Busy year for Trinity's Eilir
By any stretch of the imagination, it’s been quite a year for Eilir Owen Griffiths, tutor and cultural organiser at Trinity University College, Carmarthen.
In March, he took Côr y Drindod, Trinity’s choir, to New York for a series of events marking St David’s Day.
Then, in September, he received a very personal honour by being asked to conduct at the 78th North American Festival of Wales, held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
“It seems I have spent quite some time jetting backwards and forwards across the Atlantic,” Eilir chuckled.
“But the experience has been well worth it.The students gained a great deal from their New York appearances and I thought it was a great honour being asked to work at the North American Festival of Wales.
“Last year, my choir, Côr CF1, were guests at the festival and the organisers were kind enough to invite me back.
“The festival is staged at different venues in the United States and Canada. It is almost the American equivalent of our touring National Eisteddfod.
“I was handed the conductor’s baton for the annual Gymanfa Ganu, which is always a very emotional occasion, full of hwyl and hiraeth, with an auditorium filled with ‘Welsh’ people from all over North America.
“I was also given the task of conducting the North American Welsh choir, some 80 singers who, given the scale of North America, don’t get the chance to meet up very often. This was, again, a hugely rewarding job for me and a great experience.”
Earlier in the summer, there was another great personal honour for Eilir, who is also the director of the now well-established annual Trinity arts festival.
At the Royal National Eisteddfod staged in Bala, Eilir was admitted to the Gorsedd and the white robe order under the name of Eilir ap Robert.
Eilir added: “It was a huge honour to be recognised by the Gorsedd and admitted to the robed ranks. The ceremony itself was wonderful and it was particularly notable as it was staged outside in the open air (which doesn’t always happen) and that added a special touch to the moment.
“It was a privilege to be honoured by the Gorsedd and it was a day that will live long in the memory.”
In March, he took Côr y Drindod, Trinity’s choir, to New York for a series of events marking St David’s Day.
Then, in September, he received a very personal honour by being asked to conduct at the 78th North American Festival of Wales, held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
“It seems I have spent quite some time jetting backwards and forwards across the Atlantic,” Eilir chuckled.
“But the experience has been well worth it.The students gained a great deal from their New York appearances and I thought it was a great honour being asked to work at the North American Festival of Wales.
“Last year, my choir, Côr CF1, were guests at the festival and the organisers were kind enough to invite me back.
“The festival is staged at different venues in the United States and Canada. It is almost the American equivalent of our touring National Eisteddfod.
“I was handed the conductor’s baton for the annual Gymanfa Ganu, which is always a very emotional occasion, full of hwyl and hiraeth, with an auditorium filled with ‘Welsh’ people from all over North America.
“I was also given the task of conducting the North American Welsh choir, some 80 singers who, given the scale of North America, don’t get the chance to meet up very often. This was, again, a hugely rewarding job for me and a great experience.”
Earlier in the summer, there was another great personal honour for Eilir, who is also the director of the now well-established annual Trinity arts festival.
At the Royal National Eisteddfod staged in Bala, Eilir was admitted to the Gorsedd and the white robe order under the name of Eilir ap Robert.
Eilir added: “It was a huge honour to be recognised by the Gorsedd and admitted to the robed ranks. The ceremony itself was wonderful and it was particularly notable as it was staged outside in the open air (which doesn’t always happen) and that added a special touch to the moment.
“It was a privilege to be honoured by the Gorsedd and it was a day that will live long in the memory.”
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