Oriana Festival 2026
"Time and Space"
Saturday June 13th
Family Preview Concert - Bank Holiday Monday May 4th
The Oriana Festival returns to St Elvan's on Saturday June 13th 2026 with a further incredible day long festival of the finest in contemporary Welsh classical music, plus this year's Family Preview Concert on Bank Holiday May 4th
The full programme for the event will be revealed in Spring 2026
Watch this space for further information soon - May The Fourth Be With You!
The full programme for the event will be revealed in Spring 2026
Watch this space for further information soon - May The Fourth Be With You!
Oriana Festival 2025
Following on from the highly successful 2023 | 24 events, the 2025 Oriana Festival focused on "The Planets | Our Planet" and once again showcased the very finest in contemporary Welsh music and Welsh composers, through the lens of local, regional and national composers and compositions, building up through the day to an epic multimedia performance of Gustav Holst's iconic suite, "The Planets"
The 2025 daytime sessions were FREE, thanks to the generous support of Donna Ockenden and Oriana Publications, and focused on the music of Sylvia & Jonathan Gregory with "Our Space | Ein Lle Ni"; a FREE film screening "The Coal Beneath Our Feet, The Wind Above Our Heads"; and the music of Welsh Guards musician and composer Gareth Trott
The evening Gala Concert then featured a performance of Holst's epic suite "The Planets", plus a new arrangement for brass & organ of Richard Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathustra", Nic Mills' "Planets Rising, the premiere performance of Dr Neil Day's "Touch Paper" for brass band, and a new suite "Our Planet" by Gareth Trott, focused on the life's work of Sir David Attenborough
A full timetable for the 2025 event is outlined below. Information on Oriana 2026 will be made available in the New Year
The 2025 daytime sessions were FREE, thanks to the generous support of Donna Ockenden and Oriana Publications, and focused on the music of Sylvia & Jonathan Gregory with "Our Space | Ein Lle Ni"; a FREE film screening "The Coal Beneath Our Feet, The Wind Above Our Heads"; and the music of Welsh Guards musician and composer Gareth Trott
The evening Gala Concert then featured a performance of Holst's epic suite "The Planets", plus a new arrangement for brass & organ of Richard Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathustra", Nic Mills' "Planets Rising, the premiere performance of Dr Neil Day's "Touch Paper" for brass band, and a new suite "Our Planet" by Gareth Trott, focused on the life's work of Sir David Attenborough
A full timetable for the 2025 event is outlined below. Information on Oriana 2026 will be made available in the New Year
Oriana Festival 2025
Full Schedule
From 10:00
Doors Open
Refreshments available from Spires Coffee Shop
FREE tea & coffee, supported by Donna Ockenden and Oriana Publications
10:30
Festival Welcome & Introduction
Festival Director: Christopher Painter
Opening Session - "The Planets | Our Planet" - Oriana 2026 & beyond
Linda Agostini | Mark Brake | Barry Lewis | Craig Roberts
In 2025, Oriana expanded its remit from being purely focused on music, to also encompass visual arts and film. This opening session focused on the visual art installation by Barry Lewis and Linda Agostini & partner artists, which was displayed throughout St Elvan's, and was inspired by this year's festival theme
"The Planets" was an installation by Barry Lewis, which pivoted from his "Toyrannosaurus Rex" up into the main body of the church, and which saw the entire solar system displayed throughout the clerestory of the church ceiling
"Our Planet" was then a collection of artworks by Linda Agostini, Lisa Calnan and Saskia Wagner, displayed throughout the main body of the church and the Mezzanine level. Above and throughout the mezzanine also hung a series of pieces made by children of Llwydcoed Primary School, inspired by the work of "The Last Watchman" George Cole
This FREE opening session of the 2025 Oriana Festival featured an open discussion with visual artists Barry Lewis & Linda Agostini about their work, and with Oriana Festival Director Christopher Painter, conductor Craig Roberts, and scientist & author Mark Brake, about the musical project which inspired them
12:00
Lunch
Spires Coffee Shop
13:00
"Our Space - Ein Lle Ni"
by Sylvia & Jonathan Gregory
"The Planets" was an installation by Barry Lewis, which pivoted from his "Toyrannosaurus Rex" up into the main body of the church, and which saw the entire solar system displayed throughout the clerestory of the church ceiling
"Our Planet" was then a collection of artworks by Linda Agostini, Lisa Calnan and Saskia Wagner, displayed throughout the main body of the church and the Mezzanine level. Above and throughout the mezzanine also hung a series of pieces made by children of Llwydcoed Primary School, inspired by the work of "The Last Watchman" George Cole
