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Weekend of Welsh folk singing

17th – 19th of January 2024

Ambell i Gân is a weekend of Welsh folk singing with three of Wales’ leading singer – Gwilym Bowen Rhys, Beth Celyn and Gwenan Gibbard
The weekend is taking place at Plas Caerdeon, and costs £300 for the weekend including all meals and accommodation. There is an early bird discount available until November.

There are three classes available:

Experienced class: This class is for those who already have confidence with Welsh language pronunciation and who are experienced singers. It is expected that you are able to confidently pronounce words in the Welsh language.
Intermediate class: This class is for those who have less experience with the Welsh language and/or who have had less singing experience.
Beginner class: This is for those who may have some singing experience but who have none or very little experience with the Welsh language.
Plas Caerdeon:
Ambell i Gân will take place at Plas Caerdeon outdoor education centre in Caerdeon, Gwynedd. Situated on the banks of the picturesque Mawddach estuary at the southern tip of the Eryri National Park, this is a fantastic spot to retreat from the bustle of the world and focus on music-making – whilst being easily accessible by car (75 minutes from Bangor or Aberystwyth, 3hrs from Cardiff). Public transport options are available as well, with both Barmouth rail station and regular TrawsCymru bus services to Dolgellau nearby.
Accommodation is shared rooms, but we can accommodate group room bookings. Answer the questions on the booking form to let us know. 
During the day, you’ll have the chance to join your main group, based on your experience level. You can choose between foundational, intermediate, or advanced groups, where we’ll focus on building repertoire and fundamental technique. We’ll also spend some time working on pieces that we’ll sing together in our Ambell i Gân choir.  Apart from the main groups, we’re offering a variety of option classes which you can choose from. These will cover a selection of topics chosen by our tutor team. If you’ve brought your walking boots and maybe an anorak, you can also explore the beautiful Mawddach valley surroundings!
For the evenings, get ready for more informal music-making with singing sessions in the common areas of the house. If you also play an instrument, please bring it along, as there will be evening instrumental sessions too!
We’ll also hold an open singing circle where everyone can take turns to share songs.
On the Friday evening we’ll start with a special tutors concert, acoustic and unplugged – folk singing in its natural home! The tutors will share some of their most favourite songs.
The weekend is fully inclusive, with accommodation at Plas Caerdeon and all meals provided. We can cater to dietary requirements and provide shared rooms (single gender). Arrival is on Friday afternoon, and we’ll wrap up and leave after lunch on Sunday. There are two other ticket types available – non residential, if you’d prefer to book your own accommodation but eat your lunch and dinner in Plas Caerdeon, and a new ticket type for Plas Caerdeon – camping! If you have a motorhome, you are welcome to bring that too.
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