The Welsh folk traditions can proudly live on if new generations of musicians continue to breath their own vitality and excitement into the art forms and attract enthusiastic new audiences. Since 2017 Trac Cymru has been investing significant resources in the development of the National Youth Folk Ensemble of Wales, which is currently receiving huge national and international acclaim under the band name Avanc.
An important part of the charity’s strategy to sustain the nation’s traditional music sector has been to provide in-depth vocational support for some of our most talented young people – helping them to take their performance skills to a high level of artistic excellence alongside learning invaluable practical knowledge about the demands of professional careers.
Featuring 11 dynamic young musicians from all over Wales, Avanc has now become renowned for powerful stage shows and exciting music releases that showcase a joyous contemporary ensemble sound featuring fiddles, harps, guitar, whistles, pipes, and percussion, as well as singing and step-dance. After some innovative online activity during the restrictions of the pandemic, in 2022 the band members have been out travelling far and wide on the road – becoming favourites at many festivals across the nation and further abroad, including recent triumphs at the National Eisteddfod, Celtic Connections in Scotland, and the Festival Interceltique in France.
Listen to Avanc’s latest single here 👇
The National Youth Folk Ensemble was first piloted by Trac Cymru in 2017 and received financial support in its early stages from the Arts Council of Wales, the National Lottery, and the Colwinston Charitable Trust. The performers have been honing their skills under the artistic direction of Patrick Rimes, with additional support from tutors Sam Humphreys and Gwen Màiri – some of the leading lights of a younger generation of established Welsh folk musicians who are now keenly working to pass on their own knowledge.
As you can see in the video below we caught up with some of the members of Avanc recently, to talk about their experiences from being a part of the Ensemble 👇
As we take a look back at our 21+1 years to date working to support our important national music traditions, Trac Cymru is also planning our next programme of support to help the next generation of young Welsh musicians to become the nation’s stars of the future.
Please support us by sharing these stories with your friends and colleagues, and join us in posting your own happy memories about Welsh folk music on social media #TRAC21, and you can help us fund our programme for young people by making a donation today.
