Ty Cerdd — the Centre for Welsh Music which supports the development and promotion of professional and amateur music making in Wales, has announced that eminent composers Karl Jenkins and Paul Mealor have agreed to become the organisation’s new Patron and President.

Both men also have existing musical connections with the brass band fraternity, writing major concerto and ensemble works for the medium.

Delighted

Ty Cerdd Director Gwyn Williams told 4BR that he is delighted to welcome the new appointments on board.

"Ty Cerdd is set on promoting the music of Wales to the world and I cannot think of two better ambassadors.

Karl Jenkins’ international profile is legendary as well as the reach of his music. The fact that he is one of the best-selling classical composers of all-time serves as a fantastic inspiration to our younger generation of Welsh musicians.

Paul Mealor has already established himself as a wonderful composer equally at home writing music for great state occasions as well as for young people for whom he has a particular affinity."

Great composers

He added: "These two great composers will reflect the organisation’s emphasis on the creation and promotion of new music; on its dialogue with the public and the music industry and on the encouragement to perform Welsh music, all elements that Ty Cerdd wishes to bring to amateur and professional music makers alike."

Jenkins 70th

2014 marks Karl Jenkins’ 70th birthday and fifty years of his career in music. He was awarded an OBE by the Queen in the 2005 New Year’s Honours List and a CBE in the 2010 Birthday Honours List.

Karl Jenkins (pictured with David Childs and Owain Arwel Hughes above) added: "I’m delighted to be invited to be Patron of Ty Cerdd. The invitation is particularly appealing because Ty Cerdd combines a huge membership of choral singers and instrumentalists throughout Wales with a truly international remit of promoting the music of Wales to the world.

This means that we can promote Welsh music at home and abroad and to the widest possible audiences — something which I believe in passionately."

This means that we can promote Welsh music at home and abroad and to the widest possible audiences — something which I believe in passionatelyComposer, Karl Jenkins

Mealor delight

The Brit Award winning composer Paul Mealor was catapulted to international stardom in April 2011, when his motet, ‘Ubi Caritas’ was performed at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

He also broke records by being the first composer to hold both the classical and pop chart No 1’s at the same time in December 2011, with his piece for The Military Wives Choir, ‘Wherever You Are’.

Since January 2003 he has taught in the Music Department at the University of Aberdeen where he is Professor of Composition.

He added: "I’m delighted, humbled and honoured to become the first President of Ty Cerdd.

This fabulous organisation supports and develops music-making throughout our great nation, and is at the very heart of the creation and promotion of music by our very best, living Welsh composers."

Encouraging

He concluded: "The importance of commissioning composers and supporting our fabulous performers is something very important to me and throughout my tenure I'll be encouraging all affiliated societies to help support the music of today, so that we can have music for tomorrow!"