Catrin Finch and South American band perform at Glyndŵr University to mark the opening of new performance centre
1 July 2009
Renowned Welsh harpist Catrin Finch is to perform a special one-off concert to mark the opening of Glyndŵr University’s new £3 million conference and performance centre which is to be named after her - the Canolfan Catrin Finch Centre.
The performance, with South American band Cimarron, will take place on Thursday 23 July at 7.30pm.
The 200-seat theatre and conference centre, equipped with ultra-modern, hi-tech audio-visual facilities, is set to become a major hub for performing arts in north east Wales.
Professor Michael Scott, Vice-Chancellor of Glyndŵr University, said it would play host to small scale theatre productions, plays, smaller music events and creative art workshops / training courses, as well as being used for conferences, meetings, exhibitions and receptions.
“The Canolfan Catrin Finch Centre is undoubtedly one of the best venues for live music and theatre that Wrexham has ever seen,” he said. “Not only will it be of tremendous benefit for our performing arts students, it’s a facility that the whole community can access – and not just if you want to see live theatre. Businesses will be able to access top class conference facilities too.
“It’s just over a year since we became a university and we’ve made great strides forward in that short time. We’ve got plans to further expand and invest over the next few years, and the Catrin Finch Centre is just the start of that.”
The naming of the centre after Ms Finch follows on from the award of a year-long Robarts Fellowship to her by the University.
Described as “The Queen of Harps”, Catrin has performed extensively throughout the world. She has appeared with many of the world’s top orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, the Philharmonia, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the London Mozart Players, the English Chamber Orchestra, the North Carolina Symphony and the Manchester Camerata.
After playing harp for the first time at age five, Ceredigion-born Ms Finch has risen to become one of the world’s leading harpists. She picked up her first international prize in 1999 - winning the prestigious Lily Laskine International Harp Competition in France - and has since received a Classical Brit Award nomination and held the post of Royal Harpist to the Prince of Wales.
“Catrin is one of the most talented harpists of her generation and we’re delighted to name the centre after her,” added Professor Scott. “She has brought joy to millions worldwide with her music, and as a university we are proud to have such a strong association with Catrin. The Canolfan Catrin Finch Centre is a fitting tribute.”
Catrin Finch and Cimarron - a seven piece Llanera group led by harpist and composer Carlos Rojas, and drawn from the Mestizo people that inhabit the savannahs of the great Orinoco river in Colombia - first met each other in Caernarfon, Wales, in November 2007. During an intense four days, they exchanged and developed tunes and songs from each other’s native culture, each being led by the other’s harp tradition. Traditional Colombian rhythms saw the injection of Catrin’s stunning virtuosity, whilst traditional Welsh melodies became infused with a vibrant Latin identity.
Tickets for the 23 July performance by Catrin Finch and Cimarron are priced £15.00 or £12.50 concessions and are available online or by telephone on 01978 292015. They can also be bought in person at the Wrexham Tourist Information Centre, Lambpit Street. There is a fully licensed bar and parking at the centre is free. Please telephone our Conference Co-ordinators on 01978 293565 for more information about the venue.
