Alumnus secures Bryn Terfel Scholarship with 'enchanting' performance

Alumnus Steffan Rhys Hughes was recently awarded the Urdd Gobaith Cymru Bryn Terfel Scholarship.

The BMus graduate beat out five other competitors to claim the £4,000 first prize, which is intended to support his development as a performer. This was Steffan’s third time competing for the Scholarship.

The Urdd Gobaith Cymru Bryn Terfel Scholarship was established in 1999. Its purpose is to nurture and develop Wales' musical talent. Six competitors are invited to compete for the Scholarship annually based on their performances and success at the Urdd National Eisteddfod (held in May each year).

Steffan’s fellow competitors included a current Cardiff University student from the School of Welsh, Rhydian Jenkins, alongside Bethan Elin, Jams Coleman, Meilir Jones and Lleucu Parri. For the final competition the six contenders were asked to prepare a performance lasting 12 minutes.

The distinguished judging panel included Ann Atkinson, Owain Llwyd, Gwennan Gibbard, Meinir Siencyn and Ann Fychan. The judges were united in their praise for Steffan’s performance and described it as ‘enchanting’.

Steffan’s victory can now be added to a long list of successes for the talented singer. He first appeared on the National Eisteddfod stage in 2003 and has since won many first prizes at the National, Urdd and Llangollen International Eisteddfod. He is the most successful individual to have appeared on the Eisteddfod’s Pavilion stage and holds that record with an impressive 41 appearances in ten years.

Steffan graduated from his BMus degree in 2015. Visit our Student Blog to read about his Eisteddfod experience in 2014 while he was an undergraduate student here.