Seminars are presented on Friday & Saturday, August 30-31, 2025
Included with a Festival Day Pass
Welsh Language I & II ~ Instructor Dan Rowbotham
Friday session is for absolute beginners with an emphasis on speaking. Next Steps in Welsh, which is suitable for those with some knowledge of the language and want to practice and improve, is on Saturday.
Friday session is for absolute beginners with an emphasis on speaking. Next Steps in Welsh, which is suitable for those with some knowledge of the language and want to practice and improve, is on Saturday.
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Dan Rowbotham is originally from Llangeitho in Ceredigion, Wales and has been a Welsh tutor since 2018. Dan is the Director of the Madog Center for Welsh Studies at the University of Rio Grande / Rio Grande Community College in Ohio, where he started his tutor career during his tenure as Davis Intern at the Center as he worked on his Master’s in Education.
Dan teaches a number of weekly Welsh classes both online and in-person, he also holds a weekly Welsh language conversation hour on-line for those who are learning Welsh and for those that are fluent and wanting an opportunity to speak Welsh in North America. Before returning to Ohio, he oversaw the administration and teaching of Extracurricular Welsh language classes at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) and was Coordinator of their Community Welsh Learning Centre, Yr Atom. Dan is an Ex-President of the Urdd and received the prestigious Merêd memorial award at the National Eisteddfod in 2016. |
Welsh I ~ Absolute Beginners emphasized the structure of the spoken language of Welsh. This level is for anyone who needs a comfortable environment to begin learning Welsh.
Welsh II ~ Next Steps in Welsh is suitable for those with some knowledge of the language who wants to practice and improve. Welsh II is on Saturday morning. This class will follow on from “Beginners” and you are encouraged to attend both, but it is not a requirement.
Welsh II ~ Next Steps in Welsh is suitable for those with some knowledge of the language who wants to practice and improve. Welsh II is on Saturday morning. This class will follow on from “Beginners” and you are encouraged to attend both, but it is not a requirement.
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Ysgol Gan
This is an informal singing practice session where you will learn some of the hymns we will sing on Sunday afternoon and evening. This is your opportunity to hear some Welsh verses pronounced and to practice your part, whatever it may be, with joyful abandon. Fun and enlightening. |
An Informal Discussion & Coffee: Tax Breaks for Investors ~ Investing in your Favorite (USA) Charities
~ with David Allen, WNAA Treasurer
Significant permanent changes in the tax law have major implications for US taxpayers over the age of 70 who have any kind of retirement account. Only a very few financial advisors and accountants are alerting their clients to these changes. Taking advantage of them could benefit both you and your heirs very significantly. These changes affect everyone who gives any kind of contributions to charity or who plans to leave some of their estate to a charity. It will be worth your while to take the time to attend this session presented by our Treasurer, David Allen.
~ with David Allen, WNAA Treasurer
Significant permanent changes in the tax law have major implications for US taxpayers over the age of 70 who have any kind of retirement account. Only a very few financial advisors and accountants are alerting their clients to these changes. Taking advantage of them could benefit both you and your heirs very significantly. These changes affect everyone who gives any kind of contributions to charity or who plans to leave some of their estate to a charity. It will be worth your while to take the time to attend this session presented by our Treasurer, David Allen.
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David Allen, Treasurer of WNAA, lives in Owego, New York, He earned his PhD from Columbia University and was a Fulbright Scholar to Belgium and a Danforth Graduate Fellow. David is a Professor Emeritus at City University of New York, where he taught a variety of courses in economics and American government.
Sponsored by the Welsh North American Association. |
The ‘Patagonian Dream’ and the Next Generation: The early Welsh settlements of Patagonia and Saskatchewan in the writings of John Coslett Thomas (1863-1936).
