NEWS
Our Statement on Arts Council Of Wales’s Investment Review
From April 2024, National Youth Arts Wales will receive an increase in revenue funding, as part of Arts Council of Wales’s Investment Review process.
From April 2024, National Youth Arts Wales will receive an increase in revenue funding, as part of Arts Council of Wales’s Investment Review process.
This additional funding will mean that we can continue to support young people, and work towards a vision where all young people have the chance to succeed in the performing arts, no matter what their background. It’ll also mean we can continue to support the wider arts sector through strong partnerships with organisations across Wales, and through our employment of hundreds of freelance artists each year.
We’d like to thank Arts Council of Wales for their increased support, and for this vote of confidence in our ambitious plans for the future.
National Youth Arts Wales partnership project with Wales Millenium Centre, Hard Côr, is set to perform at Llais Festival.
Following a three-day intensive residency at the Wales Millennium Centre in September, our Hard Cor participants will soon be performing at the Llais festival on 13 October.
Following a three-day intensive residency at the Wales Millennium Centre in September, our Hard Cor participants will soon be performing at the Llais festival on 13 October.
Photos: Joe Andrews
Participants had the opportunity to collaborate and develop their skills further with our amazing facilitators in an intensive, but fun 3-day course. The residency consisted of masterclasses from the like of Dionne Bennett, Faith Nelson, Tumi Williams, Faith Nelson, Molara and Matthew Hann, covering areas of industry, song writing and performance workshops, and most importantly a chance for participants to collaborate with each other in preparation for their performance at LLais festival this year.
This year our Hard Côr participants will be performing a selection of their own music they have been working on for a few months at Llais festival on Friday 13th October at 7:30pm.
This is set to take place on the Glanfa which is located in the main space of the building, right in front of Radio Platfform. This is a free show, and all are welcome to come and support all the hard work and dedication our talented participants have put in!
National Youth Dance Wales to perform new work by choreographer Mario Bermúdez
Renowned Spanish choreographer Mario Bermúdez will create a new work specially for National Youth Dance Wales’s 2023 company, to be premiered in Newport in November.
Renowned Spanish choreographer Mario Bermúdez will create a new work specially for National Youth Dance Wales’s 2023 company, to be premiered in Newport in November.
As part of National Youth Dance Wales’s intensive summer residency, 20 of Wales’s most talented young dancers came together in Cardiff to learn from a roster of talented choreographers and dance artists. This year, for the first time, they worked with acclaimed choreographer Mario Bermúdez to create a brand new work exploring themes of tribal movement, textures and relationships during their two-week residency.
Photo by Aaron Child
Mario Bermúdez, Artistic Director and Choreographer of Marcat Dance, is a prolific creator who has developed a recognizable movement language known for its dynamic physicality and long-lasting emotional impact. His work has previously been performed by many international companies including National Dance Company Wales.
Jamie Jenkins, Producer of National Youth Dance Wales, said: "This collaboration represents an exciting convergence of talent, creativity, and dedication. It is a testament to the relentless pursuit of artistic excellence that defines National Youth Dance Wales."
The young dancers will also work with Welsh choreographer, and NYDW alumnus, Daisy Howell – creating a new work for film influenced by rave culture and the energy and playfulness of movement.
The members benefitted from daily classes and a full wellbeing programme. The young dancers from Wales aged 16-22 benefitted from the programme, providing first-class training and performance opportunities. The dancers were selected by audition, with auditions taking place in locations in every part of Wales – representing the very best of young Welsh talent.
New Work by Mario Bermúdez
This new work, performed by the NYDW company of 2023, will receive its world premiere at The Riverfront, Newport, on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 November 2023. The work will be one of three works performed each evening, with works by Ballet Cymru Artistic Director Darius James and choreographer Marcus Jarrell Willis performed by dance company Ballet Cymru.
National Youth Dance Wales’s year-round programme
The summer residency is just one part of National Youth Dance Wales’s programme of work, including:
- NYDW members at U.Dance Festival 2023 – NYDW members, Isaac and Layla, choreographed and performed their own duet as part of the prestigious U.Dance National Festival in Newcastle. As part of a celebration of youth dance from across the UK, presented by One Dance UK, Isaac and Layla represented Wales on the Northern Stage, captivating audiences from across the UK. Their work not only demonstrated their exceptional technical prowess, but also their storytelling through performance.
Commenting on the performance, NYDW Producer Jamie Jenkins said: "We are immensely proud of these two remarkable dancers from Wales who have represented our nation with such elegance and passion on the Northern Stage, Newcastle. Their journey to the U Dance National Festival is a testament to their hard work.”
