The Elizabeth Evans Trust –
Grants and Bursaries
for Performing Arts
in Wales
21 February 2008
The Elizabeth Evans Trust was set up in 2005 to continue the valuable work of Elizabeth Evans MBE in supporting the professional development of young Welsh performers and theatre professionals. This week, the Trust announced its second tranche of recipients. They are musical theatre performers Iwan Hedd Lewis and Owain Llyr Williams who are studying at Guildford School of Acting and The Royal Academy of Music respectively, also striving for careers in Musical theatre but in their final year at Mountview Academy are Laura-Beth Davies and Natalie Morgan. On the classical side of the arts, awards have been made to National Opera studio Soprano Elizabeth Donovan, Royal Academy of Music Violinist Elin Haf Richards, opera singers Gary Griffiths and Emily Jane Thomas who are studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In addition to performers, the Trust also supports the development of young people wishing to develop technical and specialised skills within the arts and this year are supporting Matthew Morgan who studies stage management at Central School in London.
The Trust supports young people from Wales aged between 16 and 26 who wish to pursue a career in any branch of the performing arts. To date, the Elizabeth Evans Trust has sponsored 22 young people since forming in 2005. Paul Islwyn, one of the trustees of the Elizabeth Evans Trust commented: “Wales has a wealth of young talent, but of course not everyone has the means or the support necessary to establish a firm footing on the highly competitive arts ladder. The aim of the Elizabeth Evans Trust is not only to provide financial help to support the most talented youngsters through that difficult transition phase between being a promising amateur and a young professional, but also to provide guidance, mentoring and practical support to help them establish themselves within the industry.”
Members of the award panel in 2007 included presenter and singer Shân Cothi, Pianist Ingrid Surgenor, Opera Singer Donald Maxwell, ‘Bond’ Violinist Eos Chater and Peter Johansson, who currently plays the lead role in the West End, hit musical We Will Rock You, he commented: “We were delighted by the quality of this year’s applicants. Wales is full of talented young people who have both the gift and the focus to succeed. The Elizabeth Evans Trust, is crucial in helping these young people to fulfil their potential. I’ll be following their careers with great interest, and personally think we can expect great things.”
Elizabeth Evans dedicated her life to providing young people with the opportunity to develop their creative talents, to facilitate this she founded the Carmarthen Youth Opera in 1978 and subsequently led the movement to save the Lyric Theatre, where she was artistic director of for over 20 years. The Lyric was one of very few self funding theatres and was unique in the way it not only served the community but provided a ‘home’ for the Youth Opera and could subsequently provide an essential training ground so valuable to any young person wishing to go into the performing arts. One of Elizabeth’s ‘old boys’ Richard Thomas, now Technical Show Manager at London’s Royal Albert Hall, said: “The fact that Carmarthenshire has produced so many people working within the arts is testament to the work and dedication that Liz gave to all her young people, which thankfully is now being continued by her wonderful trust”
On Friday 9th May in the legendary surroundings of the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, the Trust will be holding a fundraising gala dinner to raise funds. It will be an opportunity for supporters to enjoy performances by some of the past and present award recipients who will perform during the Dinner. Wynne Evans, Opera Singer and Trustee said: “I’ve sung at the Millennium Stadium quite a few times now and I couldn't think of a better place to hold an event that I can promise will not only be great fun but also a spectacular evening” Tickets for the dinner are £50 each, and tables of ten may be secured for £500. For further information, please contact 02920757564 or 01267 234174 or e-mail: tickets@theelizabethevanstrust.co.uk
Applications for the next round of Trust awards should be submitted by 30 April 2008, and auditions will be held in June. Further details about the Trust, and how to apply, can be found on www.theelizabethevanstrust.co.uk or by writing to the Trust Secretary, The Elizabeth Evans Trust, Gwynne House, 6 Quay Street, Carmarthen SA31 3AD
Email: The Trust Secretary