This FREE opening session of the 2025 Oriana Festival featured an open discussion with visual artists Barry Lewis & Linda Agostini about their work, and with Oriana Festival Director Christopher Painter, conductor Craig Roberts, and scientist & author Mark Brake, about the musical project which inspired them
12:00
Lunch
Spires Coffee Shop
13:00
"Our Space - Ein Lle Ni"
by Sylvia & Jonathan Gregory
"Our Space | Ein Lle Ni" is a sonic exploration of our valleys. This project and resultant work, supported by an award from the Pen Y Cymoedd Community Fund, features music written by Sylvia & Jonathan Gregory, and performed and recorded in Dolby Atmos 360 degree sound by Massed Male Choir, Lewis Merthyr Band, the Ladies of the Lake Choir, and more
This FREE session took the form of an installation with giant screen, describing each of the works, the process and inspiration behind their composition, while attendees were immersed in performances of the final recordings
14:00
"The Coal Beneath Our Feet, The Wind Above Our Heads"
with Beth Winter
This FREE session took the form of an installation with giant screen, describing each of the works, the process and inspiration behind their composition, while attendees were immersed in performances of the final recordings
14:00
"The Coal Beneath Our Feet, The Wind Above Our Heads"
with Beth Winter
"The Coal Beneath Our Feet, The Wind Above Our Heads" is a film by Jeremy Clancy. Commissioned by the former Member of Parliament for Cynon Valley, Beth Winter, and dedicated to the memory of Tyrone O'Sullivan, the film received its premiere screening here at St Elvan's, as part of our year long Shared Prosperity Fund supported "Cosmos, Collieries, Cynefin" and Miners Strikes 40th anniversary Voices From Underground projects. The film was released during this, the 30th anniversary year of the re-opening of Tower Colliery and focuses on the buyout by the Tower Miners, and the potential for future similar community ownership projects
15:00
FREE Illustrated Talk
with Gareth Trott, Composer
15:00
FREE Illustrated Talk
with Gareth Trott, Composer
Welsh composer Gareth Trott is a graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and British Army musician. Gareth has composed music for The King's Birthday Parade, "Trooping The Colour"; a Concerto for Baritone Saxophone, which recently premiered by the Band of the Welsh Guards; and two major works for brass band, "Remembering Aberfan" and "Eastern Horizons", which were first performed and explored here at St Elvan's
During this session Gareth outlined his work and development as a composer, illustrated by excerpts from performances of his works to date, plus an insight into his latest work "Our Planet", a tribute to Sir David Attenborough, which was performed in the evening Gala Concert - "The Planets | Our Planet" at 7:00pm
16:00
Daytime Close & Meal Break
18:00
Doors Open
19:00
Evening Gala Concert
"The Planets | Our Planet"
During this session Gareth outlined his work and development as a composer, illustrated by excerpts from performances of his works to date, plus an insight into his latest work "Our Planet", a tribute to Sir David Attenborough, which was performed in the evening Gala Concert - "The Planets | Our Planet" at 7:00pm
16:00
Daytime Close & Meal Break
18:00
Doors Open
19:00
Evening Gala Concert
"The Planets | Our Planet"
The 2025 Oriana Festival Gala Concert was themed "The Planets | Our Planet" and featured a performance on brass of Gustav Holst's iconic suite "The Planets" plus a selection of works centred around the planets theme, including a new arrangement for brass & organ of "Sunrise" from Richard Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathustra"; Nic Mills' scintillating "Planets Rising"; the premiere performance on brass of Neil Day's "Touch Paper" plus Gareth Trott's "Our Planet", a new five movement work dedicated to the life's work of David Attenborough
Programme
Also Sprach Zarathustra (R. Strauss | Roberts)
Planets Rising (Mills)
Touchpaper (Day) [premiere performance]
Our Planet (Trott)
i) Introduction: Our Planet from Space
ii) Into The Deep
iii) Rumble In The Jungle
iv) Tundra
v) Finale
The Planets (Holst | Roberts)
- Mars, the bringer of war
- Venus, the bringer of peace
- Mercury, the messenger
- Jupiter, the bringer of jollity
- Saturn, the bringer of old age
- Uranus, the magician
- Neptune, the mystic
Programme
Also Sprach Zarathustra (R. Strauss | Roberts)
Planets Rising (Mills)
Touchpaper (Day) [premiere performance]
Our Planet (Trott)
i) Introduction: Our Planet from Space
ii) Into The Deep
iii) Rumble In The Jungle
iv) Tundra
v) Finale
The Planets (Holst | Roberts)
- Mars, the bringer of war
- Venus, the bringer of peace
- Mercury, the messenger
- Jupiter, the bringer of jollity
- Saturn, the bringer of old age
- Uranus, the magician
- Neptune, the mystic
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2025 Featured Performers
Lewis Merthyr Band
"A damn fine band" - HRH Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII)