~ Presented by Paul Birt
Based on his two autobiographies and extensive articles, this presentation explores the activities and life of John Coslett Thomas (1863-1936), one of the pioneers in both Patagonia and Saskatchewan. He stands out as one of those who brought the so-called ‘Welsh Patagonian Dream’ of his parents’ generation to early twentieth century Canada. His writings reveal him as the gifted author of vivid descriptions of the people and lives of the Welsh communities of North and South America. Against this backdrop, questions will be raised about the nature and impact of Welsh emigration. Can it be seen as merely part of the colonial history of the Americas, or is it rather an example of a national minority seeking renewal and survival?
~ Presented by Paul Birt
Based on his two autobiographies and extensive articles, this presentation explores the activities and life of John Coslett Thomas (1863-1936), one of the pioneers in both Patagonia and Saskatchewan. He stands out as one of those who brought the so-called ‘Welsh Patagonian Dream’ of his parents’ generation to early twentieth century Canada. His writings reveal him as the gifted author of vivid descriptions of the people and lives of the Welsh communities of North and South America. Against this backdrop, questions will be raised about the nature and impact of Welsh emigration. Can it be seen as merely part of the colonial history of the Americas, or is it rather an example of a national minority seeking renewal and survival?
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Presenter ~ Paul Birt
Former Chair of Celtic Studies at the University of Ottawa, Paul Birt took his undergraduate degree in Welsh Language and Literature at St. David’s University College in Lampeter, Wales, and was later awarded a PhD at the University of North Wales, Bangor. He has taught widely in the field of Celtic Studies especially Welsh language and literature and taught courses on Medieval Welsh and Irish literature. His main area of research has been the history and culture of Patagonia. He has published many book chapters and articles on the early period of Y Wladfa. Paul Birt has also published in the area of literatures in lesser-used languages and minoritized languages. |
Cynefin: A Sense of Belonging in the Curriculum for Wales ~ presented by Huw Griffiths
This seminar will explore the concept of Cynefin and its inclusion in the Curriculum for Wales, highlighting its importance in fostering a sense of belonging and community among learners. Participants will gain insight into the development process, the challenges faced,and the powerful impact Cynefin has in shaping education and identity in Wales.
This seminar will explore the concept of Cynefin and its inclusion in the Curriculum for Wales, highlighting its importance in fostering a sense of belonging and community among learners. Participants will gain insight into the development process, the challenges faced,and the powerful impact Cynefin has in shaping education and identity in Wales.
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Presenter ~ Huw Giffiths
Dr. Huw Griffiths is a senior lecturer in Education Studies at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, focusing on pedagogy and teacher development. He teaches on the Masters in Education course and supervises doctoral students. With a Doctorate in Welsh History from Cardiff University, his research explored Welsh involvement in the American Civil War. After over 20 years of teaching Welsh History, Sociology, and Politics, he now works on Welsh education policy. As chair of the Welsh Heritage Schools Initiative, he promotes the teaching of Welsh history, and is collaborating with the National Library of Wales on developing a National Welsh History Teaching Centre. |
Canada in Y Drych ~ presented by Robert Humphries
Although established as a newspaper for the Welsh people of the United States, Y Drych regularly included news from the Welsh in Canada throughout the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. From the slate quarries of Quebec to the prairies of Saskatchewan and the gold mines of the Yukon, Welsh people updated the paper with news about their personal experiences and their communities. Correspondents reported on eisteddfodau and other Welsh gatherings in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, as well as Welsh-Canadian participation in events in the United States. Y Drych also advertised and promoted homesteading opportunities in western Canada to Welsh people across North America. In this seminar, Robert Humphries reveals how Y Drych reported on the Welsh in Canada throughout its 150-year history, and how this valuable resource can assist researchers in understanding the Welsh-Canadian experience and making connections with their own family histories.
