THE artistic director of an international music festival in North Wales is stepping down after 20 years at the helm.

Ann Atkinson confirmed she is bowing out of her role during the launch concert for this year's North Wales International Music Festival at St Asaph Cathedral.

The concert was a curtain raiser for this year’s festival that’s taking place from September 15-30.

The festival, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, was founded by the royal composer, Professor William Mathias.

Ann became the third person to be the event’s artistic director, following in the footsteps of Prof Mathias and her immediate predecessor Geraint Lewis.

She said: "I have enjoyed the challenge immensely and there have been many of those along the way.

“The COVID-19 pandemic forced us to produce a virtual festival in 2020 and curtailed the 2021 festival for instance but being invited to become the Artistic Director all those years ago was a special opportunity.

“It was a privilege and an honour that I grasped eagerly with both hands when it was offered to me but now I feel I have served my time and it's time to hand over to someone else.

"It is strange preparing for this year's festival and not thinking ahead to next year which is what usually happens.

"The core programme of concerts and recitals remains as it always has done. William Mathias’ vision was to bring top class musicians to North Wales for local audiences to enjoy on their doorstep instead of having to travel to Liverpool, Manchester and beyond to hear them.

"But the community and youth programmes have developed dramatically in the past few years and this has been so exciting and satisfying for me. I feel I have been so lucky to be the custodian of such a superbly special event.”

Ann, a celebrated mezzo soprano who hails from Corwen, gained her B.Ed degree from the University of Wales and initially pursued a teaching career before winning a scholarship to study singing at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Since then she has sung with many of Britain's leading opera companies, Scottish Opera, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Wexford Festival Opera, WNO to name but a few, and performed all over the world including a memorable concert at Sydney Opera House.

This year's festival is based on the theme of “horizons” and the closing concert on September 30 will take the form of a farewell to Ann.

It will feature the NEW Sinfonia, the NEW Voices Community Choir and soloists Lisa Dafydd and Dafydd Jones.

Also taking part will be Ann herself and her husband, accomplished baritone, Kevin Sharp.