Friends of Cwmdu Music

We are a charity based in Cwmdu, Crickhowell, Mid-Wales

Posts tagged concert (see all posts).

Nantwen Ensemble

Saturday, 8th March 7:30 pm 2025, St. Michael & All Angels, Cwmdu.

String quintet playing in a room lit by a large window overlooking a garden. Image: Nantwen Ensemble

The programme will include Schubert String Quintet in C Major, D. 956, completed in 1828—the year of his death, String Quintet by acclaimed Welsh composer John Metcalf and Verses by Ólafur Arnalds.

The Nantwen Ensemble is a group of professional musicians enabling community performance and the creation and performing of Welsh Chamber music. Performers: Lisa Obert & Lily Whitehurst—violins, Patricia Reinoso—viola, Nichola Thomas & Daniel Davies—cello. https://www.nantwen.co.uk/nantwen-ensemble

Buy advance tickets here.

(tagged: fcm, concert, next)

Hay Music-Engegård String Quartet

Saturday Feb 15th, 19:00–22:00 (Norwegian Folk Music at The Globe, Hay) and Sunday Feb 16th, 15:30–17:30 (Beethoven, Brahms, Johan Kvanda at St Mary’s Church, Hay)—two concerts from the Engegård String Quartet.

Formed under the midnight sun in Lofoten in 2005, the Engegård Quartet has rapidly become one of Norway’s most sought after ensembles. Their bold, fresh interpretations of the classical repertoire combined with a deep attachment to their Scandinavian roots has attracted international acclaim and inspired some innovative partnerships and programming.

Tickets and full details at haymusic.org.

A string quartet holding their instruments.

(tagged: haymusic, concert, other)

Our last concert of 2024

In October we had a fabulous concert from composer, vocalist and violinist Claire Victoria Roberts with string players Treske Quartet and Swansea-based keyboardist and jazz band leader Dave Cottle.

Performers-vocalist, keyboard player and string section in St Michael and All Angels Church Cwmdu

Claire Victoria Roberts is a composer, vocalist and violinist–blurring the boundaries of jazz, contemporary and singer-songwriter genres. https://www.clairevictoriaroberts.com/

Treske Quartet–Oli Baily & Mollie Wrafter (violins), Abigail Hammett (viola), Robert Wheatley (cello)–is an emerging ensemble based in Manchester, UK. https://www.treskequartet.com/

Dave Cottle formed the Dave Cottle Band in 1985. Swansea’s Lord Mayor Awarded Dave for his services to music in the City at a Gala dinner in the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea November 2018. https://www.davecottlemusic.com

See our 2025 calendar for next year’s events.

(tagged: fcm, concert)

Very enjoyable RWCMD concert from The Bute Wind Quintet

On Saturday 11th May, graduates of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama The Bute Wind Quintet gave us a fabulous concert on an evening with balmy weather.

The Bute Wind Quintet in St Michael and All Angels Church Cwmdu

The performers were introduced and we also updated the audience with a salutary description of the state of music funding in Wales; for example the Welsh National Opera and their orchestra who have had funding by both Arts Council in England and Wales significantly cut.

Even closer to home and relevant in particular to this evening’s activity has been a recent threat to “Young RWCMD” whose Young Acting and Young Music activities provide the opportunity for promising new performers to develop their individual talents. A reminder that “As music lovers we cannot afford to be complacent”.


There is a petition about the RWCMD threat.
Also one for the Welsh National Opera.

The night’s programme gave us an insight into the range of the Quintet, including a soaringly lyrical Milhaud La cheminée du roi René, Celia McDowall’s Subject to the Weather—commissioned for the Presteigne Festival in 2010 and evoking the countryside and birdsong. After the interval works included cinema composer Nino Rota’s theme for Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet and Szervánszky’s Wind Quintet. The evening concluded with Brazilian composer Júlio Medaglia’s Tango from suite Belle Epoque en Sud-America.

Our Artist/Maker in residence Rebecca ‘Becky’ Way displayed a stunning collection of work.

The artist with a selection of prints

A great evening which highlighted how lucky we are to have RWCMD’s graduates and students on our doorstep.

The Bute Wind Quintet are playing at Gŵyl Beaumaris Festival on 25th May details, and Fishguard Festival of Music/Gŵyl Gerdd on 22nd July details.

(tagged: fcm, concert)