Dates | 28th – 31st of October 2024

Gwerin Gwallgo is a high-energy four-day residential folk course for young people between 11 and 18 years of age. It takes place at Glanllyn, the Urdd Residential Centre in Bala and attracts around forty young people.

What happens on the course?

There are instrumental, vocal and clog dance lessons, a big band set and a big song during the day, with informal sessions, concerts, twmpathau and more in the evenings, and opportunities to take part in some of the fun outdoor activities which Glan-llyn has to offer too. Towards the end of the course, there’s also a chance to perform.

Instrumental Classes

Players need to have their own instrument, and be able to play at least to a basic standard. Instrumentalists are asked to tell us their approximate level of experience when they book, from the following options:

• Relative Beginner: you have a basic knowledge of your instrument, you can play easy scales and a few simple tunes
• Intermediate: you’re a more assured player with a reasonable familiarity with different tune types
• Advanced: a confident player with a significant amount of experience

There is no need to be able to read music, nor to know anything about folk music. As is traditional with folk music, most of the workshops are taught ‘by ear’.

Song Class

These are open to everyone from beginners to experienced singers. No previous experience of folk songs is needed.

Dance Classes

On Gwerin Gwallgo 2024 there will be two clog dance classes,  intermediate and advanced, to cater for different levels of experience.

Studio

There is also a Gwerin Gwallgo studio, where our young musicians and dancers can record music and have taster sessions on using a studio.

Tutors

Tutors for Gwerin Gwallgo 2024 will be:

Beth Williams Jones – clog dancing

Beth Celyn – singing

Patrick Rimes – fiddle

Aneirin Jones – fiddle

Rhys Morris – Guitar

Huw Williams – clog dancing

Awen Blandford – cello and mixed instruments

Osian Gryffudd – studio

Gwen Màiri – harp

What do people say about it?

“I come from a small rural town, so Gwerin Gwallgo has allowed me to meet other young people with a similar interest in Welsh folk music. It has also given me the chance to work with inspiring and supportive tutors. The experience opened my eyes to how lively and exciting the Welsh folk music scene is at the moment. I look forward to returning every year to meet old friends and see how much I’ve developed since the last time. I am now also fortunate enough to be a member of the Youth Folk Ensemble of Wales, mostly thanks to the time I spent on this very special course.”

“The enthusiasm and dedication of the tutors and organisers is astonishing. Please, let everyone know how much we parents appreciate that! The children do too, but that’s already obvious.”

“… It’s the one place where she really feels she belongs, and belongs to something Welsh in a way that makes her really excited and inspired. She doesn’t get many chances to play folk with others, and this is an invaluable opportunity for that. The quality of the musicians there, the teaching, is so superb, and the achievement of the concert at the end quite mind-blowing!”

The bigger picture

Gwerin Gwallgo helps us to bring on the next generation of professional musicians and tutors as well as those who just enjoy folk music and dance for the fun of it. Young bands such as Beca and Tant formed there, and older teenagers have the opportunity to return as volunteers. Some, such as Aneirin Jones of Vri and Rhys Morris of Avanc, have gone on to become assistant tutors and then full professional tutors on the course. Many other ‘graduates’ joined the Youth Folk Ensemble of Wales, currently performing as Avanc.

Bursaries

We want this course to be enjoyed by everyone. We have three assisted places for companions and provision for interpreters. We also offer a build your own personal access rider developed by Disability Arts Cymru. This is designed to help you tell us about any physical and neurodivergent requirements that you might have. Our  bursaries are designed to support people who may face financial barriers to accessing our courses. We have 10 bursary places available. 

Please contact jordan@trac-cymru.org for more information.

The price of the course is £290

A bursary place is £50