Founded in or before 1855, Lewis Merthyr Band is the oldest brass band in South Wales' Rhondda Valleys. Originally known as the Cymmer Military and Cymmer (Porth) Colliery Band, Lewis Merthyr adopted its present title in 1949. The band has been highly successful in competition throughout its history, becoming Champion Band of Wales, Welsh League Champions, Miner's Welfare Entertainments (CISWO) Champions and more
Lewis Merthyr has represented Wales in the Championship section of the National Championships of Great Britain on eight occasions at the Royal Albert Hall, London; at the European Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark; and at the 2022 World Music Contest in Kerkrade, Netherlands. The band also accomplished the unique achievement of winning the Second and Third Section UK titles of the National Championships of Great Britain, in consecutive years. Lewis Merthyr is currently ranked in the First Section and were the 2015 Runner-Up WWBBA Champions; 2016 Runner-Up SEWBBA Champions & Runner-Up Welsh League Champions in both 2015 & 2016. 2017 was a particularly successful year for the band and saw Lewis Merthyr become the WWBBA and - for the first time in 21 years - Welsh League First Section Champions
The band has been equally successful on the concert stage, performing at a wide variety of locations across Wales and beyond, including the Royal Albert Hall, London; Llangollen Pavilion; St David's Hall, Cardiff & the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. Lewis Merthyr has also performed for Royalty on a number of occasions, parading through the streets for the visit of His Majesty King George V and Queen Mary to Rhondda in 1912, and for the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, in 1932. On June 2nd, 2022, the band also featured in an incredible performance for the Beacon Lighting ceremony on the Thames Bank, London, in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In September 2023, an ensemble from the band also performed for the First Minister of Wales, First Lady of Iraq and other distinguished guests in an event which also featured a speech from the former Prime Minister of the UK, Sir Tony Blair
Throughout its history, the band has performed with numerous leading artists, including "Signor Foli" (Allan James Foley) in the late 1800's, and with Sir Geraint Evans, Glyn Houston and most recently Sir Bryn Terfel. In recent years, the band has also featured in a series of concerts under the baton of renowned orchestral conductor Owain Arwel Hughes CBE, which included a St David's Day Gala Concert at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea; a performance in the Speech Room at Harrow School, London; and two performances at Wales' national classical music festival, the Welsh Proms, in July 2018 & 2019, at the national concert hall of Wales, St David's Hall, Cardiff. In 2023, the band performed at the prestigious Three Choirs Festival at Gloucester Cathedral, and was the core ensemble of the inaugural Oriana Festival, a showcase of the finest Welsh classical contemporary music, where Lewis Merthyr performed together with former Royal Harpist Claire Jones, composer | percussionist Chris Marshall and Big Hearts International Nigeria, also giving the premiere performance of six new works for brass by Grace Williams, Chris Marshall, Christopher Painter, Gareth Trott & Gareth Wood and a recital of the works for brass by Mervyn Burtch
Lewis Merthyr has featured in a wide range of radio & television broadcasts, dating back to a recently rediscovered BBC Radio broadcast from 1927, and Pathé newsreel footage of the band marching before King Edward VIII in 1932. More recently, the band was featured in the 2015 BBC television programme "The Taff: The River That Made Wales" which continues to be repeatedly screened on BBC Two, BBC Four and BBC Wales. Lewis Merthyr also recently recorded a special television feature with the renowned international baritone soloist Sir Bryn Terfel, which was screened nationwide on Christmas Day 2017 and repeated for the opening night of the National Eisteddfod of Wales 2018. The band featured again on nationwide television, performing live in the National Eisteddfod, on stage at the Donald Gordon Theatre in the iconic Wales Millennium Centre the following day
Lewis Merthyr Band has featured in a wide range of major events, performing on numerous occasions at the Principality Stadium, playing to 52, 981 people plus international television audience for the Wales vs Italy warm up match for the 2015 Rugby World Cup; to record Pro14 crowds of 68,262 and 62,338 for Judgement Day 2016 & 2018; and for the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 World Golden Oldies International Rugby Festival, which featured 120 participating teams representing 25 different nations from across the globe
Lewis Merthyr was also the core of Wales' first all-female band for each of Wales' 2017 Women's Rugby Six Nations Championship home matches, and again for the 2018 Women's Suffrage Centennial "Processions" event at Cardiff Castle in July 2018. The band also performed for the televised Women's Rugby Six Nations international matches at Cardiff Arms Park for the full 2019, 2020 and 2022 seasons
