A major international piano festival is set to take place in Caernarfon.
The Wales International Piano Festival will take place at Galeri from October 16 to 20, spanning five days for the first time in the event’s history.
Iwan Llewelyn-Jones, artistic director of the festival, said: "Planning the festival has been both challenging and exciting.
"It’s taking place over five days for the first time and each of the days has a theme to it.
"The festival kicks off with a research study day exploring the piano’s role in vocal and instrumental chamber music.
"Taking place at Bangor University’s Department of Music, this is an exciting new collaboration between the university, the Royal Musical Association and the Wales International Piano Festival, with guest speakers and performers from France, Belgium and the UK."
Organised by Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias, the internationally recognised festival will feature competitions, concerts, masterclasses and lectures.
Day two will focus on community events under the theme of the People’s Piano and will celebrate the work of composers including Erik Satie and Ludovico Einaudi.
The remaining days will be centred on the festival’s three piano competitions, attracting entrants from around the world.
Performers from Australia, South Korea, Mexico and beyond will compete for cash prizes of up to £3,000.
Competitions will include categories for pianists under 18, those aged 18 to 25, and an open accompanist prize.
Concerts will also form a key part of the festival programme, beginning with a French chamber music concert at Bangor University’s Powis Hall.
Performers will include soprano Erin Gwyn Rossington, cellist Rosie Biss, violinist Sara Trickey and Mr Llewelyn-Jones on piano.
The festival will also include a performance of Madam Wen on October 17 at Galeri Caernarfon.
This newly commissioned work is part of the festival’s education project and has been scripted and narrated by Manon Wyn Williams with music by Guto Pryderi Puw.
It is based on the 1925 novel Madam Wen by William David Owen.
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Other performers at the concert will include Côr Ysgol Gynradd Bodedern, percussionist Dewi Elis Jones, pianists Elain Rhys Jones and Angharad Wyn Jones, and soprano Glesni Rhys Jones.
Bangor-born jazz pianist Gwilym Simcock will perform on the festival’s third evening.
Meinir Llwyd Roberts, director of Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias, said: "The festival expanded in 2016 and became the Wales International Piano Festival.
"As part of the entry process entrants were asked to submit an unedited recording of solo piano repertoire not exceeding eight minutes.
"These have been considered and more than 50 invitations have been made to pianists from all over the world to take part in the festival this year."
Further information and tickets are available at www.pianofestival.co.uk.
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