The Gaynor Cemlyn-Jones Music Prize 2023 has been awarded to Yingjie Hui. The prize is given to the postgraduate student studying Music at Bangor University who achieved the highest grade for their final recital.
The Gaynor Cemlyn-Jones Trust Music Prize is sponsored by the School of Arts, Culture and Language and was presented as part of a recital by postgraduate students in Performance. Held in the Bryn Terfel Theatre at Bangor University’s Arts and Innovation Centre Pontio, the recital was also an opportunity to showcase the Steinway Grand piano generously donated to the University by the Gaynor Cemlyn-Jones Trust, with Dr Iwan Llewelyn-Jones, pianist and member of the Department of Music, Drama and Performance as accompanist.
The prize was presented by Jan Lea, Chair of the Gaynor Cemlyn-Jones Trust, and Professor Enlli Thomas Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
Professor Thomas said, “The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences boasts a number of high-quality courses delivered by incredibly talented staff of international prestige. We were very pleased to welcome the Chair of the Gaynor Cemlyn-Jones Trust to the concert, where we were able to showcase our students’ talents whilst, at the same time, demonstrating the exceptional beauty of the Steinway piano.”
Jan Lea, Chair of the Gaynor Cemlyn-Jones Trust added, “The Trustees are delighted to support such talented students, and to work with the School of Music in providing opportunities for them to develop their skills and experience.”
Miss Gaynor Cemlyn-Jones was born in London, the daughter of the late Sir Wynne and Muriel Cemlyn-Jones, before moving to North Wales. In the 1950s, she had a home built in Menai Bridge and she became the island's High Sheriff in 1968. Through the Pen y Clip Trust, she mainly supported the University’s work in the marine sciences between 1920 and the early 2000s. The Gaynor Cemlyn-Jones Trust was established in the 1990s, and since then the trust has generously continued to support both projects in the School of Ocean Sciences and the Department of Music – most notably, the purchase of the Steinway Grand piano which is housed in the Bryn Terfel Theatre opened in 2015 as part of the establishment of Pontio Arts and Innovation Centre.
Emma Marshall, Head of Development & Alumni Relations Office said, “Bangor University values the generous contribution the Gaynor Cemlyn-Jones Trust continues to make to the School of Ocean Sciences and Music department, which enables us to provide students with opportunities that would otherwise be impossible, such as access to the feeling of playing or being accompanied by a concert standard Steinway. It was wonderful to hear from the Trust’s Chair how much Gaynor Cemlyn-Jones would have loved hearing students playing the Steinway.”
Yingjie Hui said, “I am delighted to receive the Gaynor Cemlyn-Jones Music Prize and to have the opportunity to perform at Theatr Bryn Terfel, accompanied by Dr Iwan Llewelyn-Jones. I now look forward to joining my hometown symphony orchestra as a professional performer. I have greatly enjoyed studying at Bangor University and have learned a great deal, which will help me in my future career."
Full programme:
Michelle Stearn (flute) *
Paul Claude Taffanel (1844–1908), Grande Fantasie sur Mignon (1874) (flute and piano)
Luxi Tian (piano)
Claude Debussy (1862–1918), Clair de lune (1905)
Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849), Waltz in E minor (composed c.1830; published 1851)
Jessica Jones (flute) *
Ian Clarke (b.1964), Sunstreams (1986) (flute and piano)
Michael Head (1900–1976), By the River in Spring (1950, revised 1964) (flute and piano)
Yingjie Hui (clarinet) *
Johannes Brahms (1833–1897), two movements from Clarinet Sonata in E flat major, Op. 120, no. 2 (1894) (clarinet and piano)
* Accompanist: Dr Iwan Llewelyn-Jones (Dept of Music, Drama and Performance)