“I am in part a Welshman”: Reverend Peter Jones and Wales
~ presented by Robert Humphries
Born to a Mississauga mother and a father of Welsh descent, Peter Jones (1802-1856), also known as Kahkewaquonaby, is a significant figure in the history of Canada’s First Nations. Raised in traditional Mississauga culture and religion, Jones converted to Methodism and became a preacher to the Indigenous people of Upper Canada, translating scripture into Ojibwe and Mohawk, and working to convert the Mississaugas to Christianity and a European way of life at the Credit Mission. Elected as a chief, Jones also served as a spokesperson for the Mississaugas, and traveled to Great Britain twice to preach, lecture and raise funds for the mission. During these tours he preached to a Welsh congregation in London and visited Wales. Drawing on English- and Welsh-language contemporary sources and Jones’s own writings, this seminar considers his relationship with his father’s ancestral homeland and how it may have impacted his life and work.
Although established as a newspaper for the Welsh people of the United States, Y Drych regularly included news from the Welsh in Canada throughout the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. From the slate quarries of Quebec to the prairies of Saskatchewan and the gold mines of the Yukon, Welsh people updated the paper with news about their personal experiences and their communities. Correspondents reported on eisteddfodau and other Welsh gatherings in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, as well as Welsh-Canadian participation in events in the United States. Y Drych also advertised and promoted homesteading opportunities in western Canada to Welsh people across North America. In this seminar, Robert Humphries reveals how Y Drych reported on the Welsh in Canada throughout its 150-year history, and how this valuable resource can assist researchers in understanding the Welsh-Canadian experience and making connections with their own family histories.
“I am in part a Welshman”: Reverend Peter Jones and Wales
~ presented by Robert Humphries
Born to a Mississauga mother and a father of Welsh descent, Peter Jones (1802-1856), also known as Kahkewaquonaby, is a significant figure in the history of Canada’s First Nations. Raised in traditional Mississauga culture and religion, Jones converted to Methodism and became a preacher to the Indigenous people of Upper Canada, translating scripture into Ojibwe and Mohawk, and working to convert the Mississaugas to Christianity and a European way of life at the Credit Mission. Elected as a chief, Jones also served as a spokesperson for the Mississaugas, and traveled to Great Britain twice to preach, lecture and raise funds for the mission. During these tours he preached to a Welsh congregation in London and visited Wales. Drawing on English- and Welsh-language contemporary sources and Jones’s own writings, this seminar considers his relationship with his father’s ancestral homeland and how it may have impacted his life and work.
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Presenter ~ Robert Humphries
Robert Humphries is director of the Great Plains Welsh Heritage Centre and the Archive for Welsh America, both located in Wymore, Nebraska. A native of Newport, Wales, and a second-language Welsh speaker, he holds an MA in Celtic Studies from the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David. |
He has presented his research on Welsh-American history at NAASWCH and at the North American Festival of Wales (NAFOW). Humphries has also published articles in the Wisconsin Magazine of History and the North American Journal of Welsh Studies. A regular contributor to Ninnau, he also wrote and co-produced the mini-documentary film, Pobl y Paith/People of the Prairie: The Welsh in Nebraska. He served as a board member of the Great Plains Welsh Heritage Centre for several years before being appointed director in 2023. He lives in Spring Green, Wisconsin with his wife Jenafer and son, Rhys.
Savior of the Language: the Role and Impact of the 1588 Welsh Bible
~ Presented by Anastasia Llewellyn
The publication of the 1588 Welsh Bible, the result of a political gamble by Elizabeth I, was a turning point in the survival of the Welsh vernacular. At a time when Welsh was banned from use in public life, the Welsh Bible played a fundamental part in the development of Welsh language and culture. The legacy of the 1588 Welsh Bible remains strong today. This talk will combine academic research and fun travel anecdotes!
~ Presented by Anastasia Llewellyn
The publication of the 1588 Welsh Bible, the result of a political gamble by Elizabeth I, was a turning point in the survival of the Welsh vernacular. At a time when Welsh was banned from use in public life, the Welsh Bible played a fundamental part in the development of Welsh language and culture. The legacy of the 1588 Welsh Bible remains strong today. This talk will combine academic research and fun travel anecdotes!
