Folks were warmly greeted at Registration by the
efficient, friendly WNGGA welcoming committee of Kathy Morris (left) and
Karen Ellis.Page 8
Folks were warmly greeted at Registration by the
efficient, friendly WNGGA welcoming committee of Kathy Morris (left) and
Karen Ellis.
A number of WSCO folks were spotted during the events: Joe and Peggy Speakman, Charlotte and Stanton Prior, Barb Perry, Shirley McKee, Jack and Ann Lewis, Tegwyn Lantz, Lewis and Jeanne Jones Jindra, Liz James, Carole Edwards Haley, Stacy Evans, and Donna Boyce. We were watching for, but didn’t see, Meredydd Williams and Nelson Llewellyn. Meredydd said he’d hoped to be able to go, and Barb Perry’s mother, Rhea Crump, is active in the Calon Lan Welsh Club in Youngstown and wanted Barb to deliver her greetings to Nelson – so, Nelson, hello from Rhea!
Barb Perry and Donna Boyce ham it up for photographer Peggy Speakman during a break in the folk dancing class.
What is a good time? Two days of fun and interesting seminars (ah, the poetry of Gwyn Thomas), Welsh music and singing, hearing Welsh spoken in the hallways and even just hearing English spoken with a Welsh lilt, and the Welsh Pub after Dafydd Iwan and the band arrived.
NAFOW is in Chicago next year – be sure to say “hi” to Kathy and Karen and show them how friendly WSCO members are! http://nafow.org.
That’s the title of Ralph and Terry Kovel’s “Antiques and Collecting” column in the Columbus Dispatch on Sunday, July 23, 2006, sent in to DT by WSCO member Joan Bash.
The column discusses Staffordshire pottery that carried sayings and mottos and the Kovels say, “One of our favorites is a 1920s plate marked ‘Ye Olde English.’ The center design shows houses, trees and two large rabbits. The border reads ‘Some sing the praises of Camembert And others of Fromage de Brie, But neither compare with a Welsh Rabbit rare, For that’s just the cheese for me.’
Part of the joke has been lost through time. The melted-cheese dish called Welsh rabbit was a rude reference to the poverty of the Welsh, who could not afford meat. Later writers changed the dish’s name to Welsh rarebit (rare bite), probably because it made no sense to name heated cheese ‘rabbit.’ Today, either name is correct.”
Editor’s Note: A recipe for Welsh rarebit was published in the last issue of DT in the From WSCO’s Kitchen column.
Gwawr Rhiannon Edwards, the beautiful and talented soprano who has entertained us so often, won the very prestigious W. Towyn Roberts Prize of five thousand pounds sterling at the National Eisteddfod of Wales at Mold on August 7, 2007. Baritone Bryn Terfel won the same prize in 1987, so great things are almost assured for Gwawr.
The competition was comprised of a large field of singers, both male and female, which was narrowed down to 36, then down to 4 in the Under Age 30 Division. The finalists each sang four difficult songs and, while her competition was older and more experienced, Gwawr easily walked away with the prize which she will use to continue her voice education.
For her finale, she sang Marguerite's aria, "Ah! je ris de me voir si belle en ce miroir," (the Jewel Song) aria from Gounod's Faust and was accompanied on the piano by Jeffrey Howard. Gwawr proves herself a fine actress, too, as she portrays a young Marguerite who is taken by all the jewels left by an admirer, and tries them on.
As a result of this prestigious win, Gwyn Hughes Jones, the world-famous tenor from north Wales, has asked Gwawr to sing with him in the Albert Hall in London next year in the biannual, 2000-voices male choir event. The concert is scheduled for October 18, 2008, as part of the London Welsh Festival.
Also, baritone Jason Howard, who sang with Gwawr, Dafydd and Menna Edwards in the Aberaeron Bicentennial Celebrations this summer, has asked Gwawr to sing with him in his annual concert in South Wales.
* * * * * * * * *
For details contact Jeanne Jones Jindra, (800) 282-7201, ext. 7145 or welsh[at]rio[dot]edu
September, 30, 2007, Sunday
Cardigan Welsh Club
Gymanfa at Nebo Church, 10:30 am & 1 pm
October, 20, 2007, Saturday
Cardigan Welsh Club
Annual Cemetery Walk,
Congregational Church in East Oak Hill, 3 pm
December 2, 2007, Sunday
Welsh Museum
Annual Advent Carol Sing, 3 pm
December 20, 2007, Thursday
Cardigan Welsh Club
Christmas Dinner Meeting, location TBA
March 1, 2008, Saturday
St. David’s Day banquet, Oak Hill, Ohio