‘Gymanfu Ganu,’ a Service of Hymns and Special Music, will be held at Grace Lutheran Church this Saturday, Feb. 22, starting at 2 p.m.:
The public is invited to our 5th annual free Gymanfu Ganu (pronounced guh-MAHN-vah GAH-nee) program which literally means: a singing festival on Sat., Feb. 22, 2020 at 2 pm at Grace Lutheran Church at 22975 24th Ave. S., Des Moines, WA.
The gymanfu ganu programs were started and continue in Wales, and are held throughout the United States. Our free hymn-singing festival is very similar to other gymanfu ganu programs and we incorporate a number of outstanding guest artists to perform along with the traditional singing of hymns in Welsh and English.
Our hymn leader again for this year’s program will be Nerys Jones.and we singing of hymns in Welsh and English. Nerys Jones, was born and educated in Mid Wales and studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Also, Nerys will be will be one of our special musical guest artists. Nerys has traveled the world singing and has played soprano roles with many of the world’s leading opera companies
including the Welsh National Opera, The Scottish Opera and the English National Opera. She moved to Seattle in June 2006 and she has sung both the Seattle and Tacoma Opera
Another guest artist will be the Redmond based lyric tenor, Kim Cooney. Mr. Cooney has sung in about 650 worship, memorial, concert and theatrical events around the United States as well as the world.
Another returning guest artist will be Annette Dennis. She has sung “Sun Gan” (a traditional Welsh ballad) in one of our Gymanfu Ganu programs and has performed in a number of Sancta Lucia productions at Grace Lutheran Church. She has sung with the Tacoma Opera and has been invited to perform.
Ken Labertew and Jessica Miller will be two of the featured performers from the Grace Lutheran Church choir as well.
Also, for the first time this year, the festival will feature the “Men of Thorton”. This group includes Laird Thornton, the choral director for the Federal Way Chorale and Grace Lutheran church along with his two sons and grandson.
Prior to and after the program, the Puget Sound Welsh Association will have a table where you can purchase authentic crafts from Wales.
After the program, you are invited to the free “te bach” (little tea) in the Fellowship Hall of Grace Lutheran Church. We will have a variety of other refreshments available as well. This whole program and tea are free, however, your generous donations will allow Grace Lutheran to provide this line up of high caliber music in the future.
One of our goals is to show everyone in our community what a great tradition and event this program is and to showcase the remarkable singers we have in our area.
Everyone is welcome to this free All-Ages program on Sat., Feb .22, 2020 at 2 pm at Grace Lutheran Church, 22975 24th Ave S., Des Moines, WA. 98198.
There is no nursery service, however, we do have a Cry Room available if needed.
There’s an old saying that says, “If three English men got together they’d form a club and if three Welsh men got together they’d form a choir.
Come be part of our choir!
For questions or additional information, please contact our artistic director, Phil Wilkinson at: [email protected].