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Presenter ~ Anastasia Llewellyn
Anastasia Llewellyn is a PhD candidate in political science and public policy, with a focus on Welsh language resilience. Her doctoral work, which focuses on the link between language and housing activism, builds on her master's in translation studies, for which she completed a thesis about the sociopolitical context and impacts of the 1588 Welsh Bible. When she is not immersed in a pile of old books or the latest census data, Anastasia can be found at a choir rehearsal or at a meeting of the Ottawa Welsh Society, of which she is president. |
Cranogwen's 1870's visit to California ~ presented by Fred Long
Sarah Jane Rees was born in Llangrannog in January 1839. She was the first woman to win the poetry prize at a National Eisteddfod. Her bardic name was Cranogwen. She made two trips to North America to preach to Welsh communities. For her first trip, in 1869–1870, she travelled from New York to San Francisco and back. She kept a journal of her travels and published extracts from part of the trip in her magazine, Y Frythones, in 1883. This seminar is drawn from those extracts. It will describe where she went and present some of the observations that she made during the trip.
Sarah Jane Rees was born in Llangrannog in January 1839. She was the first woman to win the poetry prize at a National Eisteddfod. Her bardic name was Cranogwen. She made two trips to North America to preach to Welsh communities. For her first trip, in 1869–1870, she travelled from New York to San Francisco and back. She kept a journal of her travels and published extracts from part of the trip in her magazine, Y Frythones, in 1883. This seminar is drawn from those extracts. It will describe where she went and present some of the observations that she made during the trip.
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Presenter ~ Fred Long
Fred was appointed to a lectureship at the then University College of Wales, Aberystwyth in 1974. He is now partly retired but still works for Aberystwyth University one-third time, now as the Associate Dean for Learning, Teaching and the Student Experience in the Faculty of Business and Physical Sciences. Following a sabbatical in 1992 at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Fred became a visiting scientist there and continued to visit Pittsburgh for research for about twenty years. He joined the St. David's Society of Pittsburgh and became involved in projects to preserve the Welsh heritage in North America. |
A Boys Childhood in Wartime Wales ~ presented by Dave Matthews & Elaine Westlake
The seminar presented by David Matthews and Elaine Westlake will highlight the life of 88 year-old Welshman Brian Lewis and focus on his illustrated book of writings and verses: 'A Boy's Childhood in Wartime Wales'. The book illustrates life in the village of Gilfach Goch, its people and coal-mining industry as experienced through the eyes of Brian as a youngster. Photos of some of Brian's Welsh and wonderful Canadian life experiences and several illustrated verses from his book will be projected on a screen to allow the audience to follow and enjoy.
The seminar presented by David Matthews and Elaine Westlake will highlight the life of 88 year-old Welshman Brian Lewis and focus on his illustrated book of writings and verses: 'A Boy's Childhood in Wartime Wales'. The book illustrates life in the village of Gilfach Goch, its people and coal-mining industry as experienced through the eyes of Brian as a youngster. Photos of some of Brian's Welsh and wonderful Canadian life experiences and several illustrated verses from his book will be projected on a screen to allow the audience to follow and enjoy.
