Grand Concert ~ featuring Côr y Penrhyn
Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 7:00 pm - 9:00pm.
Location: Christchurch Cathedral, 414 Sparks Street, Ottawa, ON K1R 0B2
Ticket Required, not covered by a NAFOW DayPass :
Côr y Penrhyn,
Côr y Penrhyn musical director ~ Owain Arwel.
Owain Arwel Davies, graduated with honours from the School of Music at Bangor University in 1999, and was Head of Music at Ysgol Tryfan, Bangor from 2005. In 2017 he was appointed Head of Inclusive Education for Gwynedd and Anglesey Education Authority, and is currently the Deputy Head Teacher at Ysgol Glan Clwyd, recognised as the first Welsh Language Secondary school in Wales.
In 2025, Owain Arwel will celebrate 21 years as musical director of Côr y Penrhyn and under his direction; the choir has established itself as one of Wales’ foremost vocal ensembles and is famous for its lively and exciting presentations.
Owain Arwel Davies, graduated with honours from the School of Music at Bangor University in 1999, and was Head of Music at Ysgol Tryfan, Bangor from 2005. In 2017 he was appointed Head of Inclusive Education for Gwynedd and Anglesey Education Authority, and is currently the Deputy Head Teacher at Ysgol Glan Clwyd, recognised as the first Welsh Language Secondary school in Wales.
In 2025, Owain Arwel will celebrate 21 years as musical director of Côr y Penrhyn and under his direction; the choir has established itself as one of Wales’ foremost vocal ensembles and is famous for its lively and exciting presentations.
Welsh Soprano ~ Meinir Wyn Roberts is originally from Caernarfon in North Wales and currently lives in London. She graduated from the Royal Academy of Music with an Advanced Diploma in Opera and a Distinction for her Master of Arts in Performance Degree. Before then she received a First-Class Honours Degree from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
She is a very popular concert artist and has won numerous prizes including the Voice of the Future Competition at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and the prestigious W. Towyn Roberts Scholarship and Osborne Roberts Blue Riband at the National Eisteddfod of Wales. Growing up in Wales, Meinir was a keen Musical Theatre performer, staring in the first Welsh production of Les Miserables at the Welsh Millenium Centre. She was also a member of Ysgol Glanaethwy Performing Arts School who came second on BBC One’s Last Choir Standing Competition.
She is a very popular concert artist and has won numerous prizes including the Voice of the Future Competition at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and the prestigious W. Towyn Roberts Scholarship and Osborne Roberts Blue Riband at the National Eisteddfod of Wales. Growing up in Wales, Meinir was a keen Musical Theatre performer, staring in the first Welsh production of Les Miserables at the Welsh Millenium Centre. She was also a member of Ysgol Glanaethwy Performing Arts School who came second on BBC One’s Last Choir Standing Competition.
Choir Accompanist: Frances Davies M.A., B.Mus., Ph.D
Fran was raised in Dihewyd, Ceredigion. She graduated from Bangor University in 1988 with a B.Mus (Hons). She then became a primary school teacher for 17 years whilst simultaneously studying for an MA (Ed). As a mature student, she read Linguistics again at Bangor University. This led to her subsequently attaining an ESRC scholarship to study for a PhD on language use in Caernarfon. She attained her doctorate in 2013. More recently Fran studied for a Dip ABRSM in piano (2018) and she currently works part-time as a piano tutor.
Fran was raised in Dihewyd, Ceredigion. She graduated from Bangor University in 1988 with a B.Mus (Hons). She then became a primary school teacher for 17 years whilst simultaneously studying for an MA (Ed). As a mature student, she read Linguistics again at Bangor University. This led to her subsequently attaining an ESRC scholarship to study for a PhD on language use in Caernarfon. She attained her doctorate in 2013. More recently Fran studied for a Dip ABRSM in piano (2018) and she currently works part-time as a piano tutor.
Accompanist ~ Ross Craigmile
Ross Craigmile studied at the Royal College of Music where he did a degree in Music and a diploma in piano. Subsequently he won a scholarship from the Italian Institute of Culture to further his skills in Italy. He taught piano in various music schools and gave several solo concerts throughout the North of Italy. In 1985 he gained the position of repetiteur at the Teatro Massimo Bellini (TMB) in Catania, accompanying world class singers and working with world class conductors. He has also worked in opera theatres all over the world and accompanied many famous singers in concert mainly in Spain, Italy and France. Recently he returned to the TMB where he worked as chorus master for 5 years. He ran the professional 70-strong chorus and conducted several performances. He was invited to the Shanghai Opera and has worked there on several productions. He also runs various festivals and master classes for young musicians in Italy, Spain, the UK and China.
Ross Craigmile studied at the Royal College of Music where he did a degree in Music and a diploma in piano. Subsequently he won a scholarship from the Italian Institute of Culture to further his skills in Italy. He taught piano in various music schools and gave several solo concerts throughout the North of Italy. In 1985 he gained the position of repetiteur at the Teatro Massimo Bellini (TMB) in Catania, accompanying world class singers and working with world class conductors. He has also worked in opera theatres all over the world and accompanied many famous singers in concert mainly in Spain, Italy and France. Recently he returned to the TMB where he worked as chorus master for 5 years. He ran the professional 70-strong chorus and conducted several performances. He was invited to the Shanghai Opera and has worked there on several productions. He also runs various festivals and master classes for young musicians in Italy, Spain, the UK and China.