A University Professor is to fund an annual prize for outstanding music technology students in memory of two stalwarts of the North Wales music scene.
Peter Excell, Professor of Communications at Glyndwr University, has established the Blodwen and Christmas Evans prize for final year undergraduates studying on music-based degrees at the Wrexham university.
Blodwen and Christmas, Professor Excell’s great aunt and uncle, were prominent members of the Welsh music scene in Corwen in the early-mid 20th century.
The prize will be awarded to the best performing final year student on the University’s BSc (Hons) Studio Recording and Performance Technology course and will be extended to its new Music Technology course as students feed through from that.
"Blodwen and Christmas were devoted companions who inspired generations of talented musicians from the Corwen area," said Professor Excell. "They were mainly associated with classical music, chapel hymns – Christmas was an organist at Capel Seion in Corwen – and with the Welsh National Eisteddfodau.
"Christmas composed a winning entry for Corwen kids at the first Urdd Eisteddfod in the 1920s and Blodwen was one of the first graduates of the University of Wales - she was a big driver for education in our family and I think I was probably the first person in the family to go university after her so I feel I owe her this debt of gratitude."
The prize, which will run for five years initially, includes a cheque for £50 plus a certificate inscribed with the student’s name.
The first winner of the prize will be announced at the University’s annual graduation ceremony at the end of October.
Professor Excell added: "We don’t currently offer a pure music degree here so supporting the Communications Technology courses is the nearest thing. When I arrived here last year the subject was one of few that did not have a prize for the best student so I’m pleased to try and encourage our star students and staff to raise the profile of the subject."
Glyndwr University currently offers degrees in Studio Recording and Performance Technology, Sound Studio Technology, Radio Production and Communication and Music Technology. For more information visit www.glyndwr.ac.uk or call 01978 293439.
