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