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North Wales Chronicle
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Care group with homes in Caernarfon is up for major award
This is due to their support for the North Wales International Music Festival and the premiere of an opera about the Gresford Colliery disaster. Pendine Park, which has nine care homes in Wrexham and Caernarfon, has been named a finalist at the annual Arts and Business Cymru Awards. They are in the running for the Arts, Business and the Community award. The care group has been the headline sponsor of the festival and last year supported the first performance of the opera Gresford - Up From Underground, which tells the story of the 266 men and boys who died in the 1934 Gresford Colliery disaster. The care group also launched the Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition at last year's festival, and this will return at the 2025 festival. Professor Paul Mealor, the festival's artistic director and a royal composer, said: "We're so thrilled at the North Wales International Music Festival that along with our lead sponsors and dear friends Mario and Gill Kreft of Pendine, we have been shortlisted for an Arts and Business Cymru award. "This is a testament to how arts and business can work together to enrich the community. "Thank you so much, Mario and Gill!" Lanterns made by the residents of Pendine Park (Image: Supplied) The Arts and Business Cymru judges were particularly impressed with the lanterns that Pendine Park's Wrexham care home residents created, which adorned the aisles of St Asaph Cathedral at last year's festival. Sarah Edwards, Pendine Park's consultant artist in residence, said: "Being recognised in this way is such a boost, not just to our staff including all the enrichment team members, but to the residents who put in so much hard work to produce some remarkable art pieces year after year. "They deliver such a high level of creativity every time they are called on to contribute to events like the NWMIF and they should all be very proud of themselves." READ MORE: Former landfill on Anglesey transformed into thriving biodiversity and education hub Pendine Park owner and director Mario Kreft was delighted and said: "We are thrilled to have been shortlisted for this award. "Our connection with NWIMF has evolved and grown over the years. "The premiere of the opera was particularly poignant for all of us at Pendine because we had the very great privilege of caring for Albert Rowlands, the last survivor of the Gresford disaster, who celebrated his 100th birthday with us before he passed away in 2020. "Social care and the arts go hand in hand in enriching lives across the generations and promoting well-being. "We are passionate about using the arts, whether visual or musical, to enrich the lives of our residents and staff alike."
Rhyl Journal
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Last call for Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition
Entries are now open for the second Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition, taking place during the 2025 North Wales International Music Festival at St Asaph Cathedral from September 11 to 20. The competition is open to instrumentalists and singers aged under 21 as of January 1 this year, who are either born or living in Wales, or Welsh nationals living abroad. Professor Paul Mealor, royal composer and co-founder of the competition, said: "It's not too late for young musicians to enter the competition – there's still a few weeks left. "We've already had a load of entries but we want to make sure we reach out to rising stars in every corner of Wales. "If there's any young instrumentalists or vocalists who want to have a chance to win thousands of pounds in prize money and to perform live on BBC Radio Cymru, they need to get their skates on." The competition is funded by the festival's headline sponsor, Pendine Park, through the Pendine Arts and Community Trust. The winner will receive the silver Pendine Trophy and a £2,000 cash prize. The judging panel includes Professor Helena Gaunt, principal of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama; internationally acclaimed soprano Rebecca Evans CBE; and Alun Jones, the festival's executive vice-chair and former principal of Chetham's School of Music. Mario Kreft MBE, co-founder of the competition alongside Professor Mealor, said: "After the success of the inaugural competition last year, we're really excited about the prospects for the 2025 contest. "Our aim is to encourage and foster young, emerging talent and the Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition has all the makings of a very prestigious event. "I think in years to come it will be one of the premier competitions for young musicians and will hopefully assist them and propel them in their careers. "From our perspective it totally fits in with our ethos as an inclusive, inter-generational care group." To enter, applicants must upload a video or audio performance and complete an application form by the deadline of 5pm on Friday, July 4. If under 18, entrants must have permission from a parent or teacher. Submissions will be judged anonymously, and selected candidates will be invited to perform a 10-minute programme in the semi-final. Four will advance to the final round. More information and entry forms are available on the festival website at Tickets for the North Wales International Music Festival 2025 went on sale today Thursday, June 12.