- Celtic Collective – now in its third year, this exchange programme with the National Youth Dance Company of Scotland gives young performers in both countries the opportunity to learn from each other and from different professional artists. In 2023, one dancer from Wales has already experienced life on tour as a company dancer with NYDCS, including performing at the Dublin Youth Dance Festival – and one dancer from Scotland will perform as part of the NYDW company in this year’s residency and world premiere at The Riverfront, Newport.
National Youth Dance Wales is one of the six national youth ensembles delivered by National Youth Arts Wales, the charity for young performers and creatives aged 11-25 in Wales. National Youth Arts Wales receives regular funding from Arts Council of Wales, as a member of the Arts Portfolio Wales.
National Youth Arts Wales appoints Evan Dawson as its new Chief Executive
Evan will start his role with National Youth Arts Wales in October 2023. Evan, a Welsh-speaker born in Cardiff, has previously worked as CEO of Live Music Now and, most recently, CEO of the Royal Photographic Society.
National Youth Arts Wales, the national charity for young performers and creatives aged 11-25, has appointed Evan Dawson as its new Chief Executive.
Evan will start his role with National Youth Arts Wales in October 2023.
Evan, a Welsh-speaker born in Cardiff, has previously worked as CEO of Live Music Now and, most recently, CEO of the Royal Photographic Society – where he developed a new inclusive strategy and identity, its first youth programme and a series of visual arts and wellbeing projects.
As a saxophonist and piano player, his own musical training included South Glamorgan’s county music groups before joining National Youth Jazz Orchestra and spending a year studying jazz and studio music at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He has since led his own 50-piece big band, volunteered as a children’s music leader on a housing estate project, and written music for TV and live performance.
Evan Dawson (on left), NYAW's incoming Chief Executive, and David Jackson (on right), Chair of NYAW's Board of Trustees, at rehearsals for National Youth Orchestra of Wales's summer tour
Evan’s work will build on the strong legacy of Gillian Mitchell, who joined NYAW as Chief Executive in 2018. Gillian left NYAW in July 2023 to take up the role of Project Director for the National Contemporary Art Gallery Wales.
““I’m excited to help lead the organisation into its next chapter, developing pathways to a wide range of creative industries””
On his new appointment, Evan Dawson said: “I’m delighted to be joining National Youth Arts Wales as its new Chief Executive. Since its foundation in 2017, David and Gillian have built a passionate and highly skillful team of trustees and staff members, bringing inspirational arts experiences to thousands of young people. This important work is needed now more than ever before.
“I’m excited to help lead the organisation into its next chapter, developing pathways to a wide range of creative industries, and helping people from all backgrounds to connect and flourish through extraordinary and collaborative arts events. Over the years ahead, we will work in partnership with organisations and artists throughout Wales, together nurturing a confident and contemporary country, in which all talented young people can thrive.”
““I couldn’t be more pleased that Evan is joining National Youth Arts Wales...he is the ideal person to lead NYAW forward into what promises to be an exciting and challenging future.””
David Jackson, Chair of NYAW’s Board of Trustees, said: “I couldn’t be more pleased that Evan is joining National Youth Arts Wales as our new CEO. With his broad arts, business and administrative expertise and vision he is the ideal person to lead NYAW forward into what promises to be an exciting and challenging future.
“He takes over from our outgoing CEO Gillian Michell, who has grown the charity brilliantly, leaving great opportunities for Evan to build on, and I’m confident that he will bring his own brand of creative brilliance to the role. I and my fellow trustees look forward to working with him very much.”
National Youth Arts Wales is a registered charity, and receives regular funding from Arts Council of Wales, as a member of the Arts Portfolio Wales.
Evan Dawson – full biography
Evan was born in Cardiff, attending Welsh-language schools, before completing a law degree at University College London, and qualifying as a solicitor with Mishcon de Reya. He then completed an MA in Arts Management at City University, specialising in the educational and social impacts of the arts.
Evan plays saxophone and piano, and has an interest in theatre, literature, photography and film-making. Whilst growing up, he benefitted from South Glamorgan’s famous county music opportunities in the 1980s and 90s, including the High Schools Wind Band and “Jazz News” bigband. From there, he joined the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, and spent a post-grad year at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama studying jazz and studio music. He led his own 50-piece bigband in London, and volunteered as a children’s music tutor on the Aylesbury Housing Estate. He has also written music for television, including the string quartet theme for BBC Two’s “Only Connect” (filmed in Cardiff) and a choral anthem (with brass band) for the Cultural Olympiad in 2012, premiered at the Dora Stoutzker Hall.
