were so many things organised while remaining very focused on the competition.
“Everyone was lovely, from the people at the organisation to those at the bed and breakfast! I breathed in the sea air, I made friends and I left with a great desire to come back so I’m really looking forward to this concert.”
Trio Haydée consists of Constance, mezzo-soprano Marielou Jacquard and flautist Anastasie Lefebvre de Rieux. Since its formation in 2023 they have built up a repertoire focusing on unpublished works by composers from the past 150 years.
Gwenan Gibbard, who has performed her unique, contemporary arrangements of Welsh traditional music and songs in festivals and concerts world-wide, will also take part in the concert.
She specialises in singing Cerdd Dant, the unique form of singing Welsh poetry to the accompaniment of the harp, and is one of the few people who performs this music self-accompanied on the harp.
Gwenan has released four solo albums on the Sain label – her latest album, ‘Hen Ganeuon Newydd’ (Old New Songs), relating to her academic research into the folk-songs of Llŷn and Eifionydd in Gwynedd.
The Wales Harp Festival was founded in the late 1970s and was initially held at Bangor University as a residential course for young harpists. It evolved into a festival with lessons and workshops being joined by competitions and concerts and is now firmly established in the music calendar.
Organised by Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias (CGWM) since 1999, the festival is held annually and has also spawned the Wales International Harp festival which is held every four years.
Festival Organiser Catrin Morris Jones said the concert starring Glain, Constance and Gwenan will be one of the highlights of this year’s festival which also includes a one-day harp course.
Catrin said: “Harpists of all ages and levels are encouraged to register for the course. This is a fantastic opportunity to receive one to one and group tuition by experienced teachers and to take part in a variety of workshops and performances.
“The course is suitable for all levels from beginners to more advanced harpists and the registration fee includes a ticket to the Festival Concert.”
Course tutors will include Elinor Bennett, Dylan Cernyw, Glain Dafydd, Gwenan Gibbard and Catrin Morris Jones.
Before the closing concert, Hebe Kan – winner of the United Kingdom Harp Association Competition 2024 – will give a short recital in the Galeri foyer at 5pm and will be followed by an event which has become a festival tradition.
Catrin continued: “Harps will be placed on Galeri’s internal balconies for a special performance by course participants which is free of charge to watch.”
During the first day of the festival two special sessions will be staged for youngsters.
Catrin said Steps in Music on the Harp is for children aged 2-5 years old accompanied by an adult with Marie-Claire Howorth and Angharad Wyn Jones. The 40-minute session starts at 1pm and costs £5.
Along with Angharad Wyn Jones she will be a tutor for the Hands on Harps session which follows at 2pm. Catrin said this is for children aged 6+ who are interested in learning to play the harp but have not yet received harp lessons.
She added: “This workshop is free but booking is essential and organised in partnership with Gwasanaeth Cerdd Ysgolion Gwynedd a Môn and Bangor University’s Music Department.”
A highlight of the festival’s first day will be the Nansi Richards Scholarship Competition.
Harpists under the age of 25 living in or born in Wales can take part and the winner will receive a £1,500 scholarship by the Nansi Richards Trust.
Catrin said: “Each competitor is required to present a programme of contrasting works up to 20 minutes in length, to includes a Welsh melody or an original work by a composer born in Wales.
“It dates back to 1976 when a tribute concert was held for Nansi Richards, Telynores Maldwyn, in Corwen with Nansi herself present in the audience.
“A fund was created from the profits of that evening, and a trust was created to manage the money. The first competition was held in 1983 and the scholarship has continued ever since.”
The competition starts at 3.30pm and there is no admission charge although there will be collection for the Nansi Richards Trust at the end.
Full details of the festival programme can be found at the Wales Harp Festival website and tickets for the concert cost £16, £14 (students/older people/disabled) and £6 for children. They are available online at Galeri Caernarfon’s webpage or the box office, 01286 685222.
