NAFOW 2011

September 1 - 4, 2011 Cleveland, Ohio Hogia'r Ddwylan

Music Issue April  29, 2011 Quick Links: Our Website Join Us on Americymru A Weekend of Music and Song W Choir director, Ilid Anne Jones, will also teach Ysgol Gan (Singing School) to prepare us for participating in the Gymanf We look forward to welcoming you all to Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 1-4, 2011, for the North American Festival of Wales and the 80th Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu.      We promise a long weekend of music, song, and entertainment as only the Welsh can do it.    We are thrilled to have "the boys from two shores," Hogia'r Ddwylan, pictured above, as the featured choir for the Grand Concert and Gymanfa Ganu. You can read more about the choir and listen to some sample tracks from their new CD HERE. elsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association Newsletter Eisteddfod Information  The competitions being offered at the 2011 North American Festival of Wales Eisteddfod are: New Red Dragon Award added for Youth Recitation in English. *Hymn Singing Competition *Solo Voice Competition *Solo Voice Semi-Professional   (David G. Morris Memorial Award) *Solo Recitation (in Welsh) *Solo Youth Recitation (in English) A new entrance option of guidance and adjudication only is available this year. The aim is to promote performance of Welsh singing and recitation and to encourage newcomers. Anyone electing this option to gain experience will perform alongside the other competitors, not in competition for the prize, but to receive constructive advice and critique from an  experienced adjudicator.  This option is open for all competitions except the David G. Morris Memorial Award.   Complete Eisteddfod information and entry forms are available   HERE.    Contact  eisteddfod@nafow.org if you encounter any difficulty obtaining the set pieces  for Recitation.  The Eisteddfod is planned for Friday morning, September 2, and Saturday September 3. The Eisteddfod Winners' Concert will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 3.  Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association Newsletter Thursday Night Folk Concert Moch Pryderi members (back row, left to right): Dave Rich, Bill Reese, Rik Rice; (front row, left to right): Deborah Wenrich, Mary Triola, Bob Roser. Kicking off the festivities on Thursday evening will be folk band, Moch Pryderi.     Moch Pryderi (Welsh for "Pryderi's Pigs") is a six piece Welsh-American band from Fredericksburg Virginia. The band formed as a result of the Fredericksburg Welsh festival in 1998 and has been together since. Their music is firmly rooted in the traditional Brythonic-Celtic music of Wales and Brittany, occasionally interwoven with traditional music from Ireland,  Scotland, Turkey, and the American-Appalachians. Read more HERE. Grand Banquet: Great Food, Honors and Music Heritage Medallion Award Honors Alan and Gretta Upshall Gretta and Alan Upshall, 2011 Heritage Medallion honorees. Photo by Jean Struton You won't want to miss the Grand Banquet on  Friday! We have a  full evening of great food and entertainment planned. Be there to celebrate with Alan Upshall (Past WNGGA President) and his wife, Gretta, as they receive the 2011 NWAF Heritage Medallion Award.  The National Welsh-American Foundation awards the Heritage Medallion each year to recognize one or more Welsh-Americans for services to the Welsh-American community,  or to those whose prominence has brought credit to the Welsh-American community.   The award recognizes all they have both done to preserve and support the Welsh in North America. Megan Elizabeth Morris, Banquet Entertainer, We are excited to bring award-winning mezzo-soprano Megan Morris back 'home' to Ohio. hails from Ohio Two-time winner of the David G. Morris Memorial Award at the NAFOW Eisteddfod (2005 and 2009), Ohio native Megan Morris will provide the after-dinner entertainment. Megan competed in last summer's National Eisteddfod in Wales, where she placed second among the mezzo-sopranos.  The Grand Banquet is co-sponsored by the National Welsh American Foundation.

Save Now!   Book Your Hotel Early to Get the Best Rates! Take advantage of our special room rates* and make your hotel reservations early at the Crowne Plaza Cleveland City Centre by one of these methods: 1. Visit  our website for hotel and travel information and a direct link to our room block to reserve on-line; 2.Click HERE to reserve now; 3. Call toll-free 1-877-208-2519 and mention "Festival of Wales" or use the code "WNQ";  Single and double rates are $115 + tax per night; triples are $129 + tax/night; quads are $139 + tax/night. All rooms are No Smoking and there are some wheelchair accessible rooms available. These special rates rates will be available from August 26 - September 9 (check-out on Sept. 10) as long as rooms are available. Festival-goers will receive free in-room all-fi and reduced self-parking of $10/day with in-and-out privileges (normally $18/day) when their rooms are reserved using one of the above methods. Remember, when you choose to stay at the festival hotel, you will be in the middle of the action! Also you are helping the Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association meet its contractual obligation to fill the room block specially reserved for festival attendees. If you experience any difficulties making a hotel room reservation, please email president@wngga.org for assistance. *Special Rates available only until all our Festival rooms are booked.

WNGGA International Headquarters Phone: 740-587-3936  Fax: 877-448-6633   Email:  exec_dir@wngga.org Website: www.wngga.org