In his professional career, Evan was Head of Development at Making Music, developing its arts and health policy, researching the impact of community singing groups around the country, and commissioning many new works for orchestras and choirs. He was then appointed CEO of Live Music Now (LMN), who deliver evidence-based work at schools, healthcare settings and communities throughout the UK, working with over 350 freelance musicians each year. In 2019, under his leadership, LMN was a Finalist in Charity of the Year in recognition of their work with special schools. He has presented LMN’s arts and health research at the House of Lords, Royal Society of Medicine, Sydney’s Gallery of New South Wales and (in Welsh) at the Welsh Assembly. Following that, he became CEO of the Royal Photographic Society, where he created a new inclusive strategy and identity, its first youth programme and a series of visual arts and wellbeing projects. He has also been a National Advisor to Arts Council of Wales, and an evaluation consultant for the Quartet Community Foundation in Bristol.
Congratulations to our 2023 Orchestra and Brass Band prize winners
Each year on our residencies, we celebrate our musicians who display the most promise and dedication. The recipients of each award is decided by the sectional tutors during the residencies.
Each year on our residencies, we celebrate our musicians who display the most promise and dedication. The recipients of each award is decided by the sectional tutors during the residencies.
National Youth Arts Wales would like to express its gratitude to those who have donated money for the creation of these awards.
NATIONAL YOUTH BRASS BAND OF WALES
The John Childs Memorial Trophy
Awarded to the most promising player at this year’s residency
Ellie Carlsen
The David Mabey Prize
Awarded to the most improved player on the residency
Sion Lloyd
The Principal Cornet Trophy
Donated by Tony Small
Erin Maloney & Elizabeth Rogers
NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF WALES
The Haydn Davies Award
Awarded to the most promising player still in education
Jacob Adams (French Horn)
The Irwyn Walters (Friends of NYOW) Awards
Awarded to the two most promising string players at this year’s residency
Rhys Nicholson (cello) and Luke Doyle (violin)
The Wil Jones Prize
Awarded to the most promising woodwind player at this year’s residency
Catrin Davies (clarinet)
The Goronwy Evans Award
Awarded to the most promising brass player at this year’s residency
Dafydd Owen (tuba)
The Tony Moore Harp Prize
Awarded to the most promising harpist at this year’s residency
Erin Fflur Jardine
The Tony Moore Percussion Prize
Awarded to the most promising percussionist at this year’s residency
Nathan Corish
See the future of Welsh arts. National Youth Arts Wales announce 2023 summer events.
This summer, over 230 young actors, musicians, and singers aged 16-22 will be performing in concerts and productions across Wales.
The seriously talented young performers of National Youth Orchestra of Wales, National Youth Brass Band of Wales, National Youth Choir of Wales, National Youth Theatre of Wales and National Youth Dance Wales are ready to show off their passion and potential.
This summer, over 230 young actors, musicians, and singers aged 16-22 will be performing in concerts and productions across Wales.
From 28 – 30 July, National Youth Brass Band of Wales will perform concerts in Bangor, Aberystwyth and Cardiff.
Conducted by Paul Holland, NYBBW will showcase their versatility with pieces including Eric Ball's High Peak, Gareth Wood's Five Blooms in a Welsh Garden plus music from Debussy, Walton and Paul Lovatt-Cooper. Belgian cornet soloist and rising star Lode Violet brings his own youthful flair to the line-up.
From 1 – 5 August, National Youth Orchestra of Wales will perform events in Bangor, Lampeter and Cardiff, as well as festival appearances in St Davids.
Conducted by Carlo Rizzi, NYOW will take audiences on a journey through the Czech countryside with Smetana's Vltava from Má vlast. They’ll also perform Richard Strauss' Four Last Songs featuring soprano Elizabeth Llewellyn, and Shostakovich's Symphony No 5.
From 25 – 28 August, National Youth Choir of Wales will be performing concerts in Bangor and Cardiff, as well as a festival appearance in St Davids.
The singers of NYCW have had their say and put together a programme of their favourites for this year's concerts. Audiences will hear everything from the atmospheric music of Eric Whitacre to the beautiful melodies of Welsh composers. There's even an arrangement of one of Stevie Wonder’s legendary songs. Tim Rhys-Evans, best known for his work with Only Men Aloud and Only Boys Aloud, conducts.
From 31 August – 2 September, Dylan Thomas’ classic is reimagined for the bold young voices of National Youth Theatre of Wales in a new stage adaptation of Under Milk Wood / Dan y Wenallt at the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff.