Business News Wales
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business News Wales
Care Group Up for Major Award as it Celebrates 40th Anniversary
A care group that championed a music festival and the premiere of an opera about the Gresford Colliery Disaster is in the running for a major award. Pendine Park, which has nine care homes in Wrexham and Caernarfon, has been named as a finalist at the annual Arts and Business Cymru Awards because of its support for the North Wales International Music Festival in St Asaph. The care organisation, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is on the shortlist in the Arts, Business and the Community category. As well as being the headline sponsor of the festival, last year Pendine also supported the first performance of the new opera, Gresford – Up From Underground, marking the 90th anniversary of the tragedy. The moving opera tells the story of how 266 men and boys were killed when a massive underground explosion and fire ripped through the pit near Wrexham on September 22, 1934. The 2024 festival also saw the launch of the Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition, sponsored by the arts loving care organisation via the Pendine Arts and Community Trust (PACT). The contest was so successful that it is being brought back at this year's festival which runs from September 11-20. A call has already gone out for talented young musicians to enter for the chance to lift the silver Pendine Trophy along with a cash prize of £2,000. Royal composer Professor Paul Mealor, the festival's Artistic Director, said the commitment of Pendine was proof of how communities can be enriched when businesses and the arts work closely together. He said he was overjoyed to discover that the long-standing collaboration between NWIMF and Pendine Park since 2011 had been recognised by the Arts and Business Cymru charity. PACT was established by Pendine Park owners Mario and Gill Kreft to support cultural events across the region. In 2022 it increased its support to become the headline sponsor of the 50th anniversary festival. The extra sponsorship helped NWIMF to achieve its main objectives of artistic excellence, cultural equality and audience development, and arts, education and creative learning provision. When drawing up the shortlist the judges were also bowled over by the way Pendine Park's Wrexham care home residents created a luminous array of artistic lanterns which adorned the aisles of St Asaph Cathedral where the debut of the opera proved an outstanding highlight of last year's festival. NWIMF launched more than half a century ago and has grown to achieve worldwide acclaim, not least for the quality of the acoustics at St Asaph Cathedral where most of its programme is staged. In 2022 it celebrated its 50th anniversary and during the COVID pandemic when it was streamed online it accrued new fans in all corners of the globe. Prof Mealor said the contribution of its sponsors like Pendine Park had enabled the festival not just to survive but to thrive. He said: 'We're so thrilled at the North Wales International Music Festival that along with our lead sponsors and dear friends Mario and Gill Kreft of Pendine we have been shortlisted for an Arts and Business Cymru award. This is a testament to how arts and business can work together to enrich the community. Thank you so much Mario and Gill.' Pendine Park Consultant Artist in Residence Sarah Edwards created and oversaw the lanterns project along with many other successful arts-themed community collaborations. She said: 'Being recognised in this way is such a boost, not just to our staff including all the enrichment team members, but to the residents who put in so much hard work to produce some remarkable art pieces year after year. 'They deliver such a high level of creativity every time they are called on to contribute to events like the NWMIF and they should all be very proud of themselves.' Sarah said: 'Arts and music are at the very heart of our well-being programmes here at Pendine. 'Collaborations like those we have built with NWMIF are invaluable to continuing that and they make such a difference to the lives of our residents, their sense of self-esteem and of feeling included in local community events.' Pendine Park owner and director Mario Kreft was delighted that Pendine Park had once again found itself on such a prestigious awards shortlist. He said: 'We are thrilled to have been shortlisted for this award. Our connection with NWIMF has evolved and grown over the years. 'The premiere of the opera was particularly poignant for all of us at Pendine because we had the very great privilege of caring for Albert Rowlands, the last survivor of the Gresford disaster, who celebrated his 100th birthday with us before he passed away in 2020. 'Social care and the arts go hand in hand in enriching lives across the generations and promoting well-being. 'We are passionate about using the arts, whether visual or musical, to enrich the lives of our residents and staff alike. 'That's why we set up the Pendine Arts and Community Trust to support cultural pursuits and community activities so we can spread the message about the value of the arts.' 'It's fair to say the arts provide a golden thread running through everything we do and the fantastic North Wales International Music Festival chimes perfectly with our ethos.'
