My clarinet may very well have been packed away in its case since my A Level days but I’m back, not only in Wales, but back working with Ensemble Cymru having been lured by their instrumental ways ten years ago.
As one of the ‘Liverpool Welsh’ (we’re gradually taking over the company!) I moved to Anglesey at the age of five. After attending both Benllech and Syr Thomas Jones, Amlwch schools, I went on to do a degree at Bangor University in Theatre and Media Studies, also studying modules within the School of Music. It’s an interesting feeling being around the university again and as a member of staff this time. Those fresher students will be arriving soon- that’ll make me feel old!
My first experience of Ensemble Cymru was during my 6th form days when Peryn and the team came to our school to do some composition workshops. I remember as though it was yesterday, how influential these wonderful musicians were in pushing the boundaries of my compositions! I also recall how very brave they were agreeing to perfom my crazy piece of music which I titled ‘Expect the unexpected’, a piece I’d composed following their very own advice, being; that you don’t always have to present musicians with notes on a stave- that they’ll understand the odd ‘sguiggle’, and that piano can produce ‘musical’ sounds without the need to use the black and white keys. It was an unforgettable experience and one of the main reasons I wanted to work here.
After a period of working with television companies in Cardiff and Caernarfon, I moved to London to gain a bit of life experience. I’ve been very fortunate to have gained a wealth of experience within a variety of roles at major PR and broadcasting houses as well as delivering and promoting Play & Music classes to pre-schoolers accross the UK.
My first week as the new Marketing and Engagement Officer is drawing to a close and I live to tell the tale! I’m very much looking forward to working on the many exciting projects in our calendar as well as working with the wonderful people within the Ensemble, friends and contacts too. Who knows, I may even dust off the old Clarinet and get playing again!
Looking forward to meeting you in the near future. You’ll be sure to see me at our coffee concerts over the coming season so please do come and say hello.
Please feel free to contact me at any time ann’at’ensemblecymru.co.uk (replace at with @)
Falle’n wir fod fy nghlarined wedi’i gadw yn ei gês ers fy nyddiau Lefel A, ond, dwi nôl! Nid yn unig yng Nghymru, ond yn ôl yn gweithio gydag Ensemble Cymru unwaith eto wedi imi gael blas ar y gwaith arbennig mae’n nhw’n ei wneud dros ddeg mlynedd yn ôl! Rwy’n un o Gymry Lerpwl yn wreiddiol (‘da ni’n ara’ deg yn cymryd drosodd y cwmni!) a des i fyw i Sir Fôn yn bump oed. Es i ysgolion Benllech a Syr Thomas Jones, Amlwch, cyn mynd ymlaen i wneud gradd ym Mhrifysgol Bangor mewn Astudiaethau Theatr a’r Cyfryngau ac ambell i fodiwl o fewn yr ysgol Cerddoriaeth ym Mangor hefyd.
Mae’n deimlad ddiddorol bod o gwmpas y brifysgol unwaith eto, fel aelod o staff y tro hwn. Bydd myfyrwyr y glas yn cyrraedd cyn bo hir- fydd hynny YN gwneud i mi deimlo’n hen! Ges i flas cyntaf ar waith Ensemble Cymru yn ysod fy nyddiau 6ed dosbarth pan ddaeth Peryn a’r criw i’r ysgol i rhoi hyfforddiant cyfansoddi i ni. Rwy’n cofio fel ddoe mai cerddorion dewr iawn oedd rhain, yn ddigon parod i berfformio fy nghyfansoddiad gwallgof; wedi imi ddysgu ganddyn nhw nad oedd rhaid cyflwyno nodau ar bapur i gerddorion- eu bod nhw’n deall ‘sguiggles’ yn iawn, a bod piano yn gallu gwneud sŵn heb fod angen defnyddio yr allweddi du a gwyn. Pwy fyddai’n meddwl! Wedi cyfnod o weithio gyda cwmniau teledu yng Nghaerdydd a Chaernarfon es i fyw i Lundain i fagu bach o brofiad bywyd. Fues i’n ffodus iawn o gyfleoedd gwaith arbennig o amrywiol gyda chwmniau PR a darlledwyr ynghyd a marchnata a chyflwyno gwersi ‘Play & Music’ i blant methrin ar hyd yr DU.
Wrth imi dynnu at ddiwedd fy wythnos gyntaf fel Swyddog Marchnata a Chysylltiadau, rwy’n edrych ymlaen yn arw at weithio ar yr amryw prosiectau cyffrous ynghyd â gweithio gyda’r bobl arbennig o fewn yr Ensemble ynghyd â’u ffrindiau a chysylltiadau. Pwy a ŵyr, falla gaiff yr hen glarined ei chwythu gen i eto! Dwi wir yn edrych ymlaen at gael eich cyfarfod chi yn y dyfodol agos. Byddwch yn siwr o ngweld i yn y cyngherddau coffi dros y tymor- plis dewch i ddweud helo. Cofiwch bod croeso i chi gysylltu â mi ar unrhyw adeg drwy ebostio ann’at’ensemblecymru.co.uk
(Rhaid cyfnewid ‘at’ efo @)
