Denbigh composer wins 2009 Llangollen Carol Competition

Christmas has come early for one man from Denbigh after his carol won the annual S4C Llangollen Carol competition.

Ynyr Llwyd, a 21 year-old student from Prion, won the competition with his carol Cariad Mam, a tender lullaby sung by Mary to the baby Jesus. Ynyr shares the £1,000 prize with his father Eifion Lloyd Jones, who co-wrote the words for the carol.

There is a different feel to the carol, as Ynyr, who’s studying composition as a post-graduate student at Bangor University, explains.

“I’ve tried to give Cariad Mam a different sound to a conventional Christmas carol – with an acoustic guitar accompanying the verses and an orchestral feel to the powerful choruses.

“This wasn’t the first time for me to try the competition. I tried twice while at school, which makes winning even more satisfying, as I’ve kept at it and tried again.”

The carol will be performed at the Thousand Christmas Voices concert at the world-famous Llangollen International Pavilion on 13 December. The Daily Post-sponsored concert will be broadcast on S4C over the festive period.

The star-studded line-up for the annual event includes Mark Evans, a finalist in the competition Your Country Needs You, and Aberystwyth soprano, Gwawr Edwards, who is currently on tour with Only Men Aloud! Anglesey singer Elin Fflur and Meirionnydd choir, Côr Godre’r Aran will also perform on the night. Alwyn Humphreys will be conducting the singing on this special occasion, with Branwen Gwyn and Robin Jones presenting the evening.

Ynyr will release a CD at the end of the year called ‘Rhwng Gwyn a Du’.