A Flintshire composer whose song made history at the coronation of King Charles is following in the footsteps of his lifelong hero to take the reins of a globally renowned music festival.<\/p>\n
Paul Mealor, who was born in St Asaph and raised in Connah\u2019s Quay, has been appointed as the new Artistic Director of the North Wales International Music Festival which was established by his mentor, Professor William Mathias.<\/p>\n
He will be taking over from the acclaimed mezzo soprano, Ann Atkinson, who is stepping down after 20 successful years at the helm.<\/p>\n
One of Paul\u2019s big ambitions is for the festival to become a multi-arts hub with a \u2018fringe\u2019 running alongside the main concerts.<\/p>\n
William Mathias, who was Professor of Music at Bangor University, was a Welsh cultural icon who began playing the piano aged three and composing music aged five, becoming an eminent composer of choral works and opera.<\/p>\n
He founded the festival at St Asaph Cathedral in 1972 and directed it until his death, aged 57, in 1992. Such was his love of the festival that he\u2019s buried in the cathedral\u2019s cemetery.<\/p>\n
As a student Paul studied with William Mathias and cites him as being the person who inspired his career in music and particularly his love of large scale choral compositions.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI sang in the Cathedral Choir as a kid and went to the festival right from my ninth birthday in 1984. So, next year will be a 40-year association as performer, audience member, composer and latterly as a Vice-President of the Festival.\u201d<\/p>\n
He says he can\u2019t wait to further the vision of his champion, having already emulated him in composing music for royalty.<\/p>\n
William Mathias famously wrote the anthem, Let the people praise Thee, O God, for the\u00a0 1981 royal wedding of the then Prince and Princess of Wales, which had a TV audience of a billion people worldwide.<\/p>\n
A generation later Paul was catapulted to international stardom in 2011, when 2.5 billion people \u2013 the largest audience in broadcasting history \u2013 heard his Motet,\u00a0Ubi caritas\u00a0performed by the choirs of Westminster Abbey and Her Majesty\u2019s Chapel Royal, at the Royal Wedding Ceremony of Prince William and Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey.<\/p>\n
In May of this year his song, Coronation Kyrie, was performed by opera star Sir Bryn Terfel at the coronation of King Charles, making history as the first-ever Welsh language song at a royal coronation.<\/p>\n
Paul said: \u201cAs a composer myself, I really understand how and why William Mathias founded the festival and what it meant to him as it does to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is a true musical hero of mine and did so much for Welsh music and music in North Wales. His intellect and sense of joy with, and in, music was terrific and he had a great personality too which shines in his compositions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was growing up, the festival was the only place you could hear world-class classical musicians. That was the first place that I ever heard a professional orchestra live. And it is still one of the few places in North Wales where you can hear a professional orchestra in the flesh, so to speak.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was indeed the inspiration for my own musical career and I hope in future years it can help similarly inspire other young musicians locally and further afield.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite his career taking him away from North Wales, Paul never lost his links with the festival and in 2013 both he and William\u2019s daughter Rhiannon Mathias were appointed as Vice-Presidents.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cI am keen to extend the reach of the festival to include people who have never been before or may not have thought it was\/is for them.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope to create a \u2018festival fringe\u2019 engaging the very best in Welsh pop and folk music and comedy too. Along with our important explorations into the very best in classical music performance and creation, let\u2019s see what other art-forms offer to music and the human condition.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d love to see a multi-arts event bringing dance, painting, sculpture, sound design, maths, physics and music all working together in a single unity expressing the 21st century\u2019s many diversities. I have so many ideas!!\u201d<\/p>\n
Paul also paid tribute to his predecessor, Ann Atkinson, saying: \u201cAnn is an amazing person and has done so much for music and the arts in North Wales, but what I do want to say in particular is that, as well as being an incredible director for the festival, she is a world-class singer and conductor and, perhaps more importantly, a truly lovely person.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have already met with her a number of times as we \u2018cross over\u2019 roles and she has been brilliant in her advice and warmth.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Ann, she\u2019s delighted that Paul is taking over from her.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cKnowing of his deep personal passion for the festival, his long friendship with its founder, William Mathias, his own North Wales roots and his wealth of knowledge about music in all its forms, I know the future of this much loved festival will be in safe hands.<\/p>\n
The Chair of the North Wales International Music Festival, the Very Reverend Nigel Williams, Dean of the Cathedral, paid tribute to Ann\u2019s \u2018immense contribution\u2019, and said he looked forward to the festival flourishing even further under Paul\u2019s artistic leadership.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI hugely congratulate Paul who I know has a deep affection for the festival. I am excited to hear his plans and see how it will evolve in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vice-Chair Alun Jones, who led the recruitment process, was thrilled with the quality of candidates for the role and the eventual choice of Paul.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThere\u2019s no doubt that his long association with the festival, and personal knowledge of its history will stand him in good stead. He is well aware of the great work which has already been done and the challenges to be faced as he takes this wonderful event forward.\u201d<\/p>\n