Lewis Merthyr featured in National Theatre Wales' 2016 “City of the Unexpected” Roald Dahl 100 celebrations, performing across Cardiff city centre to tens of thousands of people, and which was again the focus of national television broadcasts. In April 2018, the band also supported the 11.2 metre "Man Engine" events at Cyfartha Castle and Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd. In June 2018 the band's symphonic brass ensemble performed for the launch of the Music Education report for Wales at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, additional contributors to which included Sir Karl Jenkins, Nicola Benedetti CBE, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Claire Jones
In October 2019, the band then travelled to Belgium to perform alongside groups from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and South Korea at the Internationale Taptoe Belgie, held at the 5000 seat capacity Versluys Dome, Ostend. In July 2022, the band returned to Europe to perform in the prestigious World Music Contest in Kerkrade, Netherlands
Lewis Merthyr Band has a long history of performing and broadcasting new works, and has held a close association with numerous prominent composers, notably Mervyn Burtch and John Golland. The band gave the premiere broadcasts of Dr. Peter Graham's "Dimensions" and Goff Richards' "Oceans" on BBC Radio in the 1980s, and in 2018 gave the premiere performances of Helen Woods' "Man Engine Anthem" and Dr. Christopher Wood's "Aberfan", also undertaking the premiere recording of the latter on the band's most recent commercial recording "Brass & Voices of Wales" with the massed choirs of Bridgend & Pendyrus, conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes. The band's latest albums, a recording of the brass works of Mervyn Burtch and a Christmas album, will be released for Christmas 2023
Through the latter half of 2020, with the support of the Arts Council of Wales, the band created the project "New Directions", a partnership with a selection of leading composers and performers from across Wales and wider, which saw newly commissioned works from Steve Bingham, Chris Marshall, Christopher Painter and Andrew Powell. Through 2022-24, with the additional support of ACW, the Moondance Foundation and Ty Cerdd, the band commissioned and premiered four major new works for band from Chris Marshall (Fulling Mill Lea), Gareth Trott (Eastern Horizons and Aberfan Requirm) and Gareth Wood (Under Milk Wood Suite: Rum & Laverbread)
Lewis-Merthyr remain thoroughly committed to supporting our local community in Rhondda Cynon Taf, through the presentation of concert performances across the county borough and wider, supporting local events & functions, and providing tuition for local young brass & percussion musicians through our Youth Band programme. The band looks forward to continuing to represent Rhondda Cynon Taf and Wales at the highest level throughout all its performances across the nation and beyond
Founded in or before 1855, Lewis Merthyr Band is the oldest brass band in South Wales' Rhondda Valleys. Originally known as the Cymmer Military and Cymmer (Porth) Colliery Band, Lewis Merthyr adopted its present title in 1949. The band has been highly successful in competition throughout its history, becoming Champion Band of Wales, Welsh League Champions, Miner's Welfare Entertainments (CISWO) Champions and more
Lewis Merthyr has represented Wales in the Championship section of the National Championships of Great Britain on eight occasions at the Royal Albert Hall, London; at the European Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark; and at the 2022 World Music Contest in Kerkrade, Netherlands. The band also accomplished the unique achievement of winning the Second and Third Section UK titles of the National Championships of Great Britain, in consecutive years. Lewis Merthyr is currently ranked in the First Section and were the 2015 Runner-Up WWBBA Champions; 2016 Runner-Up SEWBBA Champions & Runner-Up Welsh League Champions in both 2015 & 2016. 2017 was a particularly successful year for the band and saw Lewis Merthyr become the WWBBA and - for the first time in 21 years - Welsh League First Section Champions
The band has been equally successful on the concert stage, performing at a wide variety of locations across Wales and beyond, including the Royal Albert Hall, London; Llangollen Pavilion; St David's Hall, Cardiff & the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. Lewis Merthyr has also performed for Royalty on a number of occasions, parading through the streets for the visit of His Majesty King George V and Queen Mary to Rhondda in 1912, and for the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, in 1932. On June 2nd, 2022, the band also featured in an incredible performance for the Beacon Lighting ceremony on the Thames Bank, London, in celebration of the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In September 2023, an ensemble from the band also performed for the First Minister of Wales, First Lady of Iraq and other distinguished guests in an event which also featured a speech from the former Prime Minister of the UK, Sir Tony Blair
