Oriana Festival

24/03/2026

We’ll be featuring some unusual early instruments in the Oriana Festival this June ⏳ Stay tuned for further details soon…

Meet the uniquely haunting instrument that takes centre stage in Messiaen's Turangalîla Symphony and elsewhere

12/03/2026

A really interesting piece on young interest in classical music 💛🎵 Our own plans for our NEW 2026 family preview concert have now been revealed 👀 Join us on Bank Holiday Monday, May 4th - Star Wars Day - for “May The Fourth Be With You” 🪐

For full details, visit www.stelvans.com/oriana-festival or for tickets, visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/stelvans 🎟️

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A new generation is tuning in! ❤️

The percentage of people that want to discover orchestral music has reached its highest level in six years, according to new research from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The growth is being driven largely by younger audiences and first-time listeners.

The new findings show that 35% of UK adults want to learn more about orchestral music, up from 11% in 2021. Among the under-25 age group, interest has risen sharply in a single year, from 11% to 30%. At the same time, deeper engagement is also growing: the share of people who describe themselves as long-term listeners has risen from 28% to 38%, suggesting many newcomers are developing lasting connections with the genre.

Orchestral music is also becoming more embedded in everyday life. Eight in ten UK adults say they now encounter it in daily life. Listening while commuting has nearly doubled year-on-year, increasing from 15% to 28%. Meanwhile, one in three adults say orchestral music now features on their holiday playlists, more than double last year’s figure.

14/02/2026

Happy Valentine’s Everybody 💛
www.stelvans.com/oriana-festival

27/01/2026

Following the premiere performance of Dr Neil Day’s “Touch Paper”, his first work for brass band, at the 2025 Oriana Festival, and the subsequent English premiere at Bath Abbey in October, we’re delighted to see Oriana published composer Dr Day commissioned by Pontypridd Brass Band Festival to write a work celebrating the centenary of the Ynysangharad Park Bandstand this year 🎺 Llongyfarchiadau Neil

Plans for the 2026 Oriana Festival - “Time & Space” - are firmly underway, and this year include a Family Star Wars Day Concert on Bank Holiday Monday May 4th - “May The Fourth Be With You” - and the main Oriana Gala Concert - “Time” - on Saturday June 27th

Don’t miss these exciting new events! For details of our plans to date, visit www.stelvans.com/oriana-festival

If you are a Welsh composer or artist and would like to be featured in this year’s events - particularly if you can connect to “Time” and / or “Space” - do get in touch

Save the dates! We’ll see you soon! 💛

www.stelvans.com/oriana-festival

🎺 Pontypridd Brass Band Festival is coming back even bigger in 2026!
After an amazing 2025 festival featuring Dave Collins’ powerful new fanfare to Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, released free to all via Bandiau Pres Cymru, we’re excited to share what’s next. This year marks 100 years of the Ynysangharad War Memorial Park Bandstand, and we’re celebrating in style. We’ve commissioned a brand new piece from Welsh composer Dr. Neil Day to honour the bandstand’s huge role in Pontypridd’s musical life.
✨ The work, currently titled “Y Goleuni Disglair”, will draw inspiration from the region’s rich musical heritage and will premiere on the bandstand this summer. We’ve applied for support through the Tŷ Cerdd CREATE fund to help bring this project to life.
About the composer: Dr. Neil Day, born in Llanbradach, a respected Welsh musician with deep roots in brass banding, an extensive composing career across genres, and a lifelong commitment to music education and community. From studying under David Wynne and Alun Hoddinott, to performing with Lewis Merthyr and Parc & Dare, to working with leading composers across the UK and Europe, Neil brings a unique voice shaped by both heritage and innovation.
His music spans orchestra, choir, big band and solo works, and we can’t wait to hear what he creates for the centenary celebration. Expect energy, colour, and the unmistakable spirit of South Wales.
🎶 Stay tuned for the premiere of “Y Goleuni Disglair” this summer!

28/11/2025

Two-time featured Oriana Festival performer, the former Royal Harpist Claire Jones presents her NEW Christmas album - “The Girl With The Golden Harp at Christmas”. Available now on all streaming platforms 💛

06/10/2025

Great to see this year’s Oriana Festival Gala Concert programme “The Planets | Our Planet” reprised in the magnificent setting of Bath Abbey this past weekend 💛 Preparations for the 2026 festival “Time & Space” are now underway! If you are interested in contributing to this annual celebration of contemporary Welsh classical music, contact us here on messenger or email [email protected]

06/08/2025

The premiere performance of Oriana Festival Director Christopher Painter’s “Aelfgar - Spear of the Elves” by the Bromsgrove International Summer School, Conductor & Introduction: Philip Harper

World premiere performance at the Elgar International Brass Band Summer School, conducted by Philip Harper, on Friday, 1st August 2025 at Bromsgrove School.C...

28/06/2025

Check out the link below to view a short film by BBC Wales on Oriana Festival venue St Elvan's. A super piece on a super venue 💛

Charting the revival of a historic Welsh church in Aberdare that has been reborn as a vibrant hub of faith, art and community through creativity and collective spirit.