The winner of the Cân i Gymru 2017 songwriting competition – and the prize of £5,000 – is Erfyl Owen from Rhewl near Ruthin with the song Cofio Hedd Wyn.
The second prize of £2,000 goes to Mared Williams, with the song Byw a Bod. And the third prize of £1,000 goes to Tincian by Bethan Williams Jones and Sam Humphreys.
The competition was held on Thursday 1 March, at Theatr Bryn Terfel, Pontio, and was broadcast live on S4C. Presenting the evening were singer Elin Fflur and TV presenter Trystan Ellis-Morris.
Erfyl Owen works for Denbighshire County Council, and is a member of the musical family of Hafod y Gân. He would often compose songs with his late mother for family and friends’ special occasions, but this is the first time he has composed both melody and words. He was eager to create words that would pull on the nation’s heartstrings by composing a song about the centenary of the death of poet Hedd Wyn. The song was performed by the group Ceidwad y Gân, in which Erfyl’s son, Harri is the lead singer.
“I can’t belive I’ve won – it feels fantastic” says Erfyl. “I was so pleased to reach the final eight, and I’m so pleased that my son and his friends sung the song in the live final,” adds Erfyl, with pride.
S4C's Entertainment Content Commissioner, Elen Rhys, said; “It’s been a fantastic evening of original Welsh-language music. Congratulations to all the songwriters and performers that were part of Cân i Gymru 2018, and especially to the winner Erfyl Owen.”
The eight songs were: Dwi’m yn Dy Nabod Di by Dafydd Dabson and Anna Georgina; Ton by Gwynfor Dafydd and Michael Phillips; Ysbrydion by Aled Wyn Hughes; Cofio Hedd Wyn by Erfyl Owen; Dim Hi by Hana Evans; Ti’n Frawd i Mi by Owain Glenister; Byw a Bod by Mared Williams and Tincian by Bethan Williams Jones and Sam Humphreys.
After each song was performed, the task of choosing a winner was handed to the viewers via a phone vote.
You can watch the whole programme again online, on demand, on
