Llantilio Crossenny Festival of Music and Drama

Having started with a view to bringing quality music to the local community in a beautiful and unique setting (St Teilo's, the village church), this aim continues, though now they serve a wider audience, with visitors from considerable distances including some from abroad.

The Festival programme always includes a night of opera, an orchestral concert, normally a children's concert, an evening of lighter music (a "fun" evening) and a sung Evensong on the Sunday evening. If the programme permits then from time to time, we like to include a ballet. The Church seats approximately 200, and we expect each concert to play to a full or nearly full house.

The Festival Orchestra is made up of well-known London players, much in demand for major recordings, many of whom have been coming to play for us for many years and have become old friends.

How did it all start?

The Festival began when a number of musicians were living in the Llantilio Crossenny area, Charles Farncombe, Mansell Thomas (who conducted the BBC Welsh Orchestra) his wife and others. At first the Festival was very much a local village festival, but, over the years, and taking advantage of Charles Farncombe's connections with top London musicians, the standard has improved continually and now is comparable with Festivals anywhere.

This Festival, from small and humble beginnings, has improved in quality and reputation steadily over the years, and goes from strength to strength.