Throughout its history, the band has performed with numerous leading artists, including "Signor Foli" (Allan James Foley) in the late 1800's, and with Sir Geraint Evans, Glyn Houston and most recently Sir Bryn Terfel. In recent years, the band has also featured in a series of concerts under the baton of renowned orchestral conductor Owain Arwel Hughes CBE, which included a St David's Day Gala Concert at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea; a performance in the Speech Room at Harrow School, London; and two performances at Wales' national classical music festival, the Welsh Proms, in July 2018 & 2019, at the national concert hall of Wales, St David's Hall, Cardiff. In 2023, the band performed at the prestigious Three Choirs Festival at Gloucester Cathedral, and was the core ensemble of the inaugural Oriana Festival, a showcase of the finest Welsh classical contemporary music, where Lewis Merthyr performed together with former Royal Harpist Claire Jones, composer | percussionist Chris Marshall and Big Hearts International Nigeria, also giving the premiere performance of six new works for brass by Grace Williams, Chris Marshall, Christopher Painter, Gareth Trott & Gareth Wood and a recital of the works for brass by Mervyn Burtch
Lewis Merthyr has featured in a wide range of radio & television broadcasts, dating back to a recently rediscovered BBC Radio broadcast from 1927, and Pathé newsreel footage of the band marching before King Edward VIII in 1932. More recently, the band was featured in the 2015 BBC television programme "The Taff: The River That Made Wales" which continues to be repeatedly screened on BBC Two, BBC Four and BBC Wales. Lewis Merthyr also recently recorded a special television feature with the renowned international baritone soloist Sir Bryn Terfel, which was screened nationwide on Christmas Day 2017 and repeated for the opening night of the National Eisteddfod of Wales 2018. The band featured again on nationwide television, performing live in the National Eisteddfod, on stage at the Donald Gordon Theatre in the iconic Wales Millennium Centre the following day
Lewis Merthyr Band has featured in a wide range of major events, performing on numerous occasions at the Principality Stadium, playing to 52, 981 people plus international television audience for the Wales vs Italy warm up match for the 2015 Rugby World Cup; to record Pro14 crowds of 68,262 and 62,338 for Judgement Day 2016 & 2018; and for the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 World Golden Oldies International Rugby Festival, which featured 120 participating teams representing 25 different nations from across the globe
Lewis Merthyr was also the core of Wales' first all-female band for each of Wales' 2017 Women's Rugby Six Nations Championship home matches, and again for the 2018 Women's Suffrage Centennial "Processions" event at Cardiff Castle in July 2018. The band also performed for the televised Women's Rugby Six Nations international matches at Cardiff Arms Park for the full 2019, 2020 and 2022 seasons
Lewis Merthyr featured in National Theatre Wales' 2016 “City of the Unexpected” Roald Dahl 100 celebrations, performing across Cardiff city centre to tens of thousands of people, and which was again the focus of national television broadcasts. In April 2018, the band also supported the 11.2 metre "Man Engine" events at Cyfartha Castle and Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd. In June 2018 the band's symphonic brass ensemble performed for the launch of the Music Education report for Wales at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, additional contributors to which included Sir Karl Jenkins, Nicola Benedetti CBE, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Claire Jones
In October 2019, the band then travelled to Belgium to perform alongside groups from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and South Korea at the Internationale Taptoe Belgie, held at the 5000 seat capacity Versluys Dome, Ostend. In July 2022, the band returned to Europe to perform in the prestigious World Music Contest in Kerkrade, Netherlands
Lewis Merthyr Band has a long history of performing and broadcasting new works, and has held a close association with numerous prominent composers, notably Mervyn Burtch and John Golland. The band gave the premiere broadcasts of Dr. Peter Graham's "Dimensions" and Goff Richards' "Oceans" on BBC Radio in the 1980s, and in 2018 gave the premiere performances of Helen Woods' "Man Engine Anthem" and Dr. Christopher Wood's "Aberfan", also undertaking the premiere recording of the latter on the band's most recent commercial recording "Brass & Voices of Wales" with the massed choirs of Bridgend & Pendyrus, conducted by Owain Arwel Hughes. The band's latest albums, a recording of the brass works of Mervyn Burtch and a Christmas album, will be released for Christmas 2023
