The Coastal Path of Wales

Karl Jenkins

The world’s most performed living composer of classical music, Karl’s ‘The Armed Man: A Mass For Peace’ alone has been performed nearly 1000 times in 20 different countries since the CD was released while his recorded output has resulted in seventeen gold and platinum disc awards.

It was in jazz that he initially made his mark, performing with Soft Machine, one of the seminal bands of the 70’s.

In the field of advertising music he has won the prestigious D&AD award for best music (twice), the ‘Creative Circle Gold’ and several ‘Clios’ (New York) and ‘Golden Lions’ (Cannes). Credits include Levi’s, British Airways, Renault, Volvos, C&G, Tag Heuer, Pepsi as well as US/global campaigns for De Beers and Delta Airlines and Bafta ‘gongs’ for his scores for the documentaries The Celts and Testament.

After this period as a media composer, his return to the music mainstream was initially marked by the success of the Adiemus project. Adiemus, combining the ‘classical’ with ethnic vocal sounds and percussion with an invented language, topped classical and ‘pop’ charts around the world.

His output includes the harp concerto ‘Over The Stone’ commissioned by HRH the Prince of Wales for the Royal Harpist, Catrin Finch, Euphonium Concerto for David Childs, the concertante ‘Quirk’, commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Sir Colin Davies as part of its 2005 centenary season, Tlep written for virtuoso violinist Marat Bisengaliev and In These Stones Horizons Sing, featuring Bryn Terfel, Catrin Finch with the WNO Orchestra & Chorus which was premiered at the Royal Gala opening of the Welsh Millennium Centre in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen.

Recent CD releases include Requiem, “Kiri Sings Karl” with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa., This Land Of Ours with the Cory Band (world brass band champions), Stabat Mater, Quirk, a collection of concertos which includes La Folia, commissioned by Dame Evelyn Glennie , Stella Natalis and Gloria, premiered by a chorus of 2,500 at the RAH in July 2010.

In 2004 he entered Classic FM’s ‘Hall of Fame” at no 8., the highest position for a living composer.

He has been the subject of the ITV South Bank Show by Lord (Melvyn) Bragg as well as being a ‘castaway’ on ‘Desert Island Discs’ and was recently made a Freeman of the City of London.

He was awarded an OBE, by Her Majesty The Queen, in the 2005 New Year’s Honours List and a CBE in the 2010 Birthday Honours List “for services to music”.

Carol Barratt Jenkins

Karl’s wife, herself a composer, is a collaborator on music projects with Karl.

Julian Lloyd Webber

Described by Strad magazine as ‘the doyen of British cellists, Julian Lloyd Webber is widely recognised as one of the finest cellists of his generation. As founder of the British Government's In Harmony programme and the Chair of Sistema England, he continues to promote personal and community development in some of England’s most deprived areas. He was elected Fellow of the Royal College of Music in 1994 and - in recognition of his lifelong devotion to the music of Elgar- was elected President of the Elgar Society in 2009.

He has collaborated with an array of musicians from Lord Yehudi Menuhin, Lorin Maazel and Sir Georg Solti to Elton John and Stephane Grappelli.

His many recordings have received worldwide acclaim: his Brit-award winning Elgar Concerto conducted by Lord Menuhin was chosen as the finest ever version by BBC Music Magazine and his coupling of Britten’s Cello Symphony and Walton’s Concerto with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields conducted by Sir Neville Marriner was described by Gramophone magazine as being “beyond any rival”.

He was the only classical musician chosen to perform at the Closing Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympics.

Rev. John Bennett

John Bennett is in charge of the parishes of Cardigan, with Mwnt and Y Ferwig with Llangoedmor.

He began his career in agriculture, graduating from Wye College in 1981, and went on to train to teach agriculture at Aberystwyth from 1984.

He trained in the ministry at Trinity College, Bristol, from there he came to be first curate and then team Vicar in St David's Cathedral parish. For the past nine years, John has been in charge of Llanrhian and Llanhywel in the Cathedral parish of Dewisland.

John is a keen rower, and as well as practising regularly off the Pembrokeshire coast, the crew to which he belongs competes in contests in Cornwall and elsewhere.

Jason Williams

Jason provides management support to both the operational service delivery and clinical operations of the three air ambulances across Wales and contributes to future development and strategies regarding medical and clinical matters associated with HEMS.

Wales Air Ambulance is an all Wales charity providing a vital service through emergency air cover for those who face life-threatening illness or injuries.

Rhys Meirion

Welsh tenor Rhys Meirion has enjoyed international success in opera, recording and broadcasting, and is one of 'The Three Welsh Tenors'. He joined the English National Opera Jerwood Young Singers Programme and was subsequently a Company Principal, singing all the major tenor roles. Concert highlights have included a gala concert at the Royal Albert Hall with Bryn Terfel, his BBC Prom debut at the opening night of the BBC Proms (televised on BBC 2), Desert Island Discs Anniversary Concert at London’s Royal Festival Hall, a live BBC recording of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony conducted by Richard Hickox and Verdi’s Requiem at the Royal Albert Hall. Rhys has an extensive catalogue of recording work, including a duet album with Bryn Terfel ('Benedictus on the SAIN label') which was nominated for a Classical Brit Award. He has also released two albums for the Australian label Stanza AV ('Bluebird of Happiness’ and ‘Awesome Wonder'), and four solo CD recordings for the SAIN label. Recent highlights include a concert tour of Buenos Aires and Patagonia, the Last Night of the BBC Proms in Singleton Park and performances in LA and Seattle. Rhys is a regular presenter on the television programme Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol for S4C and has been an adjudicator for the Bryn Terfel Scholarship.

Rhys has completed two walks from South Wales to North Wales to raise money for the Wales Air Ambulance, and is an Ambassador for the charity.

Hymns recorded at Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff

Performances recorded at All Saints Church Oystermouth

Caernarfon Airport (Wales Air Ambulance)

Llyn Peninsula, North Wales (Other interviews and links)