Bethan Bryn awarded Honorary Fellowship

Aled Rhys Jones, Pro-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University, with Bethan Bryn

The pioneering harpist Bethan Bryn has been bestowed with an Honorary Fellowship by Aberystwyth University.

Bethan Bryn is a harpist, adjudicator, and arranger and has coached hundreds of children, young people, adults, parties and choirs, with considerable success. For this work, she was awarded the honour of the white robes of the Gorsedd of Wales.

Her interest is in cerdd dant – the art of singing a countermelody over a harp melody. She has published four volumes of compositions and arrangements for the harp, and a volume of songs for children. To bring cerdd dant to a wider audience she composed the music for five shows.

Bethan Bryn was presented with an Honorary Fellowship by Dr Gwawr Taylor on 14 July.

The full conferral presentation is available below, in the language in which it was delivered.

Presentation of Bethan Bryn by Dr Gwawr Taylor

Ddirprwy Ganghellor, Ddirprwy Is-Ganghellor, Raddedigion, Gyfeillion. Pleser o’r mwyaf yw cyflwyno Bethan Bryn yn Gymrawd Prifysgol Aberystwyth.

Mae cyflwyno Cymrawd bob amser yn fraint, achos ry’ch chi yng nghwmni rhywun go arbennig. Ond mae cael cyflwyno rhywun sydd wedi dylanwadu’n uniongyrchol ar gynifer ohonom ni yma yn y stafell hon yn fraint unigryw, ac mae’n bleser cael cydnabod Bethan Bryn yma yn Aber heddiw.

Pro Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, graduates, and supporters. It is an honour and a privilege to present Bethan Bryn as a Fellow of Aberystwyth University today – an international harpist, composer, arranger, adjudicator, teacher, and one of the most influential ambassadors of cerdd dant in modern Wales… And for us, in Aber, a local legend!

There will be countless people in this room today who have been inspired by a teacher – or a lecturer, who may be sitting on this stage. 10-year old Bethan was one of those who was initially inspired by her teacher in Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Rhuthun - Dr Aled Lloyd Davies, who was also an Aber graduate - and one of the leading authorities on cerdd dant – the uniquely Welsh tradition where the harp plays one melody, and the singer sing a different melody. For the avoidance of any doubt for those who have perhaps picked up a few words and phrases during your time in Aber, the dant in this case is the strings on the harp, not tooth music… Although, being the musical pioneer and creative genius she is, I wouldn’t put anything past Bethan Bryn!

However, she very nearly chose a different career, and was initially accepted to study Sports in Liverpool. She also toyed with the idea of a Law degree in Aber, but finally decided on a Music course in Reading. I, for one am very glad you put down your tennis racket and pursued a career playing a very different set of strings.

Ymysg rhai o weithiau mwyaf arloesol Bethan Bryn mae Dan y Wenallt a Culhwch ag Olwen. Heb fod yn feirniadol o Bedair Cainc y Mabinogi, ond mae gan Bethan Bryn nes at hanner cant o geinciau I'w henw. Ydi, mae’n gyfansoddwraig doreithiog, ond yn bwysicach na hynny, roedd yn ddigon dewr i newid sain cerdd dant a gwthio’r rheolau traddodiadol yna roedd hi wedi’i trwytho ynddyn nhw – gan godi sawl gwrychyn. Ond pwy allai bechu gyda rhywun a wnaeth ddefnyddio Stranger on the Shore fel cainc cerdd dant? Ers degawdau, gallwch chi weld a chlywed gwaddol Bethan Bryn ym mhob nodyn ar bob math o lwyfannau ar hyd a lled y byd.

One of Bethan’s many distinguishing features is her ability to bring people together, often through music. She understands that success is rarely an individual endeavour; it is built through collaboration, encouragement, and mutual trust. Colleagues, friends, and those fortunate enough to work alongside her speak not only of her capability and her perfectionism, but also of her kindness, her inspiration, and unwavering support – although she is her own greatest critic. On a personal level, I stepped onto the stage to accompany cerdd dant for the first time as an 18 year old girl – I’ll be honest, seeing the legendary Bethan Bryn in the audience was a bit terrifying, but her encouragement, her support, and her advice – delivered

in her characteristic no-nonsense tone, meant I kept going, and I am only one example of a hundred, if not thousands of people that she inspired and empowered.

Aberystwyth University’s values of integrity, togetherness and pushing boundaries shine through Bethan. She is always there to lend a hand, and nothing is too much work – even when she is juggling musical pioneering work with raising 4 children. Her roots in Aber are strong and have worked their way through the school yard in Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth, where she taught generations of Aber children, up to the Welsh halls of Pantycelyn where she – in her legendary shell suits - rehearsed and led choirs to national successes in highly respected cerdd dant choral competitions. Over 40 years later, those Pantycelyn students reconvened last autumn to deliver the first ever cerdd dant flashmob on live television to honour Bethan Bryn – a performance overflowing in respect and admiration. A true testament to her inspiration is the fact that many of those young students are now experienced conductors, teachers and singers themselves, ensuring that Bethan’s legacy lives on for generations to come.

Her creative ambition continues to break new ground. In 2024, to welcome the National Cerdd Dant festival to Aberystwyth, Cantata'r Geni was announced - the first-ever cerdd dant cantata. Her influence has reached every corner of Wales and far beyond. Her published collections of harp music, including Lobsgows, Stelcian, and Yn y Mŵd, have enriched the repertoire available to performers and provided valuable resources for the continuing development of cerdd dant. Through her performances, compositions, adjudication, educational work, and leadership within the musical community, she has ensured that this uniquely Welsh art form remains vibrant, relevant, and accessible to new generations.

Fel athro a mentor, mae hi wedi cymell ac annog cannoedd o blant, pobl ifanc, ac oedolion fel ei gilydd gan feithrin ynddyn nhw ragoriaeth gerddorol, ond hefyd hyder yn eu gallu nhw eu hunain i lwyddo. Chi’n gwybod eich bod chi wedi gwneud rhywbeth yn iawn mewn bywyd pan mae’r Athro Mererid Hopwood yn cyflwyno awdl i chi fel anrheg pen-blwydd – a Mererid, hithau cofiwch, yn un o gywion cerddorol Bethan Bryn. Mae parch Bethan at farddoniaeth yn nodweddiadol, a’r briodas rhwng y gair a’r gân yn gwbl annatod. Felly, gan ein bod wedi’n croesawu i’r seremoni yn sŵn ceinciau meistrolgar Bethan Bryn ar y delyn, mae’n briodol i mi felly gloi yn sŵn meistres y geiriau, Yr Athro Mererid Hopwood a’i theyrnged i Bethan, ‘Diolch am bopeth, Bethan. Hwn yw gair diwedd y gân’.

Ddirprwy Ganghellor mae’n bleser pur gen i gyflwyno Bethan Bryn i chi yn Gymrawd Prifysgol Aberystwyth.

Pro Chancellor it is my absolute pleasure to present Bethan Bryn to you as a Fellow of Aberystwyth University.

Aberystwyth University Honours 2026

Each year, Aberystwyth University confers Honorary Awards on a small number of distinguished individuals in recognition of their outstanding achievements and contribution to their fields.

More information about Aberystwyth University Honours 2026.

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