Evening star., 1952-06-22
Song Festival
ToHighIight
Convention
By Frances Lide

Did you ever attend a Gymanfa
Ganu?
That's Welsh for assembly for
singing"
And this traditional Welsh song
festival will be highlight of the
35th annual convention of the
Women's Welsh Clubs of America,
opening here tomorrow.
The Gymanfa Ganu is sched-
uled for Tuesday at S:15 pm. in
the grand ballroom of the May
flower Hotel. It is open to the
public and approximately 1000
are expected to attend.
Gymanfa Ganu is pronounced
"Gummanva Ganny." "The fes-
tival has q religious significance
and is an expression of religious
sentiment and fervor from people
to whom singing in harmony
comes easily and naturally" local
Welsh Club officials explained. It
includes congregational hymn
singing as well as the appearance
of soloiStS.
The conductor Tuesday will be
Miss Frances Williams Of New
York. who has composed many
sacred and secular choral works:
Mrs. Mildred Lloyd Rockwell OF
Wellsboro, Pa, will play the ac-
compartment.
The soloist will be Miss Janet
Bosler, dramatic soprano, OF New
York. She will appear in authentic
Welsh dress to give a program OF
Welsh songs.
The Gwalia Choral Club OF
Washington, which draws its mem
bers from the Gwalia Women's
Club here, will also perform under
the direction of Miss Helen L. Ed
wards, with Miss Marjorie Need
ham as accompanist.
Representative Edward H. Rees
OF Kansas will act as chairman OF
the evenings program. OF Welsh
descent, Mr.. Rees is a past presi-1
dent and life member Of the En-
poria Welsh Club Of Emporia,
KanS.
The invocation will be given by
the Rev. 1dris w. Jones, associate
minister of Calvary Baptist
Church, and the benediction by
the Rev. Maldwyn A. Davies. as
sociate pastor of the Chevy Chase
Presbyterian Church.
About 800 delegates are expected
here for the three-day convention
of the Women's Welsh Clubs. All
of the sessions will be held at the
Mayf1ower.
Registration will begin tomor-
row morning and a sightseeing
tour has been arranged for ! pm.
A reception for delegates. members
and friends will be held at $3.50
pm. and will be followed by a
fashion show at $3.50.
The formal opening will be held
at 8 am. Tuesday. A welcome to
washington will be extended by
DR.. Luther Harris Evans, Librarian
of Congress.
Miss Edith M. Williams Of
Girard, Ohio, national president,
will be the presiding officer. Also
participating in the opening ses-
sion will be the presidents OF the
two hostess clubs-Mrs. j. Elwyn
Davies, Women's Welsh Club OF
Washington, and Mrs. William &.
Everett, Gwalia Women's Club.
Tuesdays program also will in
clude a luncheon, as well as the
Gymanfa Ganu.
Two business sessions, me-
mortal service and the convention
banquet are scheduled Wednes-I
day. The banquet speaker will
be Kenneth Harris. American
correspondent Of the London OBJ
server. Representative Thomas
A. Jenkins Of Ohio, also Of Welsh
descent, will be the chairman Of
the evening. The Rev. Frederick
Brown Harris. chaplain of the
Senate, will give the invocation.
Business will include the elec-
ton of officers and appropriation
Of funds for the Welsh Home for
Aged Welsh at Rocky River, Ohio.
Plans have been completed for
the construction Of new home
and donations to the building
fund will be reported at the clos
ing banquet.
Maintenance Of a home for aged
Welsh has been the principal OBJ
jective Of the organization since
its founding in 1911.