Gwawr Edwards Sweeps National Eisteddfod Prizes

Gwawr Edwards, who last performed for the Welsh Society of Central Ohio at their 2003 St. David's Day Dinner, has won three of the top prizes in the 19 to 25 age group at the National Eisteddfod, held in Newport, Wales this past August.

This was the first time she has competed at the National, and she took first prizes for all voices in Lieder Solo and in Welsh Solo, and a third prize in the Oratorio Solo. She then competed for The Osbourne Roberts Memorial Prize; AND also she was named the Most Promising Soprano of the Eisteddfod.

The Osbourn Roberts Memorial Prize is a com­petition in which the winners of the Lieder, Oratorio, Operatic and Welsh 5910s compete against each other for a further prize - The Blue Ribband. This is the champion of champions, and our Gwawr won it.

Gwawr, daughter of Anne and Dafydd Rhys Edwards of Plas y Blyniau in Ceredigion (Cardiganshire) Wales, is related to many WSCO members who are part of the large and very closely-knit Edwards Brynele clan, who have watched her bloom as a young woman and as a performer.

During this past spring, Gwawr's sister, Menna Rhys Edwards Griffiths, who frequently accompanies her sister and father, had extensive brain surgery to repair damage caused by too much heavy lifting on their farms. Menna was too ill to travel to the National, but was burst­ing with pride as Gwawr accepted the prize on national television.

The Edwards trio, tenor Dafydd, Soprano Gwawr, and pianist Menna, hove performed internationally for years, and have fans in numerous countries, all of whom send their congratulations to Gwawr and her family, and get well wishes to Menna.

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