An online event will be held to mark the centenary of the first Montgomery County Music Festival which was held in Newtown on July 21, 1921. 

Gregynog Festival Artistic Director Dr Rhian Davies draws on the rich resources of the National Library to trace the history of the Festival, in which Gwendoline and Margaret Davies were closely involved, and the evolution of massed choral singing in Wales.

“Members of today’s Festival Choir have kindly shared information and photos with me, and I shall also be drawing on my own memories of singing the great oratorios in the old Pavilion when I was growing up in Newtown,” Dr Davies said.

Visiting soloists were invited to stay at the Hall and Henry Walford Davies and Adrian Boult led study-days in the Music Room to which conductors and choristers from across the county were invited to rehearse the repertoire.

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Dr Davies added: “The title of the talk is ‘Full of glorious possibilities’ - taken from Walford Davies’ Foreword to the first programme in 1921 - and it will explore the rich history of the County Music Festival as well as its significant place within the tradition of massed choral singing in Wales.

“It’s great to have been able to arrange to speak on Centenary Day itself, July 21 from 5pm, and we are grateful to the National Library of Wales for hosting the session.”

To book your free place to attend, visit the Events section of the National Library website, or simply watch live via the Library’s Facebook page and on demand thereafter.

The Directors of the Gregynog Festival are grateful to have been awarded two grants from the Welsh Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund to help sustain the core costs of the charity until September 30.