Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod

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The International Eisteddfod is a musical extravaganza which takes place every year in the 2nd week of July in the North Wales town of Llangollen. Singers and dancers from all over the world are invited to take part in over 20 competitions, in varying categories, with each day of competition being followed by concerts where the best of the performers share the stage with some of the leading professional performers in the world.

In a typical year, some 5000 singers, dancers and musicians from around 50 countries will perform to audiences which exceed 50,000 over the five days of the Eisteddfod.

Amongst entries at Llangollen have been Luciano Pavarotti (who entered with his father and a choir from Modena, his hometown) and Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Performing professionals read like a Who’s Who of music: Kiri Te Kanawa, Montserrat Caballe, James Galway, Bryn Terfel, Katherine Jenkins and the Red Army Ensemble amongst those who have graced the stage.

The origins of the Eisteddfod go back to 1943 when the British Council, in the form of Harold Tudor, arranged for members of several Governments in exile in the UK to attend the Welsh National Eisteddfod (which was being held in Bangor, in what is now Gwynedd). Such was the response, that an international concert was included in the National Eisteddfod held at Llandybie.

Tudor suggested an international choral festival to the organisers of the National Eisteddfod, but they declined the idea. However, the proposal found favour with several influential people, including a composer and a teacher – Gwynn Williams and George Northing – from Llangollen.

Despite much scepticism, significant organisational difficulties and the fact that food rationing was still in place in the UK following World War II, in June 1947 the first International Eisteddfod was a huge success. Since then it has gone from strength to strength.