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Presenter ~ Dave Matthews
David Matthews, born in Aberystwyth, Wales, and trained as a teacher in Trinity College, Carmarthen, immigrated to Canada in 1967. He and his wife Mona spent 37 years in Canada's subarctic raising their family and working with the indigenous Tlicho. He met Brian in Fort Smith in 1972. Now in Calgary, David is a member of the Calgary Welsh Society, a music lover, a so-so gardener and an avid hiker having walked around Wales as well as up the Cambrian Way through Wales' hills and mountains. |
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Presenter ~ Elaine Westlake
Elaine Westlake was born in Nantyffyllon, South Wales. She immigrated to Canada on the day of the Aberfan disaster, October 21, 1966. She completed teacher training In Swansea Training college then did a Special Education degree in Canada. She spent the next 25 years teaching special needs and grade one students, loving every minute of it! Elaine met Brian Lewis at a Calgary Welsh Society meeting. They discovered they had attended the same Elementary and Grammar Schools! She enjoys volunteering and coordinates a monthly ladies group. She reads, does chair yoga, spends time with family and friends and performs with a Readers Theatre group. |
Writing About Wales...and Yourself ~ presented by Peter Murphy
Taking inspiration from your love for the people, culture, history, and landscapes of Wales, this hands-on workshop will have you writing for family, friends, and perhaps the public. Well begin by exploring the topics and themes that interest you most, then practice ways to render those interests into a story, essay or poem. Before leaving you’ll have the option to share what you wrote with others. Bring a sense of humor and an eagerness to express your relationship with Wales. If you have photographs, letters, or other keepsakes, bring them along too.
Taking inspiration from your love for the people, culture, history, and landscapes of Wales, this hands-on workshop will have you writing for family, friends, and perhaps the public. Well begin by exploring the topics and themes that interest you most, then practice ways to render those interests into a story, essay or poem. Before leaving you’ll have the option to share what you wrote with others. Bring a sense of humor and an eagerness to express your relationship with Wales. If you have photographs, letters, or other keepsakes, bring them along too.
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Presenter ~ Peter Murphy
Peter E. Murphy is the author of a dozen books and chapbooks of poetry and prose including A Tipsy Fairy Tale, a memoir about growing up in Wales and New York City. His writing has appeared in hundreds of publications on both sides of the Atlantic including The Anglo-Welsh Review, Barddas, The Michigan Quarterly Review, The New Welsh Review, Ninnau, The North American Review, Poetry Wales, and The Sun. As the Founder and Director Emeritus of Murphy Writing of Stockton University, Peter leads workshops for writers and teachers in the US and Europe. www.peteremurphy.com |
The National Library of Wales Presents ~
How to trace your Family History I & II
The Voices of the Welsh in Canada from the National Library of Wales Collections
The Welsh Tract Early Copy Book c.1684.
The book was recently purchased by the Library and is a record or the sale of land in an area of Pennsylvania
How to trace your Family History I & II
The Voices of the Welsh in Canada from the National Library of Wales Collections
The Welsh Tract Early Copy Book c.1684.
The book was recently purchased by the Library and is a record or the sale of land in an area of Pennsylvania
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Presenters ~ Beryl Evans, Rhian Gibson and Dafydd Tudor
Beryl Evans is the Research Services Manager at the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, where she has been researching Welsh family history for nearly forty years. She is the author of Tracing Your Welsh Ancestors: A guide for family historians (Pen & Sword, 2015). Over the years Beryl has contributed many articles to family history publications and given presentations on various aspects of Welsh family history to global audiences online and in person, including the British Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah. Currently she is the Chair of Cardiganshire Family History Society and Treasurer of the Association of Family History Societies of Wales. |
Llanberis 2026: a new home for the national collection of the people of Wales
Gwen John 150: From Wales to the World
Gwen John 150: From Wales to the World
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~ Presented by Amguedda - Museum Wales
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'Show Folk music "Magic Valley: Dyffryn Camwy' ~ Presented by Ed Ethereo
A musical and emotional journey through time, inspired by the stories, dreams and struggles of the Welsh settlers who arrived in Patagonia to write a new chapter of their history. "Magic Valley: Dyffryn Camwy" is a show that unites two worlds: oral history and songs in Spanish and Welsh that narrate the life, challenges and triumphs of those pioneers who found a home away from home in the Chubut River valley.
With a repertoire that includes three songs in Welsh, honoring the language and tradition of those settlers, and the rest in Spanish, this show is a bridge between cultures, generations and emotions. Each song is a story, each note is a tribute to the bravery, resistance and community spirit that defined those men and women.
