Gymanfa Ganu prepares for 100th event

VW independent/submitted information

VENEDOCIA — Salem Presbyterian Church of Venedocia will be celebrating a longtime community event with its 100th Gymanfa Ganu on Sunday, September 6.  The Gymanfa Ganu (pronounced “Ga-mahn’-fa Ga’-nee”) is a Welsh festival of song tradition celebrated around the world.

The village of Venedocia has strong Welsh roots, being settled as it was in 1848 by three Welsh families. Those early settlers brought with them strong religious convictions, but also a deep love for music — particularly for singing in four-part harmony. The first church was built in 1851 and the present church building was finished in 1898.

The Welsh Festival of Song has been kept alive for the past century. Every year several hundred people come from many different states to renew friendships and to participate in the singing. To hear the grand old Welsh hymns sung in four-part harmony by a large and very enthusiastic congregation is very inspiring.

The director this year will be Eric Foster, who was born and raised in Salem Church and is the son of the late Daniel and Carol Foster. He has long been an active participant in musical events due to the influence of the rich Welsh musical heritage in Venedocia. In fact, both his grandmother and mother were organists at past Gymanfi.

Foster attended Ohio State University and has directed past Gymanfi in Venedocia, as well as in Michigan. He has also directed productions of the Stockbridge Festival Singers and has been soloist with the Ingham Festival Chorus. In 2007, he retired after 10 years as director of the Mason Presbyterian Chancel choir. He also retired as vice president of agency operations for the Regency Insurance Group of East Lansing, Michigan, in 2007 and now resides in Dansville, Michigan, with his wife, Luana. They travel extensively and enjoy golfing and swing dancing.

Soloists for this year’s Gymanfa will be two very talented and well-known area singers.

Sheila Chilcote-Collins, soprano, is an Ohio City native who enjoys performing sacred, opera, art song and musical theatre genres of music. Over the years, she has been involved in the Youth for Christ Contemporaries, Fort Wayne Philharmonic’s Summerfest Chorus and the Heartland Festival Chorus. With a special enjoyment in theatre, she has previously been involved with Van Wert Civic Theatre, Stage Left Theatre Productions and the Celina Lakeside Players, winning both local and regional awards for acting.

Chilcote-Collins currently sings with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic chorus, is a member of First Presbyterian Church of Van Wert’s Women’s Quartet and also the Chancel Choir, where she is a frequent soloist. She has been a featured soloist at several area churches, special programs, and weddings in the tri-county area and most recently concert venues in Huntington, Indiana. She studies voice with David Van Tilburg and resides in Van Wert with her husband, Keith.

Jake Wilder, the second soloist, is a locally known tenor and teacher in Van Wert who graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor’s degree in music performance and a minor in vocal pedagogy. While at BGSU, Wilder was in numerous productions in the College of Musical Arts as principle tenor. He won first place in many competitions, including the Concerto Competition, and had the privilege of participating in master classes with Ann Baltz of Opera Works, Margo Garrett of Julliard and Frederic West. While at BGSU, he studied voice privately with tenor Chris Scholl.

Hailed as having a “powerful and unique timbre” by The Toledo Blade in 2011, Wilder performed a two-month show tour with the Toledo Opera on Wheels. He has been principle tenor for productions of Handel’s Messiah in Berne, Indiana, and in Van Wert. In 2014, he joined Heartland Sings under the direction of Maestro Robert Nance in Fort Wayne, where he performs each month throughout the tri-state area.

Also among locally rooted musicians, Bonnie Bolton will be performing as organist. She was born and raised in the Venedocia area, but has lived in Colorado for many years. She recently retired after working for 45 years as a registered nurse and now is a full-time online student in Healthcare Informatics with the University of Colorado. She has been the organist for First United Methodist Church in Colorado for 21 years and also at Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church. Bolton looks forward to playing the organ at Salem Church again with fond memories of when her father, Edwin, and Uncle Wayne sang in the Gymanfa many years ago.

Connie O’Neill, who was raised in Salem Church, will be the pianist this year. O’Neill, who currently lives in New Bremen with her husband, Kevin, is an accomplished organist and pianist who has participated in past Gymanfi.

Not only will this be a celebration of the 100th Gymanfa Ganu, this year is also special as the 50th high school anniversary for many longtime singers, including Foster, Bolton and Margaret (Morris) Lopez, who will be leading the alumni choir in the Sunday morning worship service.

Held on Labor Day Sunday, a light supper will be served from 4-6 p.m. for a free-will donation. The Gymanfa will begin at 7 pm. All are welcome to experience a night like no other with the church full of voices raised glorifying the Lord, joyful reunions of friends and family and celebration of the unique Welsh heritage in music in the village of Venedocia. Salem Church is located at 15240 Ohio 116 in Venedocia. The pastor, Rev. Thomas Emery, invites area residents to visit the church website, www.SalemChurch.cc, or contact Jean Owens at 419.667.3523 or joytrips@watchtv.net for more information.