The official launch of S4C’s 2009 Cân i Gymru songwriting competition – which offers £10,000 as a top prize – will see the event’s Music Coordinator, Owen Powell, formerly of Catatonia, call on composers from across Wales and beyond to enter their songs.
The launch was hosted by Sarra Elgan, who will co-present the Cân i Gymru final with Rhodri Owen at Venue Cymru on St David’s Day, 1 March 2009.
At the launch event, the X Factor 2007 finalist, Rhydian Roberts, was announced as the competition’s guest judge. Rhydian, who will join a panel of experts to select a shortlist of 8 songs for the public vote, will also perform at the 2009 St David’s Day final.
Owen Powell invited a member of the public to bid to be on the competition’s adjudication panel, while 2008 finalists Lowri Evans and Lee Mason performed their song, ‘Ti a Fi’.
As well as the £10,000 prize and special competition trophy, the winner will go on to represent Wales at the Pan Celtic Music Festival held in Ireland.
Entries by composers can be on CD, cassette or via MP3 but must be accompanied by an entry form, which is available, along with full competition rules and details, at the Cân i Gymru website, www.s4c.co.uk/canigymru. The closing date for entries is 31 December 2008. The minimum age for entry is 16.
Owen Powell said, “Holding a songwriting competition is a great way to celebrate St David’s Day – particularly in the Land of Song. Cân i Gymru is a unique competition which offers both budding and established composers the chance to gain wider recognition for their work. I’m confident the response this year will be as strong as ever.”
The Cân i Gymru competition is produced for S4C by Avanti.
