UWTSD Students travel to Rio Grande for St David’s Day Celebrations

27 February 2023

Students from the Wales Academy of Voice and Dramatic Arts at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David will be celebrating St David’s Day in Rio Grande, Ohio this year.

The eight students stand smiling in front of a mantlepiece on which the words 'Y Cartref Cymraeg' are emblazoned in gilt letters.

The University has a longstanding connection with the University of Rio Grande and its Madog Centre as well as with communities of Welsh descent in North America

This two week journey has been organised and funded by the Welsh Government’s ‘Taith’ project, where the key mission of the project is to “Take Wales to the World”. Students will be showcasing their talents to audiences within these Welsh communities in Ohio as well as in schools in Ohio.

Whilst in Ohio, the students will take part in a St David’s Concert with Rio Grande’s choir. They’ll also travel to Cleveland to visit a Welsh home & the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame, visit the Gallia Academy High School with the Madrigals Choir and will appear on the local television channel and radio stations, and also perform at Oak Hill Presbyterian Church for St David’s Day luncheon and Performance.

Senior Lecturer Eilir Owen Griffiths said:

“It is great to rekindle the relationship with Rio Grande. It has been a few years since a group has visited. With the strong Welsh connections it was apt that our Welsh-Medium performing arts students visited this year. Under the direction of Angharad Lee, they will be presenting a showcase of work featuring monologues, songs and some stunning new arrangements of some Welsh choral classics by Nathan Jones. Graduating in the Summer of 2023, this work showcases their talents as well as celebrates some of Wales’ best writers and hymns.”

Young people sit in a semi-circle listening to a woman at the centre of the group.

For BA Perfformio student Lowri Voyle, “it’s been a wonderful experience and we can see how much the community here values Welsh culture. I feel that the history of the Welsh here in Rio Grande Ohio is one that cannot be forgotten, and after the trip, I would like to ensure that links remain strong between us.”

Jeanne Jones Jindra, Director of the Madog Centre for Welsh Studies, University of Rio Grande said:

“It has been several years since we had a group of musical theatre students from UWTSD at the University of Rio Grande and we are thrilled to host this group of seven young women and one young man. They arrived on February 15th and have not stopped for a minute since, already blending seamlessly into our student life on campus. They have met our Grand Chorale and are preparing to sing together for some engagements in the area, most notably our celebration of Dewi Sant.”