04 December 2013

 The Cân i Gymru 2014 songwriting competition is now open. Composers and songwriters have just over a month to send in their songs for the annual S4C competition, with a chance to win £3,500 and the Cân i Gymru trophy.

After the successful changes made to the competition in 2013, the 2014 competition will follow the same pattern. The six composers who make it to the shortlist will be offered up to £900 to spend on studio time, with a producer of their choice, in order to prepare the song for the final.

Gaynor Davies, S4C Entertainment Commissioner, says that the changes in 2013 proved very popular.

Gaynor Davies explains, “The intention was to give composers the freedom to develop the song themselves, as they intended it to be. As a result, we had six unique and original songs which not only livened up the competition but also contributed to the Welsh music scene in a wider sense. I'm confident that the same will be true of the 2014 competition."

The closing date is Wednesday 8 January 2014 at 5.30pm. The final will be held in spring 2014 and broadcast on S4C.

The entry form along with the competition terms and conditions can be seen on the website s4c.co.uk/canigymru or by contacting production company Avanti on cais@avantimedia.tv or 02920 838 149

The 2013 winners were Rhys Gwynfor and Osian Huw Williams, with the band Jessops a'r Sgweiri. The opportunity to produce the song themselves was a draw for the young songwriters from Bala in 2013.

"I'm pleased that the competition has stuck to last year's format," says Rhys Gwynfor. "It attracts people who wouldn't usually enter the competition – like we did last year."

After the win in March, it’s been a busy nine months for Jessops a'r Sgweiri.

"Cân i Gymru was a brilliant platform to get our name out there and we've played loads of gigs during the year," says Rhys. "We have another four booked now before Christmas and in the New Year we'll record our first album. We've written about three quarters of it already."

What about the Cân i Gymru trophy? Where has it been living since March?

"Osian has been looking after it, and it's done the rounds with the other band members too. But right now it's at home with me," says Rhys.

Go to the website – s4c.co.uk/canigymru – for details on how to enter the Cân i Gymru 2014 competition.

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