Scholarship awarded to Welsh musical talent

 


Gwawr IfanGwawr IfanOwing to her exceptional achievements and the glowing endorsements of her academic tutors, PhD student gwawr Ifan of Bangor University is one of the two  winners of the University of Wales D Afan Thomas Memorial Award for Music.


Gwawr Ifan, PhD student at the School of Music, who has already been awarded the University of Wales Thomas Ellis Fund, will receive £500.

Currently studying for a PhD in Music in Health at Bangor’s School of Music, Gwawr will use her award to cover expenses incurred in a trip to Australia where she attended an international conference taking its focus on Music in Health, an area in which the Antipodes is considered to be pioneering. Whilst at the conference, she delivered a paper on Music in Health in Wales, visited specialists practicing in the field and created worldwide links.

Upon receiving her award, Gwawr said;

“It is an important part of my research to network among specialists in the field of music in health and wellbeing, and to learn of international examples of good practice in the field.  Attending the conference and visiting specialists working in Melbourne was an excellent opportunity to do this.

“Although a relatively new area, the field of music in health is currently gaining international recognition, with an increasing body of research proving the benefits of music in health and society.  My experience at this conference will help me to further promote the field of music in health in Wales.  

“I am very grateful for this award, which will contribute greatly towards the costs of this journey.”

The Award was endowed in 1981 from a Centennial Fund to perpetuate the memory of D Afan Thomas (1881‑1928), Musician, Composer and Founder of the Afan Glee Society in Cwmavon, Port Talbot. Its purpose is to give financial assistance to a promising student of music to develop his/her musical education.

The other winner was double bass player, Jordan Price Williams, who is in his third year studying at the Royal welsh College of Music and drama in Cardiff.

Publication date: 4 March 2011