Through the latter half of 2020, with the support of the Arts Council of Wales, the band created the project "New Directions", a partnership with a selection of leading composers and performers from across Wales and wider, which saw newly commissioned works from Steve Bingham, Chris Marshall, Christopher Painter and Andrew Powell. Through 2022-24, with the additional support of ACW, the Moondance Foundation and Ty Cerdd, the band commissioned and premiered four major new works for band from Chris Marshall (Fulling Mill Lea), Gareth Trott (Eastern Horizons and Aberfan Requirm) and Gareth Wood (Under Milk Wood Suite: Rum & Laverbread)
Lewis-Merthyr remain thoroughly committed to supporting our local community in Rhondda Cynon Taf, through the presentation of concert performances across the county borough and wider, supporting local events & functions, and providing tuition for local young brass & percussion musicians through our Youth Band programme. The band looks forward to continuing to represent Rhondda Cynon Taf and Wales at the highest level throughout all its performances across the nation and beyond
2025 Featured Composers
Christopher Painter
Festival Director
"one of the real heavyweights on the Welsh music scene"
Christopher Painter was born at Port Talbot, South Wales in 1962 and studied music at University College, Cardiff. His composition studies were initially with Timothy Taylor and Richard Elfyn Jones and in 1984 he began to study with Alun Hoddinott
He studied full-time with Hoddinott until 1989 and complemented these studies with consultations and masterclasses with Samuel Adler (Eastman School of Music, New York); George Benjamin; John McCabe (London College of Music); Edward Gregson (Royal Northern College of Music); Robert Saxton (Worcester College, Oxford); Robert Simpson and Marek Stachowski (Warsaw University). In addition to his composition studies, Christopher also studied brass band conducting with Edward Gregson; choral conducting with Stanley Saunders (University of Guelph, Canada) and Rod Walker (University of Texas, USA) and latterly, orchestral conducting with Christopher Adey
Christopher Painter was the first recipient of the Afan Thomas Composer's Award and has also won the National Eisteddfod Composition Prize (Newport 1988) and was featured in the Welsh Arts Council's Young Welsh Composer Forum in 1987. In 1997, he was the first Welsh winner of the Gregynog Composer Award of Wales which was given for his Sonata for Harp which was premièred on June 28th at the 1997 Gregynog Festival
Appointed as Composer-in-Association with North Wales based Ensemble Cymru in October 1997, Christopher wrote a number of works for this ensemble, including the children's dance work,Yggdrasil, a Millennium Commission/Techniquest commission as part of the Sounds for Science education project
In 1999 Christopher Painter was Composer-in-Residence with both the National Youth Orchestra and National Youth Brass Band of Wales. His work, Invisible Cities, for the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, not only received performances around the UK but was also subsequently released on CD by the orchestra
The Royal Society of Arts awarded Christopher Painter a Fellowship in December 2003
In August 2005, Christopher won the prestigious Tlws y Cerddor (Musicians Medal) at the National Eisteddfod of Wales for his chamber work, Yr Hanes Swynol (A History of Charms). He won the award for a second time in 2010 for Syniadau’r Serch (Thoughts on Love), a cycle of songs for baritone, violin and harp
Between Autumn 2005 and Spring 2006 Christopher was Composer-in-Residence with the Thueringen Philharmonie in Gotha, Germany. Here he worked closely with Welsh conductor Alun Francis, a long-time champion of his music, and his tenure ended with the première of a major work for the orchestra, Forest of Dreams, which received two performances and was broadcast on German television. The work subsequently received its UK première with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, under the direction of Jac van Steen, in April 2009
In 2010, the Lunar Saxophone Quartet premièred his Lunar Seas on their These Visions tour and the work was released on Signum Classics. This followed an earlier recording, also on Signum, of his Sonata for Alto Saxophone, commissioned by Welsh saxophonist, Lara James
In 2006, his Symphony No.3 - Fire in the Snow received its première in Mexico City where it was twice performed by the Orchesta Filharmonico de la UNAM under the direction of Alun Francis. The second performance was broadcast live on Mexican national television to an estimated audience in excess of one million people
In March 2011, Furnace of Colours was premièred by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and soprano Claire Booth, conducted by Jac van Steen, and broadcast on BBC Radio 3
His most recent works include Hanes Taliesin (Taliesin’s Tale) for solo clarinet and dancer; Images in the Mist for the Richards String Quartet and The Gregynog Suite for solo harp, commissioned by the Gregynog Festival and premièred by Catrin Finch.
