St Elvan's are delighted to be the host venue of the Oriana Festival, the NEW festival of contemporary Welsh classical music, featuring the music of some of Wales' leading contemporary classical composers and performers

​With the generous support of the Pen Y Cymoedd Community Fund, RCT Cohesion Team and Ev-entz, Newport, the inaugural Oriana Festival took place at St Elvan's on Saturday October 21st 2023, and featured former Royal harpist Claire Jones, composer | percussionist Chris Marshall, plus Rhondda Cynon Taf's own award-winning Lewis Merthyr Band and the Big Hearts International Cultural Ensemble of Nigeria

Music featured in the 2023 Oriana Festival included the performance and launch of a new album of the music of Mervyn Burtch, plus the premiere performances of new music by Gareth Wood, Chris Marshall, Christopher Painter - and more!

Such was the success and warm reception of the inaugural event, the Oriana Festival is planned to be repeated in a new annual standing date in May. Saturday May 18th will see the 2024 event take place at St Elvan's and feature Rhondda Symphony Orchestra, Lewis Merthyr Band and the premiere performance of a new work by the eminent RCT composer and former Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Chairman Gareth Wood

Caradogfest was founded to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the achievements of Griffith Rhys Jones, "Caradog", and the 400 strong voice Côr Mawr at the Crystal Palace, London in 1872 | 73

Now taking place in the "Town of Song" Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf each July, the festival has featured performances, exhibitions, talks - and more!

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The inaugural festival was supported by Pen Y Cymoedd and Aberdare BID, and took place on the weekend of July 15 to 17th 2022. This event saw the re-enactment of the 400 strong "Côr Mawr" in Aberdare, plus a surrounding FREE choral festival, procession and additional events - for a series of images of the inaugural events, visit the Gallery section of the website here

Such was the tremendous response to the inaugural Caradogfest, a second Caradogfest took place on the weekend of Friday & Saturday July 7th & 8th 2023

The Caradogfest Gala Concert was reprised and once again featured the combined talents of Aberdare's own star of "The Voice" Ragsy, the inestimable Cat Southall and Massed Côr Mawr

In an additional element of the event, following the inaugural year's celebration of choral singing, Caradogfest 2023 featured a FREE Ukulele Festival, which was held at St Elvan's Church on Saturday July 8th from 1:00 to 4:00pm. The event was open to all and very well attended and received. The event will now be repeated annually as part of the Aberdare Music Festival each summer