Results

Joint 1st – Ellis Thomas & Edward Leung – £1,050 each donated by past music teachers a Ymddiriedolaeth R. Davy Jones

Finalists – Julia Klimek & Yiwei Ji – £250 each donated by Catrin Hobson

Best performance of the Welsh Song: Yiwei Ji – £100 donated by David and Margaret Thompson

Alys Roberts (soprano), Sara Trickey (violin), Ryan Vaughan Davies (tenor), Richard Craig (flute)

Adjudicators: Simon Phillippo & Harvey Davies – Richard Craig (final only)

Preliminary Stage

16/17 October, 2021 – Theatre, Galeri

13:00 – 16:30 (16.10.2021) & 13:00 – 14:45 (17.10.2021)

Richard Craig (flute) & Ryan Vaughan Thomas (tenor)

Competitors must prepare one work from categories (a) and (b):

Category A: A work for flute and piano chosen from the following three lists:

1. Francis Poulenc: ‘Cantilena’ and ‘Presto giocoso’ (Movements 2 and 3) from the Sonata for flute and piano
2. Bohuslav Martinů: ‘Allegro moderato’ (Movement 1) from Sonata No.1, H. 306
3. Charles-Marie Widor: ‘Moderato’ and ‘Scherzo’ (Movements 1 and 2) from Suite Op. 34

Category B: Two songs for tenor and piano chosen from one of the following lists:’ 

1. Clara Schumann: ‘Liebst du um Schönheit’ 12 No. 4 (D flat major) and ‘Die Lorelei’ (G minor)
2. Fanny Mendelssohn: ‘Die Mainacht’ 9 No. 6 (E flat major) and ‘Frühling’ Op. 7 No. 3 (F sharp major)
3. Morfudd Llwyn Owen: ‘Gwanwyn’ (F major) and Grace Williams: ‘Watching the Wheat/Bugeilio’r Gwenith Gwyn’ (E major)

If you have difficulty accessing any of the above test pieces please contact the office 01286 685256

Four accompanists will be admitted to the Final Stage.

No entry fee, come down to watch.

Final Stage

18 October 2021 – Theatre, Galeri

14:30 – 16:30

17:00 : Prize Presentation

Alys Roberts (soprano) & Sara Trickey (violin)

Competitors must prepare one work from categories (a), (b), and (c):

Category A: The opening movement from one of the following Piano and Violin Sonatas by Ludwig van Beethoven:

1. ‘Allegro vivace’ from the Sonata in A major op. 12 No. 2
2. ‘Presto’ from the Sonata in A minor Op. 23
3. ‘Allegro assai’ from the Sonata in G major Op. 30 No. 3

 Category B: Two songs for soprano voice and piano chosen from one of the following lists:

1. Gabriel Fauré: ‘Fleur jetée’ Op. 39 No. 2 (F minor), and ‘En sourdine’ Op. 58 No. 2 (G flat major)
2. Frank Bridge: ‘Come to me in my dreams’, H. 71 (E flat major) and ‘Love went a-riding’, H. 114 (G flat major)
3. Samuel Barber: ‘St Ita’s Vision’ and ‘The Heavenly Banquet’ from the Hermit Songs Op. 29

Category C: To accompany an unseen Welsh song (scores to be provided to the finalists after the results of the Preliminary Round).

Additional Information for accompanists

Song Keys:
Preliminary Stage: Competitors should prepare the song accompaniments for Tenor/High Voice.
Final Stage: Competitors should prepare the song accompaniments for Soprano/High Voice.

The Piano Festival will provide the singers for this competition and there will be an opportunity for a short rehearsal with the soloist immediately before competing.

For any further information, please contact the Administration Office by email: office@pianofestival.co.uk 

Artists

Alys Roberts  (Soprano)

Alys Mererid Roberts is a Soprano from Rhoslan near Criccieth. Alys was a Vice 

Chancellor’s Scholar for music at Durham University and then went on to complete an 

MA in Vocal Studies at the Royal Academy of Music followed by the Royal Academy 

Opera programme. She has sung Chocholka and Pepík (The Cunning Little Vixen), 

Edith (The Pirates of Penzance), Annina (La traviata), Tweedledee (Will Todd’s 

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland), and Tiny Tim / Fan (Will Todd’s A Christmas 

Carol) at Opera Holland Park, Polly Peachum (The Beggar’s Opera) and Shepherd 

Boy (Tosca) at Mid Wales Opera, Yum Yum (The Mikado) Josephine (H.M.S. 

Pinafore) at Charles Court Opera, Adina (L’elisir d’amore) at Opera’r Ddraig, 

Semichorus (Pwyll ap Siôn’s Gair ar Gnawd) and Muse (Stephen McNeff’s Hedd 

Wyn) at Welsh National Opera, and covered Slave (Salome) at English National Opera. 

Besides singing, Alys Mererid Roberts enjoys sewing, yoga, and going for walks with 

Raffi, her rescue greyhound. www.alysmererid.com 

Ryan Vaughan Davies (Tenor)

Welsh tenor Ryan Vaughan Davies currently studies at The Royal Academy of Music’s Opera School with professor Susan Waters. At a young age he showed a keen interest in classical music and began to compete nationally in Eisteddfods, achieving great success including winning the Blue Ribband prize in 2019.

Since making his professional Operatic debut as Second Priest in Longborough Festival Opera’s production of Die Zauberflöte, Ryan has gone on to work with The Buxton International Festival, The Grange Festival and Garsington Opera. His most recent operatic engagement was  performing Beppe in Pagliacci for Iford Arts. Ryan is currently performing the roles of Torquemada in L’heure Espagnole and Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi.

On the concert platform, he has performed in many of the UK’s most renowned venues including The Royal Festival Hall and Royal Albert Hall as well as recent performances at the Minack theatre, Penzance. Ryan is now a member of the Royal Opera House’s extra chorus and looks forward to upcoming engagements in Covent Garden.

ryanvaughandavies.com

Sara Trickey (Violin)

Sara Trickey enjoys an exciting and diverse career as a solo violinist and chamber musician. Noted for her “fiery and passionate” performances (The Strad) and her “beautifully refined tone” (Musical Opinion), she performs at many of the major UK festivals and venues, including in the Presteigne, Alwyn, Oxford May Music, York, Ashburton and Wye Valley Chamber Music festivals. She plays regularly with pianist Dan Tong with whom she has recorded the Schubert Sonatinas to critical acclaim (“Irresistible!” – Barry Millington). A CD of Fauré and David Matthews has recently been released by Deux-Elles. She also made a world premiere recording of Mathias’ violin sonatas with Iwan Llewelyn Jones.

Richard Craig (Flute)

Richard Craig was born in Glasgow and studied flute at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with Richard Blake. He continued his studies with Mario Caroli at the. Richard has performed with ensembles such as Musikfabrik and Klangforum Wien, also with groups in the UK such as Explore ensemble, Riot ensemble, Uproar and Octandre. As a recording artist he has released two solo discs (INWARD and VALE) for Metier, and numerous chamber music recordings – the most recent being a portrait disc of composer John Croft’s chamber works. Richard was a lecturer and Head of Performance at Bangor University, Wales, from 2015 – 2019. He currently lives in Glasgow, Scotland.