Gymanfa Ganu – 28 February 2026

This annual hymn singing festival, organised by the Melbourne Welsh Church, took place at St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne on 28 February 2026.

The conductor for the afternoon was the celebrated Welsh composer Robat Arwyn with Rev. Siôn Gough Hughes officiating. National Eisteddfod 2025 Blue Ribbon winner mezzo-soprano Erin Fflur was the guest soloist and showcased her beautiful voice with four songs, accompanied by Robat.

There were well over 100 choristers leading the huge audience in singing nine congregational hymns accompanied by our and Australian Welsh’s accompanist Dr Janice Noh and the Welsh Church’s organist Mr John Weymouth.

The choirs taking part were the Geelong Ladies Welsh Choir (MD Jeanette John), Melbourne Welsh (MD Mitch Meyers), Victoria Welsh (MD Rushan Hewawasam) and three choirs (Australian Welsh, Mornington Peninsula Welsh Ladies and Excelsis under the direction of Tom Buchanan.

In between the congregational hymns, the various choirs combined on other numbers.

The three male choirs performed Morte Criste, conducted by Mitch, and Gwahoddiad (Invitation) conducted by Rushan. The two ladies’ choirs combined to sing O Llefara, Addfwyn Iesu (Speak, I Pray Thee, Gentle Jesus) (conducted by Tom) and A Flower Remembered (Jeanette).

Robat conducted the Excelsis choir on Ffydd Gobaith Cariad (Faith, Hope, Love) and all six choirs on his own very well-known Benedictus to great acclaim.