Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod

Famous performers at Llangollen have included Luciano Pavarotti (who first competed in Llangollen in 1955 with his father and a choir from their home town Modena, and for whom the Eisteddfod's principal trophy – the Choir of the World Pavarotti Trophy – is named[1]), Red Army Ensemble, Julian Lloyd Webber and Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

The final Sunday Evening Gala Concert has featured Katherine Jenkins, Bryn Terfel, Kiri Te Kanawa, James Galway and Montserrat Caballe.

The British Council offered to help find choirs from Europe and to give financial support; however, the town decided to raise the money through a public subscription, and quickly gathered over £1100.

Accommodation for the overseas competitors would be in houses in the town and surrounding area, and domestic participants would be given beds in church and school halls.

The organisers were relieved when the first coach of competitors arrived, bringing the ladies' choir Grupo Musical Feminino from Porto.

Two troupes of Spanish dancers, on a tour of Britain sponsored by the British Council and the Esperanto Society, arrived and despite there not being a dance competition in the first year, performed to delighted audiences.

Gwaraidd fydd ei gerddi fo", was composed by the poet T. Gwynn Jones in 1946, a few months after the eisteddfod was established.

In 2012 the Eisteddfod played host to Lesley Garrett, Alison Balsom, Nicola Benedettii and Sian Edwards in a celebration concert for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

There were also appearances by Alfie Boe, Steffan Morris, and Valentina Nafornta, and a performance of Karl Jenkins's new work "The Peacemakers" by a specially formed massed choir accompanied by the Llangollen International Eisteddfod Orchestra.

A parade[4] is usually held on the Tuesday of the Eisteddfod week, in which both the locals and visitors, take part dancing, singing, and playing musical instruments, whilst marching the streets of Llangollen.

Golden Gate Men's Chorus at the event in July 2018
Dancing at the 1957 Eisteddfod
Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, 1954
The Pavilion at the event.