The lyrical world of Llaregubb combines with the contemporary Wales of today in a fusion of English and Welsh, alive with music, microphones and loop pedals. This refreshingly original production is adapted by Mari Izzard, based on Dylan’s original play for voices and the Welsh translation by T James Jones. It is directed by Emma Baggott.
Later this year, National Youth Dance Wales present a new piece by acclaimed choreographer Mario Bermúdez Gil, premiering in November 2023 alongside leading dance company Ballet Cymru.
The lineup of events this summer has something for everyone. They are a great opportunity to experience, and support, the passion and promise of young performers from all over Wales.
Shining a light on Mental Health in Performance during Mental Health Awareness Week 2023.
Many young performers can find they struggle with performance anxiety, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic. As it’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and the theme this year is Anxiety, we wanted to share our favourite factsheets to help you perform with confidence, and resources to direct you to the right support.
Many young performers can find they struggle with performance anxiety, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic. As it’s Mental Health Awareness Week, and the theme this year is Anxiety, we wanted to share our favourite factsheets to help you perform with confidence, and resources to direct you to the right support.
Since Covid, there has been a rise in anxiety in general and as a creative organisation, we encourage our members to speak up and welcome the conversation around mental wellbeing,
““Being a member of NYAW was really valuable to my mental health over lockdown… Returning to an in-person residency in 2022 was an incredible experience, which definitely helped me regain a lot of the confidence that I had lost over lockdown.” ”
What is performance anxiety? What are the symptoms?
As described by Mind UK (2021) "Anxiety is what we feel when we are worried, tense or afraid – particularly about things that are about to happen, or which we think could happen in the future. Anxiety is a natural human response when we feel that we are under threat. It can be experienced through our thoughts, feelings and physical sensations." This can result in stage fright, panic attacks, disorientation, among other symptoms.
What advice would you give someone who feels anxious about performing?
Some members found that yoga, being a meditative practice, helped them with their performance anxiety. Decompress, destress, and take a moment to look after your physical and mental wellbeing with a series of instructional yoga and meditation sessions from us here at National Youth Arts Wales, led by NYDW resident yoga tutor Jessica Jones.
What are NYAW doing to help?
NYAW takes members and staff wellbeing and mental health seriously. During residencies, NYAW has welfare staff with experience of performing on board. Alongside this, during residencies we hold yoga classes for members to attend making healthy practice part of residencies.
Helpful Resources:
National Youth Theatre of Wales' Launch Professional Pathways 2023 Programme
This month, we’re looking back on the launch of our National Youth Theatre of Wales Professional Pathways Programme 2023, run in partnership with our long-term collaborators Theatr Clwyd.
This month, we’re looking back on the launch of our National Youth Theatre of Wales Professional Pathways Programme 2023, run in partnership with our long-term collaborators Theatr Clwyd.
Photos by Kirsten McTernan Photography
In April, 53 of our National Youth Theatre of Wales 2023 members took part in a three-day residential course in Cardiff (supported by Wales Millennium Centre) as the first stage of this ever-growing membership offer from NYTW. Designed to broaden skills and awareness of career pathways within theatre,film and the digital realm, the group came together to learn about immersive storytelling in all its forms.
“The tutors were very friendly, and the residency has helped me toward my future work in theatre by advancing my skills.”
With funding from Welsh Government via Creative Wales, we’ve expanded our Professional Pathways offer this year to include specific skills training around digital and screen work including workshops by innovators Darkfield Studios, and practical sessions on self-tape auditions for screen and stage with screen actor and facilitator Dean Fagan.
Photos by Kirsten McTernan Photography
What has been your highlight from the residency?
“It’s all been really fantastic. We’ve met so many people and different creatives from all sorts of mediums.”
“I loved the new perspective it gave me.”
Workshops during the residency were delivered by a wide variety of artists and companies with a focus on the art of immersive storytelling. These included sessions with Amie Burns Walker and the upcoming site-specific production at Theatr Clwyd of The Great Gatsby, movement and performance skills with the team from Theatr Clwyd along with an insight into how WMC are leading the way in digital immersive performance in Wales.
Thank you to all members and staff who took part in another successful residency. We look forward to welcoming you back next year!
What’s Next?
The next stages of the Professional Pathways Membership programme will include our ever-popular Play Reading Club (with the Welsh language curation supported by Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru and writer Rebecca Jade Hammond curating the English language program of work) along with a variety of backstage and theatre making workshops in North and South Wales linked to productions from across Wales in Welsh and English supported by RWCMD and Theatr Clwyd.
If you are a producer, venue or theatre company involved in theatre in anyway and wish to open your performances to our cohort please get in touch with NYTW.
