GIFTED Flintshire youngsters will take centre stage at the launch concert for an international music festival.

Soloists will join two choirs and ensembles for the enchanting concert at St Asaph Cathedral at 7pm on Thursday, June 22.

The concert will act as a curtain raiser for the North Wales International Music Festival which takes place from September 15 - 30, 2023.

The concert will feature young singer, Bethan Guiver from Llanfair Talhairarn, and the acclaimed harpist Morwen Blythin, from Rhuddlan.

17-year-old Bethan is a year 13 pupil at St Brigid’s School, Denbigh, and is currently preparing for her A-levels. She is a Senior Chorister at St Asaph Cathedral with aspirations to become a teacher. 

Morwen began studying the harp aged nine and following success at the local and national level she continued her studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She has toured the UK and performed in the West End with a number of musicals. As a soloist, Morwen has given recitals and concert appearances in England and Wales and is now a tutor with Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias (William Mathias Music Centre) and is a co-director of Telynau Clwyd.

Other highlights at the launch concert will be performances by guitarist, Jonathan Richards, Ukrainian pianist Victoria Ibragimova and clarinettist Jon Guy, a co-founder of the festival’s resident orchestra, NEW Sinfonia.

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Also taking part will be youngsters from Ysgol Gynradd Glanrafon, Mold, who won several competitions at last year's Urdd National Eisteddfod which was held in Denbigh, as well as the Cathedral Choir from St Asaph.

Artistic director Ann Atkinson said it had been a conscious decision to focus on youth at this year's launch concert: "Since the festival was established more than 50 years ago it has given a large number of singers and instrumentalists as well as composers the opportunity to perform in the spectacular setting of the cathedral with its renowned superb acoustics to an appreciative audience.

"For many it was the first step towards a professional career in music and we wish to continue that tradition," she said.

"The festival has provided people from all backgrounds and of all ages the opportunity to experience live performances of different genres of classical music, given by performers of the highest quality, while further promoting the development of Welsh culture and music within the region," she said.

Online concerts from the 2022 festival are now available to view for free on the festival's website, nwimf.com, with donations gratefully received.