Accompanied by stories that transport the audience to the early days of the colony, "Magic Valley: Dyffryn Camwy" is not just a concert, but an experience that celebrates the magic of music to connect past and present, to remind us where we come from and where we are going.
A musical and emotional journey through time, inspired by the stories, dreams and struggles of the Welsh settlers who arrived in Patagonia to write a new chapter of their history. "Magic Valley: Dyffryn Camwy" is a show that unites two worlds: oral history and songs in Spanish and Welsh that narrate the life, challenges and triumphs of those pioneers who found a home away from home in the Chubut River valley.
With a repertoire that includes three songs in Welsh, honoring the language and tradition of those settlers, and the rest in Spanish, this show is a bridge between cultures, generations and emotions. Each song is a story, each note is a tribute to the bravery, resistance and community spirit that defined those men and women.
Accompanied by stories that transport the audience to the early days of the colony, "Magic Valley: Dyffryn Camwy" is not just a concert, but an experience that celebrates the magic of music to connect past and present, to remind us where we come from and where we are going.
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Presentor ~ Ed Ethereo
Folk Singer Music, stories and Welsh roots in Patagonia. A trip from Corrientes to Wales. more information here: https://edethereo.com.ar/ Born in 1980, Ed Ethéreo discovered his passion for music at the age of 15, forming his first band, Noise, influenced by 90s grunge and the sound of Soda Stereo. After exploring other projects such as Grandes Almas and Cielo Buda, in 2007 he settled in Patagonia, where he launched his solo project Ethereos, which marked his return to the stages of Puerto Madryn. |
In 2020, inspired by Welsh culture, he composed "Teisen Ddu: Sarah's Recipe", a tribute to the history of the Welsh settlers of Chubut. This theme gave rise to his current project, "Magic Valley: Dyffryn Camwy", a blend of music, stories and tea, created with sommelier Micaela Mazzieri, which celebrates Welsh heritage in Patagonia. After a transformative experience in Wales during 2024, Ed is preparing for new concerts in 2025, taking his music and his connection with his Patagonian roots to new stages.
Key Note Speaker ~ Eluned Haf Presents: Can a Song Save a Language?
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Eluned Haf
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The talented cast features singers who’ve performed in some of UK’s and Europe’s foremost opera houses,
Rhys - Dyfed Wyn Evans - baritone
Ioan - Robyn Lyn Evans - tenor Gwen - Jessica Robinson - soprano Dai - Aled Hall - tenor Charlie -Mark Saberton - bass baritone Musical Director - John Beswick Composer - Lenny Sayers Librettist - Brendan Wheatley |
A Screening of SHOULDER TO SHOULDER- The Film' ~The film features a new contemporary chamber opera, created by Swansea City Opera, inspired by the members of Men’s Shed Cymru. Shoulder to Shoulder - The Film features the acclaimed male voice choir Only Men Aloud as the chorus. Running alongside a full performance of the opera, the film includes interviews with members of Men’s Sheds Cymru.
A new chamber opera inspired by the members of Men’s Sheds Cymru. As featured on ITV Wales, BBC Radio Wales and in the Western Mail, Shoulder to Shoulder is an uplifting and accessible new chamber opera created and staged by Swansea City Opera based on the moving, uplifting, and humorous stories from Men’s Sheds Cymru. This unique organisation supports lonely men by creating warm and welcoming spaces where they can learn new skills, build friendships, make new beginnings, and drink tea! “This is simply brilliant in every department.” How do you beat loneliness? How do you learn to laugh again?Busy young mum Gwen is at her wits end with her dad, Rhys, who’s hitting the whisky having lost his wife and son. Bereaved and lonely, Rhys reluctantly joins his local Men’s Shed. Experienced Shedders, Dai, Ioan and Charlie, with difficult stories of their own, show Rhys the ropes…woodworking, garden gnomes, and where the teabags live… |
Storytelling Performance ~ Tales from the Mabinogi Part I and Part II
The stories from the Mabinogi will carry you into an ancient and beguiling world for the time of listening. The stories are rich in imagery, full of love and loss, magical creatures, shape-shifting, kings and queens and all manner of ferocious power struggles. Some of the characters you may meet as you listen are Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed, Rhiannon, a mysterious rider from the other world, the tragic princess Branwen, the magician Gwydion and Blodeued, the woman made of flowers. While the world of The Mabinogi can feel deeply mysterious to the contemporary
TELLERS
Jennifer Cayley is a beloved and well-seasoned, storyteller, welcomed at venues that include the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, a community centre in mid-Wales, a tiny club in Melbourne Australia, a garden in Hawaii, and too- many-to-count Canadian festivals and schools. Her passion for the traditional folk and fairy tales and the ancient myths and epics have built an uncommon repertoire.
