June 3rd –                        TV pundit at ‘Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yr Urdd’
‘National Urdd Eisteddfod’, Swansea – www.urdd.org

June 5th –                        Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 2 in Eb major for ‘Trinity – St. David Music Festival 2011′.

June 6th – 8th                BBC National Orchestra of Wales – Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff Bay.
Concert June 8th  at 2pm, Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff Bay.

June 9th – 12th              Recording ‘Ar Gamera’ TV Show (S4C)

June 25th                        Concert with Bryn Terfel and Wynne Evans – Aberglasney Gardens, Carmarthenshire.

July 10th – 13th             Clarinet tutor for NSSO (National Schools Symphony Orchestra) – Malvern College

July 30th                         Private Wedding – Aberystwyth

September 9th – 11th    TV series TBC

September 15th – 17th  TV series TBC

September 23rd -25th  TV series TBC

Things have been a little up and down in this marvellous world they call ‘freelance’! One minute I was very busy from day to day, the next there was a huge gap in my diary! But luckily I’m still getting work here and there to keep me busy and lip-fit! Since my last post on here I’ve done a few gigs and recording sessions. April saw the recording of ‘Canola’s’ (my cello, clarinet & piano trio) first demo CD. We laid down 5 tracks of different genres and it all sounds great. Hopefully someone high profiled somewhere will hear it and offer each of us a million pounds for our services…..Cowell, listen up!! haha. I’ve also performed in a few Symphony Orchestra gigs, including Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony with Cardiff Sinfonietta, and also an emotionally filled charity concert for Japan, performing Tchaikovsky’s magnificent 5th Symphony and Shostakovich’s 2nd Piano Concerto.

I’ve also been in and out of the TV studio recording a light entertainment series for S4C TV called ‘Ar Gamera’. It’s a hidden camera / gameshow with an in-house on-stage band. I’m playing the role of Woodwinds/Percussion/Keyboards. As you can imagine it’s a mixed bag with many fun moments and classy performances! This show is aired every Saturday night on S4C, going up against the mighty ‘Britain’s Got Talent’on BBC 1!

I’m continuing writing my new album. I’ve been doing lots of arranging recently of various classical pieces, but also doing some research in order to find some ear-catching and classy repertoire!

It’s that time of year again when Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yr Urdd, Swansea takes over most Welsh homes and families! I shall be there again this year, but in a much more casual role than last year’s manic week at Llanerchaeron, Ceredigion! I’ll be doing some TV punditry, but generally relaxing and enjoying the performing and competing! Good luck to everyone competing this year!

I’m performing Weber’s 2nd Clarinet Concerto in Eb major in Lampeter for the opening of the Trinity St. David Music Festival 2011 in a few weeks. It’s great to be re-learning this fantastic work and very much looking forward to performing it with the Lampeter Chamber Orchestra on June 5th.

I hope to catch you all soon!

Rhys