Canfod y Gân is run by Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias and is one of Spirit of 2012’s Music Challenge Fund 2018 recipients. Groups from Pwllellhi and Caernarfon joined together to take part in the Eisteddfod, Wales’ biggest festival of literature, music and performance.
Canfod y Gân groups meet fortnightly In Pwllellhi, Harlech and Caernarfon, bringing together musicians and members of the Gwynedd County Learning Disabilities team to play music, to socialise and to discover their own melodies and talents.
Participants come from a range of backgrounds; many are referred by Gwynedd Council, while some are aspiring musicians in search of creative community music opportunities.
The groups play all kinds of instruments, including the piano, trumpet, drums, and xylophone, and perform all genres including rap, folk and pop music.
The Pwllellhi and Caernarfon groups had never performed together before the Eisteddfod. Each group member was given the chance to shine and, since not all participants spoke Welsh (the Eisteddfod is a Welsh-medium event), they were helped out by their project counterparts to translate rap songs, and even perform a rendition of Elvis’s Hound Dog in Welsh.
Crowds gathered and sang along, and songs ended to rapturous applause.
“It was wonderful to see another group from Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias named Hidden Talents perform earlier in the day, and then come to support Canfod y Gân’s performance that afternoon,” says Eibhlish Fleming, Spirit of 2012’s Grant and Learning Manager.
“Spirit is funding this programme for three years. The groups began working together in May 2019, so to have a performance this early in the project’s life is outstanding. The Harlech group will be sharing their work so far later in the project.”
Further information
For more information on Canfod y Gân click here.