Ellis Lynn Duschenes’ repertoire of stories was forged in lucky primary school classrooms. There, she brought stories, storytelling and young tellers to life in wide, vivid worlds of wonder. Her long experience, with language and storytelling and children’s life-learning bring great depth to her storytelling. A founding member of Ottawa Storytellers, listeners have, over and over again, fallen into her tellings of of such traditionally great stories as the Odyssey. Over the years, the strength, wisdom and beauty offered by the old tales have served her as valuable guide posts along the way.
Daniel Kletke is ever on the hunt for a good story. He experienced his first taste of traditional storytelling at Rasputin’s Folk Café in Ottawa one wintry night many years ago when local storytellers were performing selections from Homer’s Odyssey. Daniel was instantly hooked. And so began a great journey as a listener and, eventually, as a storyteller in his own voice.Now a veteran of the old epics, Daniel has participated in the grand twelve hour performances of the Odyssey and the Iliad at the National Arts Centre Fourth Stage.
Johanna Kuyvenhoven (Jo), a founding member of Storytellers of Canada, has told and listened to stories across the continent and beyond. Author of In the Presence of Each Other: A Pedagogy of Storytelling, she has worked globally for every child’s right to stories in school, loosed from the page. Being an education and literacy specialist do not interfere with her deep belief in Magic, the power of hope, and in love that sees beyond the surface of seeming. She tells the traditionally dark as well as the light folktales; stories that expand classrooms; and ridiculous family stories.
MUSICIAN
Mary Muckle, harpist, teacher and composer is director of The Ottawa Youth Harp Ensemble. Among her publications is “Harp and Soul, a Harp Tutor”, a book of 18 ensembles she wrote for her students over a 28 year period of teaching in Ottawa . She is a frequent performer at Ontario Welsh Festivals, where she has given a harp workshop and a workshop on the history of the harp in Wales. She was harp accompanist for The Ottawa Storytellers in their 2022 performances of “The Mabinogi”.
Jennifer Cayley is a beloved and well-seasoned, storyteller, welcomed at venues that include the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, a community centre in mid-Wales, a tiny club in Melbourne Australia, a garden in Hawaii, and too- many-to-count Canadian festivals and schools. Her passion for the traditional folk and fairy tales and the ancient myths and epics have built an uncommon repertoire.
Ellis Lynn Duschenes’ repertoire of stories was forged in lucky primary school classrooms. There, she brought stories, storytelling and young tellers to life in wide, vivid worlds of wonder. Her long experience, with language and storytelling and children’s life-learning bring great depth to her storytelling. A founding member of Ottawa Storytellers, listeners have, over and over again, fallen into her tellings of of such traditionally great stories as the Odyssey. Over the years, the strength, wisdom and beauty offered by the old tales have served her as valuable guide posts along the way.
