Due to the ongoing situation in relation to Covid-19, we have decided to reschedule the festival to the 30 April – 3 May 2021. Learn More
Wales International
Piano Festival
30 April – 3 May 2021
About the Festival
Organised by Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias and under the artistic leadership of international pianist Iwan Llewelyn-Jones, the 2021 Wales International Piano Festival will explore three key areas, namely performance, competition and education.
The Festival will pay homage to Ludwig van Beethoven and his considerable pianistic legacy as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of his birth. Other festival themes include the music of the 1920s and the promotion of new music from Wales.
We are delighted to welcome Festival Patron and renowned Beethoven interpreter John Lill CBE to give a recital to open the Festival.
Honorary Patron: John Lill CBE
Honorary President: John Metcalf MBE
Our Competitions
Junior Solo Piano Competition
Senior Solo Piano Competition
Piano Accompaniment Competition
No age restriction
John Lill Piano Recital
It is with great pleasure that we welcome the distinguished pianist, John Lill to give the opening recital at the Wales International Piano Festival. This year, the Festival pays tribute to one of the most astounding composers of all time, Ludwig van Beethoven, as we celebrate 250 years since his birth. This is a unique opportunity to enjoy a programme of Beethoven’s masterpieces performed by one of his foremost interpreters.
Programme, Ludwig van Beethoven:
Sonata in C minor, Op 13 ‘Pathétique’
Sonata in C, Op 53 ‘Waldstein’
Sonata in C sharp minor, Op 27/2 ‘Moonlight’
Sonata in F minor, Op 57 ‘Appassionata’
Chamber Music Concert
For the Festival’s second evening concert, the focus turns to chamber music with a programme that includes Beethoven’s magnificent ‘Archduke Trio and his Arrangements of Welsh folk songs for voice and piano trio. The concert also features the Festival Commission with the world premiere of four new chamber pieces based on Welsh folk song by Pwyll ap Sion, Joseph Davies, Sarah Lianne Lewis and Bethan Morgan-Williams.
Programme:
Beethoven: Arrangements of Welsh Folk Songs for voice and piano trio, WoO 155
Beethoven: Two Lieder for tenor and piano
Festival Commission: Four chamber pieces by Pwyll ap Sion, Joseph Davies, Sarah Lianne Lewis and Bethan Morgan-Williams for soprano and piano trio
Beethoven: Piano Trio in B flat Op. 97 (Archduke)
Fiesta Concert
A night of music that celebrates one of the most colourful decades of the twentieth century. There’ll be plenty of humour in the first half with multi-hand piano works by some of the most outrageous characters of the era: Erik Satie, Percy Grainger, William Walton and Camille Saint-Saëns.
For the second half of the concert, we are delighted to welcome back the 2018 BBC Young Musician of the Year and a prizewinner at the 2016 Wales International Piano Festival, the dazzling Lauren Zhang to perform a virtuosic programme of showstoppers
Sponsor a Note
If you wish to make a financial contribution towards the Wales International Piano Festival 2021, why not Sponsor a Note!
You can select your own piano key, and with 88 in all, you’ll be spoilt for choice! Might you be an A♭ or D♯!?
The Latest News
Covid-19: Festival Postponement
Updated on the 27 June 2020: Due to the ongoing situation with regard to Covid-19, we have decided that going ahead with the Wales International Piano Festival in October 2020 is not going to be feasible due to the continuation of restrictions and the uncertainty...
Piano Day
We had a very successful Piano Day at Bangor University in mid-November with over 100 performances by pianist of all standard and ages. The esteemed pianists Emyr Roberts, Evgenia Startseva and Gareth Owen gave constructive feed-back to all performers. We had a very...
William Mathias Piano Tutors Concert
In early November, eight piano tutors from Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias joined international concert pianist Iwan Llewelyn-Jones, Artistic Director of the Wales International Piano Festival, for a special concert to raise money to sponsor a competition prize at next...
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Our Sponsors
The Wales International Piano Festival is organised by Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias (William Mathias Music Centre).
Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias provides valuable opportunities for students of music at its centres in Caernarfon, Denbigh and Ruthin and through its community events throughout Wales.
