One of the National Eisteddfod's most coveted awards will celebrate a notable anniversary at this year's festival
Singers will vie against one another for the David Ellis Memorial Prize on Saturday 12 August from 15:45. Also known as the Blue Riband competition for soloists over the age of 25 it was first awarded 80 years ago when the National Eisteddfod was staged at Bangor.
David Ellis was a businessman in the Wrexham area who was also a celebrated tenor and the conductor of several choirs.
For three years he was a member of the renowned Welsh Costume Choir and won many prizes at local eisteddfodau. David Ellis also won the solo competition at the National Eisteddfod three times and appeared at Eisteddfod concerts no less than 16 times..
He studied at the Royal Academy of Music and sang at the Royal Albert Hall and other prestigious venues.
David Ellis was described as a "man of charming disposition, of great strength of character and of tremendous loyalty in friendship".
He died in May 1941 aged 68 and the following year a fund was established in the Wrexham area by Maurice Evans, the East Denbighshire Coroner to commemorate David Ellis. It was hoped to raise sufficient money to provide an annual prize at the National Eisteddfod and possibly establish a scholarship open to Welsh vocalists at the Royal College of Music.
It was first awarded in 1943 to soprano Megan Thomas of Llanelli.
Since then the David Ellis Memorial Prize has provided the National Eisteddfod with a fitting climax each year.
An adjudicating panel choose four competitors from the soprano, tenor and baritone competitions during the Eisteddfod.
The singers will sing the set piece from their individual competition and a piece of their choice by a Welsh composer.
The winners have included many who became well known and went on to have successful singing careers.
They include Ritchie Thomas, Penmachno, Stuart Burrows, Pontypridd and David (Dai) Jones, Llanilar.
Rhys Meirion, one of Wales's most popular tenors says his career is all down to the National Eisteddfod. For after winning the coveted award at Bro Dinefwr (Llandeilo) in 1996 he gave up his job as a headteacher to pursue a career in opera.
“People were coming up to me and saying, ‘have you considered a career as a professional singer. That’s when the seed was first planted,” he said.
Despite being married with a young baby he won a place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Since graduating Rhys has performed at the Sydney Opera House and other top opera houses. Performing the Pearl Fishers Duet at the Royal Albert Hall with his friend Bryn Terfel another Eisteddfod veteran was another highlight. He’ll be back on the Maes this year but as one of the adjudicators.
Other well known singers who’ve won the prize are Marian Roberts, Brynsiencyn, Tom Evans, Gwanas, Dolgellau; Shân Cothi, Ffarmers; John Eifion Jones, Caernarfon; Aled Wyn Davies, Llanbrynmair; Eleri Owen Edwards, Llanymddyfri and Kees Huysmans, Llandysul.
More details about the 2023 National Eisteddfod online at eisteddfod.cymru