Elinor Bennett, Baroness Wigley, OBE (born 17 April 1943) is a Welsh harpist who has an international reputation as a soloist, master instructor, and founded the Harp College of Wales.
Elinor Bennett, Baroness Wigley, OBE (born 17 April 1943) is a Welsh harpist who has an international reputation as a soloist, master instructor, and founded the Harp College of Wales.
Bennett was born in 1943 in Llanidloes, Wales. [1] When she was six, her family moved into a house known as Gwyndy on the White Hall estate of Owen Morgan Edwards at Llanuwchllyn near Bala. She was a student at the local primary school and then attended the Bala Girls' Grammar School. Her father bought Bennett her first harp when she was six, though she did not begin lessons until age 11. Upon graduation from high school, Bennett studied law at University College Wales, Aberystwyth [2] and after completing a Bachelor of Laws, [1] she moved to London, where she was employed in a law office. Wanting to continue her education, she applied for and won a scholarship to attend the Royal Academy of Music, studying with Osian Ellis. Graduating three years later, she later completed music therapy courses in Australia. [2]
Bennett's debut was at Wigmore Hall, London and then she worked from 1967 to 1971 as a freelance artist playing with the English Chamber Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, and the Philharmonia Orchestra. She has performed many recitals on BBC Radio 3 and BBC television. [1] Though known most for classical music, Bennett has also played with some of Wales' most renowned figures from rock music. [3] She has recorded twelve solo albums, and is one of the organisers of the Wales International Harp Festival. She founded the Coleg Telyn Cymru (Harp College of Wales) and is known for her instruction. [4] [5] Her students have included Catrin Finch, who later married her son Hywel. [6]
In 1996, Bennett was made an Honorary Fellow at her alma mater in Aberystwyth; [7] and in 2002 she received the White Robe of the National Eisteddfod of Wales, the festival's highest honour. [5] She was the recipient of the Glyndŵr Award in 2003 [8] and in 2006, she was honoured for her service to Wales with her music, receiving the Order of the British Empire. [9] She published Tannau Tynion, her autobiography in 2011. [2]
Bennett married the Plaid Cymru politician, Dafydd Wigley, later Baron Wigley, in 1967. [1] Two of the couple's four children predeceased their parents, dying from an inherited genetic condition, Sanfilippo syndrome. [2] [10]
Dafydd Wynne Wigley, Baron Wigley, is a Welsh politician who served as the leader of Plaid Cymru from 1981 to 1984 and again from 1991 to 2000. He served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Caernarfon from 1974 to 2001 and as the Member of the Welsh Assembly for Caernarfon from 1999 to 2003. In 2010, Wigley was granted life peerage, taking his seat in the House of Lords in 2011.
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The National Eisteddfod of Wales is the largest of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales. Its eight days of competitions and performances are considered the largest music and poetry festival in Europe. Competitors typically number 6,000 or more, and overall attendance generally exceeds 100,000 visitors, the highest recently being 186,000 attending the 2024 festival in Pontypridd. The 2018 Eisteddfod was held in Cardiff Bay with a fence-free 'Maes'. In 2020, the event was held virtually under the name AmGen; events were held over a one-week period.
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The Urdd National Eisteddfod is an annual Welsh-language youth festival of literature, music and performing arts organised by Urdd Gobaith Cymru. It is the youth counterpart to the National Eisteddfod of Wales. Arguably Europe's largest youth festival, it is usually held during the last week of May, coinciding with schools' half term holiday. Locations alternate between north and south Wales. The Eisteddfod consists of competitive singing, recitation, art, composition, dance and instrumental events for contestants aged between 7 and 24 years. Regional qualifying heats are held in advance around Wales.
Gwawr Edwards is a Welsh concert soprano. Edwards is best known for her television and radio appearances, and has recorded with Bryn Terfel.
Robyn Léwis was a Welsh author, politician and former archdruid of the National Eisteddfod of Wales.
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Georgia Ruth Williams is a Welsh singer-songwriter and harpist. She sings in both English and Welsh.
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