Free Music Friday at Blaengarw Workmen's Hall (Featuring Bethan Semmens)

A keen chamber musician, Bethan has collaborated with numerous ensembles and soloists over the years and continues to enjoy UK wide performances with flute and voice duos. Performances include recitals at the Fishguard International Festival, St David’s Cathedral Festival, Gregynog Festival and the Devizes Arts Festival. Bethan enjoys a range of collaborations but in particular, that between harp and a choir.

Her recent commission, composed by Richard Elfyn Jones, was funded by Ty Cerdd and performed with Cordydd at the 14th World Harp Congress in Cardiff. Live Music Now has been very prominent in Bethan’s career. She has performed extensively in care homes across England, Wales, Germany and Austria; and led workshops in schools across the country. Most recent projects include Live Music Now’s ground breaking Lullaby Project Cymru in collaboration with Flying Start and a residency on a perinatal mental health unit in South Wales. Bethan studied with Ieuan Jones at the Royal College of Music, London, where she gained her Masters of Performance with distinction in 2013, generously supported by the Richard Carne Charitable Trust and the Arts Council of Wales Award.

During her time at RCM, Bethan was nominated for a place to study at the Universität Mozarteum in Salzburg as an Erasmus student under the tutelage of Stephen Fitzpatrick, which she completed in winter 2012. Prior to this, Bethan studied for her Bachelor degree with Caryl Thomas at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where she was the recipient of the Daniel Emlyn Davies award. Bethan is an active freelance orchestral player in the UK and regularly performs with BBC NOW, WNO, Northern Ballet, English Symphony Orchestra, British Sinfonietta and Novello Orchestra. Her work with these orchestras include tours of the UK and Ireland contributing to Film with Live Orchestra performances in theatres and arenas; symphony performances at Gloucester Cathedral, Brangwyn Hall, St David’s Hall, Wales Millennium Centre, Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Opera House and further performances have included concerts with Rick Wakeman at both the O2 Centre and the Southbank, for his 70th birthday celebrations. A keen chamber musician, Bethan has collaborated with numerous ensembles and soloists over the years and continues to enjoy UK wide performances with flute and voice duos.