Daniel Kletke is ever on the hunt for a good story. He experienced his first taste of traditional storytelling at Rasputin’s Folk Café in Ottawa one wintry night many years ago when local storytellers were performing selections from Homer’s Odyssey. Daniel was instantly hooked. And so began a great journey as a listener and, eventually, as a storyteller in his own voice.Now a veteran of the old epics, Daniel has participated in the grand twelve hour performances of the Odyssey and the Iliad at the National Arts Centre Fourth Stage.
Johanna Kuyvenhoven (Jo), a founding member of Storytellers of Canada, has told and listened to stories across the continent and beyond. Author of In the Presence of Each Other: A Pedagogy of Storytelling, she has worked globally for every child’s right to stories in school, loosed from the page. Being an education and literacy specialist do not interfere with her deep belief in Magic, the power of hope, and in love that sees beyond the surface of seeming. She tells the traditionally dark as well as the light folktales; stories that expand classrooms; and ridiculous family stories.
MUSICIAN
Mary Muckle, harpist, teacher and composer is director of The Ottawa Youth Harp Ensemble. Among her publications is “Harp and Soul, a Harp Tutor”, a book of 18 ensembles she wrote for her students over a 28 year period of teaching in Ottawa . She is a frequent performer at Ontario Welsh Festivals, where she has given a harp workshop and a workshop on the history of the harp in Wales. She was harp accompanist for The Ottawa Storytellers in their 2022 performances of “The Mabinogi”.
Welsh Folk Dancing ~ led by Laurel Bradshaw and Danny Proud
Welsh folk dancing, led by a caller and supported by musicians, returns to NAFOW. Laurel Bradshaw, a certified Welsh folk dance instructor, will lead dancers through the steps and Danny Proud will lead the band. This session will leave you with a smile on your face and endorphin-charged liveliness to your day.
Session I is an introduction to Folk Dancing while Session II will give those with some past experience a chance to show off their moves!
Welsh folk dancing, led by a caller and supported by musicians, returns to NAFOW. Laurel Bradshaw, a certified Welsh folk dance instructor, will lead dancers through the steps and Danny Proud will lead the band. This session will leave you with a smile on your face and endorphin-charged liveliness to your day.
Session I is an introduction to Folk Dancing while Session II will give those with some past experience a chance to show off their moves!
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~ Presenter Laurel Bradshaw
Laurel Bradshaw, a certified Welsh folk dance instructor, has been teaching and leading dance groups since 1988. She founded and directed Traed y Ddraig, a performance group in Minnesota (1990 to 2015), and led folk dance sessions at NAFOW, GPWHP, Welsh Heritage Week, and at the Cornish gathering in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. Laurel has taught Welsh language classes in Minneapolis since 1994 and is active in the Saint David’s Society of Minnesota. |
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~ Presenter Danny Proud
Danny Proud, Madison, Wisconsin, is a former long-time member of the Traed y Ddraig dance group in Minnesota, and has been dancing and accompanying dancing at Welsh Heritage Week for two decades. Danny leads Welsh folk dancing for the general public at various festivals, retreats, and courses as opportunities arise. |
Lovespoons TBD ~ presented by Dave Western and Laura Gorun
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~ Presenter Dave Western
~ Presenter Laura Gorun |
A Fun look at the Game of Rugby ~ presented by Hugh Anderson
Rugby is a sport played all over the world, is growing significantly at the
college level and is attracting many young athletes who like the physical nature of sport, but do not wish to play American football. (We may even get you learning a rugby skill or two!
Rugby is a sport played all over the world, is growing significantly at the
college level and is attracting many young athletes who like the physical nature of sport, but do not wish to play American football. (We may even get you learning a rugby skill or two!
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~ Presenter Hugh Anderson
Hugh hails from the UK and has been involved in rugby all of his life starting in 1969 as a schoolboy in Hertfordshire, playing at Haileybury College, in the army and then at Loughborough where he played and coached. Then a switch the USA where he has coached Baltimore Men's Club (now Chesapeake) and Loyola University Maryland. (The picture shows a younger version of Hugh in his younger days playing for the army in 1985! :) |