May 3, 2026 Gymanfa Ganu
Our Conductor
Dr. Mari Morgan is one of the most experienced and favored cymanfa ganu conductors in North America today. Originally from Llanelli, Wales, Mari has conducted a multitude of cymanfaoedd canu across the United States and Canada, Argentina, New Zealand, and the 2008 and 2019 the North American Welsh Festival of Wales (NAFOW) cymanfaoedd canu.
An acclaimed classical singer with many recordings to her name, she formed and conducts Côr Cymry Gogledd America - the North American Welsh Choir (a community choir that spans a continent). Dr Morgan was awarded the Welsh Heritage Medallion by the National Welsh American Foundation in recognition of her services to Welsh Music in America, Cerddores o Gymru i’r Byd; the Robert Morris Award by the Welsh Society of Philadelphia in recognition of outstanding contribution to Welsh music in North America; and served as "Leader of the Welsh Peoples from Overseas" at the 2000 National Eisteddfod in Llanelli. A published author, “Braids of Song: Weaving Welsh Music into the American Soul” was launched at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth while on tour with Côr Cymry Gogledd America in 2023. Earlier this summer, she was awarded the great honor of being inducted into Gorsedd Cymru at the National Eisteddfod at Rhondda Cynon Tâf for her services to Wales in the Arts.
Photo - Beth Landmesser
Our Soloists
Sabrina Clark (Soprano) and William Clark (Tenor) are accomplished professional vocalists whose artistry has taken them across the globe, performing as featured soloists with distinguished choirs and orchestras for several decades. Their musical journeys have been shaped by study with celebrated vocal artists from the New York City Opera and the Metropolitan Opera, and by meaningful affiliations with premiere professional musical organizations throughout New York City and across the nation. Their repertoire spans the breadth of classical vocal literature — opera, oratorio, and art song — reflecting both the depth of their training and the range of their interpretive gifts.
Among their most cherished musical relationships is their longstanding engagement with the Welsh choral tradition through Côr Rehoboth and Côr Cymru, where years of immersive study and fellowship have deepened their love of choral music and rooted them in one of the world’s most soulful and enduring singing traditions.
Gymanfa Ganu
What is it??
A Gymanfa Ganu is a Welsh festival of sacred hymns, sung with four part harmony by a congregation, usually under the direction of a choral director.
What is the history of the Gymanfa Ganu?
The Gymanfa Ganu movement was launched in 1859 at Bethania Chapel in Aberdare, where it was pioneered by the Reverend Evan Lewis.[2]
In Wales, cymanfaoedd canu (Gymanfa Ganu plural)are held each year in many villages and towns throughout the country. Some have more than one Cymanfa Ganu a year, as often many separate chapels hold their own.
The preservation of the Gymanfa Ganu as a unique feature of Welsh culture is being supported by a number of Welsh cultural associations, such as the New Zealand National Gymanfa Ganu Association and the Welsh North American Association (North America).
Why do they occur and where
Welsh churches and associations throughout the World hold these festivals to preserve the tradition. In North America you can find them across the US, Canada. At Rehoboth Church we hole 2 per year, one in the Spring and one in the Fall.
North American Festival of Wales - (NAFOW)
Once a year, a four-day North American Festival of Wales is held in North America over the Labor Day weekend. The four-day festival starts on Thursday night with an opening ceremony and concert. The weekend continues with an evening banquet sponsored by the North America Wales Foundation on Friday and a Saturday concert, generally featuring a Welsh male voice choir and soloists, both from Wales.
Sunday is the defining day of the four-day festival which begins with a bilingual church and memorial service. After a brief intermission, this service is followed by afternoon and evening sessions of the Gymanfa Ganu itself. A unique feature of the gymanfa ganu is the seating separation of alto, soprano, tenor, and bass singers into sections for the four part harmony singing. And while the Gymanfa Ganu is conducted with the dignity of a church service, it is not unknown for the musical conductor to stop the singing when one or more of the voice sections wanders from the desired harmony and needs special attention.
Interspersed between the formal proceedings are frequent sessions of spontaneous singing of favorite hymns. A Welsh Marketplace, offering Welsh products, artifacts, souvenirs, recordings, and books, is also available during the days of the festival.
The Welsh North American Association is the main organizational body responsible for putting on the event.
