Meet the NYAW 2026 Folk and Jazz Discovery Day Tutors

National Youth Arts Wales (NYAW) is excited to announce the tutors who will be leading our upcoming Folk and Jazz Discovery Days across Wales this month. 

The free workshops will offer young musicians aged 14–22 and at a grade 4 and above level, the chance to experience folk or jazz in a fun, supportive and inclusive environment.   

2026 Folk Discovery Day Tutors   

Patrick Rimes 
Patrick Rimes is a musician, composer, arranger and educator from North Wales. Born and raised in Eryri, he got his early musical experiences with William Mathias music service, as well as learning traditional music through the vibrant local scene, before going on to study classical violin and viola at Leeds University, Janáčkovo Akademie Muzických in Brno, Czech Republic and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. As a founder member of both Calan and VRï he has toured extensively in the UK, Europe and North America, and released multiple acclaimed studio albums. He has appeared as a soloist with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, City of London Sinfonia and Sinfonia Cymru.  

Jordan Price Williams   
Jordan Price Williams is a Welsh-language folk singer and traditional musician from Cwmafan, South Wales. Rooted in the living traditions of Wales, his work centres on sharing, reinterpreting and sustaining Welsh-language repertoire for contemporary audiences. A founding member of the chamber-folk trio VRï, he has toured internationally and released two critically acclaimed albums (Tŷ Ein Tadau and islais a genir), bringing Welsh song and instrumental music to major stages including Celtic Connections, Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Edinburgh International Festival and Celtic Colours in Canada.  

Aneirin Jones 
Hailing from Pontardawe originally, Aneirin started playing the fiddle at aged 7, having a strong musical upbringing attending local Welsh trad. sessions in the Swansea Valley (‘Cwmtawe’) (as well as school orchestra and classical lessons). He studied a BMus in Traditional Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, then returning to Wales. As a member of the chamber-trad string-trio Vrï, he’s already enjoyed a very exciting career as a traditional musician. The band’s studio releases ‘Islais a Genir’ and ‘Ty Ein Tadau’ both won “Best Album” at the Wales Folk Awards (2019 and 2023). They’ve performed in many parts of the world on international stages (from Canada, Brittany to India to name a few) and many tours across the UK.  

Stephen Rees 
Stephen Rees is a multi-instrumentalist who is well known in the world of Welsh folk music, having performed throughout the UK and internationally with the groups Ar Log and Crasdant. He is also an experienced tutor who injects creativity and enthusiasm into his workshops. Stephen’s main instruments are fiddle and accordion, although he can occasionally be seen (and heard!) playing the pibgorn. 

Gwen Mairi 
Gwen Màiri is a harpist, singer and composer, creating music rooted in Welsh tradition combined with her own contemporary style. She has released two albums (Mentro, 2019 and Douze Noëls, 2021) and her playing can also be heard on the albums of Gwilym Bowen Rhys (O Groth y Ddaear - 2016, Arenig - 2019, Aden - 2025).  Gwen's track Teifi, from Mentro, was shortlisted for Best Instrumental Track in the Wales Folk Awards 2023. Her third album is currently in progress, to be released in 2026. 

Rhys Morris 
Rhys started playing guitar from a young age and discovered his love for folk music as a teenager. Since then, he has played across the country with Avanc and has been a tutor on the Gwerin Gwallgo course multiple times.  

Awen Blandford 
Awen is a freelance cellist and singer based in Manchester. A graduate of the RNCM, her performance work has taken her to venues across the UK and internationally, collaborating on projects ranging from rock bands to dance productions. Originally from North Wales, her current work centres on a deepening reconnection with Welsh traditional music, which shapes her creative practice and teaching. She currently enjoys performing regularly with esteemed folk artists, Anna McLuckie, Mikey Kenney, and Seamus Óg. 

2026 Jazz Discovery Day Tutors  

Gareth Roberts 
Gareth Roberts is a jazz trombonist, composer and teacher based in Cardiff. Since graduating from RWCMD in 2005 with a PG Dip in jazz performance Gareth has worked professionally as a jazz musician, composer, and music teacher. The Gareth Roberts Quintet has released two critically acclaimed albums of original compositions; one of these albums won a Jazz Services UK award. 