Western Telegraph
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Western Telegraph
Final call for entries to Pendine Young Musician of Wales
Royal composer Paul Mealor has extended a final call for entries to the Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition. Open to instrumentalists and singers, the competition will be held during the North Wales International Music Festival at St Asaph Cathedral, from September 11 to 20. Mr Mealor emphasised the potential impact on participants' careers, saying: "It's a very special competition that can launch a career and we're indebted to Pendine Park for sponsoring it." The competition, funded by the Pendine Park care organisation, offers a generous prize pool for the top four finalists. The overall winner will receive the silver Pendine Trophy and £2,000 in cash. The second prize winner will secure £1,000, and two runners-up will be awarded £500 each. The performances of all four finalists will be broadcast live on BBC Radio Cymru. A panel of judges, including Professor Helena Gaunt, Principal of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama; Rebecca Evans CBE, a world-renowned operatic soprano; and Alun Jones, the festival's executive vice-chair and former principal of Chetham's School of Music, Manchester, will select the winners. While the judges deliberate, last year's winner, Cardiff-based harpist Heledd Wynn Newton, will entertain the audience. The competition is open to all young musicians, either born or residing in Wales, or Welsh nationals living abroad, who were under 21 on January 1, 2025. Applicants under 18 will need the permission of their teacher or parent to enter. Mr Mealor added: "If there's any young instrumentalists or vocalists who want to have a chance to win thousands of pounds in prize money and to perform live on BBC Radio Cymru, they need to get their skates on." Entrants must upload their performance via a link on the festival's website to be judged anonymously. Selected participants will advance to the semi-final to perform a 10-minute programme, with four finalists competing the following night. Festival founder Mario Kreft said: "Our aim is to encourage and foster young, emerging talent and the Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition has all the makings of a very prestigious event. "I think in years to come it will be one of the premier competitions for young musicians and will hopefully assist them and propel them in their careers." He added: "Like Paul, I would urge young musicians right across Wales to submit their entries now. "We can't wait to hear them perform, and to follow their futures in the world of music." The closing date for entries is 5pm on Friday, July 4. Entry forms can be downloaded from the festival's website.
South Wales Guardian
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Final call for young musicians to enter contest in Wales
Royal composer, Paul Mealor, believes the Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition at the North Wales International Music Festival could be a substantial boost to their budding careers. The competition, now in its second year, is seeking entries from instrumentalists and singers for the 2025 contest, to be held at St Asaph Cathedral from September 11 to 20. Professor Mealor said: "It's not too late for young musicians to enter the competition – there's still a few weeks left. "We've already had a load of entries but we want to make sure we reach out to rising stars in every corner of Wales." Young instrumentalists or vocalists must upload a video or audio clip and complete an application form by the deadline at 5pm on Friday, July 4. More details on how to enter can be found on the festival's website, The competition is being funded by the Pendine Park care organisation through the Pendine Arts and Community Trust, which supports community and arts activities. The winner will receive the silver Pendine Trophy along with a cash prize of £2,000. The second-place winner will receive £1,000, and two runners-up will each receive £500. All four finalists' performances will be broadcast live on BBC Radio Cymru. Professor Mealor said: "It's a very special competition that can launch a career and we're indebted to Pendine Park for sponsoring it." The judges, who will choose the finalists, are Professor Helena Gaunt, principal of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama; Rebecca Evans CBE, a world-renowned operatic soprano; and Alun Jones, the festival's executive vice-chair and former principal of Chetham's School of Music, Manchester. While the judges deliberate, last year's winner, harp virtuoso Heledd Wynn Newton from Cardiff, will entertain the audience. Professor Mealor said: "The people who reach the final will all win a generous cash prize while the winner will be presented with a magnificent silver salver donated by Pendine and be invited to perform next year as well. "The competition is open to young musicians either born or living in Wales or who are Welsh nationals living abroad. "Entrants must have been aged under 21 on January 1, 2025, to be eligible. "If you're under 18 you will need the permission of your teacher or parent to enter." Mario Kreft, organiser of the competition, said: "After the success of the inaugural competition last year, we're really excited about the prospects for the 2025 contest. "Our aim is to encourage and foster young, emerging talent and the Pendine Young Musician of Wales competition has all the makings of a very prestigious event. "We recognise how important the arts are to our lives in all its forms. "Music matters just as much to people who live and work in social care as it does to young and old in wider society."