For more information please sign up to our mailing list or email nyaw@nyaw.org.uk
National Youth Arts Wales partners with Wales Millennium Centre to deliver Hard Côr
Hard Côr is a vocal collective for young people, bringing those aged 16–25 who live in Cardiff together to sing, rap, beatbox and create music.
Hard Côr is a vocal collective for young people, bringing those aged 16–25 who live in Cardiff together to sing, rap, beatbox and create music.
The group are influenced by a range of contemporary styles, including hip-hop, grime, rap and RnB, and celebrate Wales’s increasingly innovative music scene.
The group’s purpose is to broaden opportunities for young and talented Welsh music makers who wish to sing and vocalise in non-traditional styles at the highest level, enabling them to work with some of the country’s most impressive musical practitioners.
“It felt like another family and community full of diversity.”
Video courtesy of Wales Millennium Centre.
Three facilitators who specialise in different areas led and supported this first project. They were:
Dionne Bennett – soul singer (singing)
Tumi Williams – MC, lyricist and Creative Associate at Wales Millennium Centre (mcing)
Matthew Hann – beatboxer and arts facilitator (beatboxing)
For more information please sign up to our mailing list or email nyaw@nyaw.org.uk or education@wmc.org.uk. Hard Côr is a joint project between Wales Millennium Centre and National Youth Arts Wales.
National Youth Arts Wales expands creative talent development projects with funding via Creative Wales
NYAW has been awarded funding – over £45,000 – from Welsh Government via Creative Wales to help develop Wales’s creative talent in the film, TV, commercial music, and digital sectors.
NYAW has been awarded funding – over £45,000 – from Welsh Government via Creative Wales to help develop Wales’s creative talent in the film, TV, commercial music, and digital sectors.
Launched in September of last year, the Creative Skills Sector Fund was created with the intention of supporting projects that can deliver against one or more of the ten identified priorities within the three-year industry led Creative Skills Action Plan.
The Action Plan seeks to address the skills needs of the three priority sectors: music, digital content, and screen in the short term, as well as considering the long-term needs which will ensure Wales continues to have a thriving creative sector.
Earlier this month, Dawn Bowden MS, Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, announced that over £1.5m is to be shared between 17 projects across the creative industries, she said:
“The purpose of this fund is to continue to support strategic skills partnerships across Wales and I’m delighted that we’ve been able to award the funding to collaborative projects which will provide excellent opportunities for those working in the sector or seeking to work in the sector from all backgrounds.” You can read the written statement in full here.
As recipients of the fund, NYAW will use this to expand two of its projects for young people – Professional Pathways and Music Futures.
Professional Pathways
Our Professional Pathways programme is a career development scheme for young talented drama performers, delivered in partnership with Theatr Clwyd and Wales Millennium Centre. In spring 2023, 45 young people aged 16-22 will take part in an intensive residential training programme, giving them a first-hand insight into the range of transferable skills in the theatre, screen, and digital sectors.
Each residential weekend or training day focuses on specific skills including performance technique, set, costume and lighting design, script writing, accessibility within performance and marketing and programming drama. Read more on this project here.
Using the funding from Creative Wales, our Professional Pathways programme will offer expanded access to film and TV workshops and how these practices relate to the digital sector, acting for green screen, voice training for screen, podcasts and voiceover work, and plenty more besides.
Music Futures
Elsewhere, the funding will help continue Music Futures, our contemporary music project supporting young musicians aged 16-18 to make their mark on the current Welsh music scene across a wide range of genres –from Grime to Indie, Electronica to RnB.
First developed in 2019, the project supports music makers with potential to develop and grow as artists, developing their songwriting, self-management, and musicianship skills in a safe and supportive environment. It offers an authentic industry experience, and a glimpse into a working musician’s career, taking participants through the full life cycle of songwriting – including composition and recording, performance, touring, and promotion.
As part of our ongoing commitment to nurture diverse talent, at least 25% of participants will come from a global majority background, and at least 15% of the 70 beneficiaries will be living with a disability, helping foster a more diverse and inclusive Welsh music industry.
Alongside this we’ll be hiring a new Trainee Producer specific to the Music Futures project, with recruitment beginning in March 2023, and working with Future Mentors again to help facilitate the programme and offer participants the best possible access and knowledge to the contemporary music sector in Wales.
Previous mentors have included Kizzy Crawford, Heledd Watkins (HMS Morris) and Tumi Williams (Afrocluster, Skunkadelic) to name just a few. We look forward to developing our projects further over the coming months and into the summer residency period.