Gethin Liddington 
Gethin Liddington (LWCMD, AWCMD) studied classical trumpet with Terence Lax at Welsh College of Music and Drama from 1989 to 1993. Since graduating, he has worked mainly in jazz and commercial music. He has performed widely, collaborations including Keith Tippetts' Tapestry, the Paul Dunmall Octet and Big Band, the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, Back to Basie, Blue Harlem, Welsh National Opera, Jeff Hooper, Catrin Finch, Katherine Jenkins, Keith Nicholls, Alex Mendham Orchestra and the Welsh Jazz Composers Orchestra. He has also performed for TV and radio, has recorded and has given performances at many major festivals throughout Europe and is also a jazz trumpet tutor at RWCMD. 

Huw Warren 
Huw Warren is one of Wales' best known Jazz pianist and composers with a highly original style fusing many genres and influences. Internationally he has collaborated with musicians such as Maria Pia de Vito (Italy) Mark Feldman (USA) Peter Herbert (Austria); whilst in the UK he is known for his long collaboration with singer June Tabor and being the co-founder of influential 90s group Perfect Houseplants. His solo albums have included reworking John Dowland, Hermeto Pascoal and Brazilian Choro and his music can be found on ECM, CAMJazz, Babel, Basho, Linn and his own Maizeh music label. Equally passionate about projects closer to home in Cymru, he has recorded an album of Welsh Hymns (Duw y Wyr) with Lleuwen Steffan and more recently an album of Plygain arrangements (Calennig) with Angharad Jenkins. Huw teaches at RWCMD and Cardiff University. 

Huw V Williams 
Bass player Huw V Williams, originally hailing from rural North Wales is one of the most exciting and unique musicians on the scene at the moment. Huw has been associated with world class musicians in the field of jazz and improvised music, including Jim Black, Huw Warren, Jeff Williams, Laura Jurd and Ivo Neame. As well as being jazz bass player, he also plays in the rock world with musicians Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals) and Kliph Scurlock (formerly of the Flaming Lips).   

Andrew Bain 
Andrew Bain, musician, educator and researcher, is one of the leading performers and educators in Europe having performed with luminaries such as Wynton Marsalis, Natalie Cole, Kenny Wheeler, Randy Brecker, John Taylor, NDR Big Band, Dave Liebman and Bob Mintzer, including a New York residency. Andrew was appointed Head of Jazz at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2023.  

Paula Gardiner 
Paula Gardiner is best known for her work as jazz bassist and composer, based in Wales. However, her professional career began as a classical guitarist and composer for theatre. She has written extensively for theatre, radio and film. Paula calls herself ‘The Accidental Bassist”, as a number of coincidences found her playing firstly electric bass in an afro-cuban band, and then double bass for Cardiff’s central jazz club, The Four Bars Inn, providing the rhythm section for a host of visiting international artists. During the nineties and noughties, Paula founded several bands including the Paula Gardiner Quartet, 6, The Paula Gardiner Trio, Paula Gardiner 6.0 and the anarchic big band that was Wales’ Jazz Composers. She has worked internationally, taking her own music to the US and composing/conducting a major project in Wales and South Africa for the cultural Olympiad, 2012. 

Joe Northwood 
A jazz saxophonist, educator and promoter, Joe has spent his career championing jazz and improvisation and is as a leading youth jazz educator and creative mentor within Wales. Over the past 20 years Joe has performed across the UK and internationally as a band leader, collaborator and session musician. He has released a number of records under his own name including his 2019 trio album 'Taking Flight' and the 2020 dystopian funk EP 'Nurdle'. Most recently he has worked with 'N'Famady Kouyaté and the Successors of the Mandingue' (West African/Welsh Indie Fusion band) and 'Pendevig' (17-piece Folk super band). 

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We want to encourage musicians of all traditional music backgrounds to take part in the Discovery Days – whether your background is Jazz, Welsh Folk, or any other world music tradition, these sessions will be fun for all. 

The programme is delivered by National Youth Arts Wales, in partnership with National Music Service Wales and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and strategic support from Arts Council of Wales, strengthening pathways for young people in Wales to discover development opportunities in their musical journeys.  Places are free but limited, so advance booking is required.   

For dates and locations, and to sign-up, visit: www.nyaw.org.uk/whats-on