Page 8 - April 2019 EGO Magazine

Images by | Lluniau gan: Emma Goldsmith
local // lleol

An interview

with Rhys Meirion

As he embarks upon his twentieth year as a
professional singer, we caught up with Rhys
Meirion, to find out more about this Welsh
icon of song.

So Rhys, tell me a bit about but what I am very aware of is the Angel which was on S4C during the
yourself. I was born in Blaenau warm welcome I receive on every Christmas period of 2018, where
Ffestiniog, and because my father occasion. we put a choir together of people
was a young policeman we moved who had experience of mental
around a bit in my younger health problems, and explored the
years. By the time I was 5 we had benefits of singing in a choir. I am
lived in Blaenau, Llandudno and Being also writing an English version of
Garndolbenmaen and then when somewhat my book ‘Storis Grav’ (Grav Tales),
I was 6, we settled in Tremadog full of tales and anecdotes about the
where I attended the local Primary well-known legend Ray Gravell. I also have many
School and then Ysgol Eifionydd in because of concerts in the pipeline and will be
Porthmadog. After 4 years in Trinity recording a new album to celebrate
College Carmarthen I became a what you do 20 years in the business in June. So,
Primary School Teacher and then plenty to do!!!
four years later in 1993 I became carries some
a very young Headteacher (one of responsibility, Talk me through the transition
the youngest, if not the youngest, from full time education to
ever in Wales and the UK). All that but also offers being a professional singer.
seems ages ago, as I have now been opportunities. When I became a headteacher, my
a Professional singer for 20 years, life changed. There was a lot of
living in Pwllgals, near Rhuthun with hard work and responsibility but
my wife Nia, and a proud father of 3 “All work and no play….” This is
children, Osian, Elan and Erin. So what projects are you when I took up singing as a bit of
currently working on? I am in the a relaxing hobby. After 2 years of
And you’re certainly no stranger middle of filming a new four part singing lessons with Brian Hughes
to this part of the world? The series for S4C called Corau Rhys in Gresford, Wrexham, I won the
area the EGO® covers is very close Meirion, which will be broadcast Blue Riband at the 1996 National
to my heart. I couldn’t hazard in April and May. This is a follow Eisteddfod in Llandeilo. That’s
a guess of how many concerts I up to the celebration of the 10th when I realised that there was an
have sung in here over the years, anniversary of the song Anfonaf opportunity to take the plunge and

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