Christopher Painter’s works are published by Arcomis Publishing; Maecenas Music; Oriana Publications and Vanderbeek & Imrie
Christopher Painter was born at Port Talbot, South Wales in 1962 and studied music at University College, Cardiff. His composition studies were initially with Timothy Taylor and Richard Elfyn Jones and in 1984 he began to study with Alun Hoddinott
He studied full-time with Hoddinott until 1989 and complemented these studies with consultations and masterclasses with Samuel Adler (Eastman School of Music, New York); George Benjamin; John McCabe (London College of Music); Edward Gregson (Royal Northern College of Music); Robert Saxton (Worcester College, Oxford); Robert Simpson and Marek Stachowski (Warsaw University). In addition to his composition studies, Christopher also studied brass band conducting with Edward Gregson; choral conducting with Stanley Saunders (University of Guelph, Canada) and Rod Walker (University of Texas, USA) and latterly, orchestral conducting with Christopher Adey
Christopher Painter was the first recipient of the Afan Thomas Composer's Award and has also won the National Eisteddfod Composition Prize (Newport 1988) and was featured in the Welsh Arts Council's Young Welsh Composer Forum in 1987. In 1997, he was the first Welsh winner of the Gregynog Composer Award of Wales which was given for his Sonata for Harp which was premièred on June 28th at the 1997 Gregynog Festival
Appointed as Composer-in-Association with North Wales based Ensemble Cymru in October 1997, Christopher wrote a number of works for this ensemble, including the children's dance work,Yggdrasil, a Millennium Commission/Techniquest commission as part of the Sounds for Science education project
In 1999 Christopher Painter was Composer-in-Residence with both the National Youth Orchestra and National Youth Brass Band of Wales. His work, Invisible Cities, for the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, not only received performances around the UK but was also subsequently released on CD by the orchestra
The Royal Society of Arts awarded Christopher Painter a Fellowship in December 2003
In August 2005, Christopher won the prestigious Tlws y Cerddor (Musicians Medal) at the National Eisteddfod of Wales for his chamber work, Yr Hanes Swynol (A History of Charms). He won the award for a second time in 2010 for Syniadau’r Serch (Thoughts on Love), a cycle of songs for baritone, violin and harp
Between Autumn 2005 and Spring 2006 Christopher was Composer-in-Residence with the Thueringen Philharmonie in Gotha, Germany. Here he worked closely with Welsh conductor Alun Francis, a long-time champion of his music, and his tenure ended with the première of a major work for the orchestra, Forest of Dreams, which received two performances and was broadcast on German television. The work subsequently received its UK première with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, under the direction of Jac van Steen, in April 2009
In 2010, the Lunar Saxophone Quartet premièred his Lunar Seas on their These Visions tour and the work was released on Signum Classics. This followed an earlier recording, also on Signum, of his Sonata for Alto Saxophone, commissioned by Welsh saxophonist, Lara James
In 2006, his Symphony No.3 - Fire in the Snow received its première in Mexico City where it was twice performed by the Orchesta Filharmonico de la UNAM under the direction of Alun Francis. The second performance was broadcast live on Mexican national television to an estimated audience in excess of one million people
In March 2011, Furnace of Colours was premièred by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and soprano Claire Booth, conducted by Jac van Steen, and broadcast on BBC Radio 3
His most recent works include Hanes Taliesin (Taliesin’s Tale) for solo clarinet and dancer; Images in the Mist for the Richards String Quartet and The Gregynog Suite for solo harp, commissioned by the Gregynog Festival and premièred by Catrin Finch.
Christopher Painter’s works are published by Arcomis Publishing; Maecenas Music; Oriana Publications and Vanderbeek & Imrie
Neil Day
"Touchpaper"
*premiere performance*
Nic Mills
"Planets Rising"
Gareth Trott
"Our Planet"
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