Gomer native to direct 91st Gymanfa Ganu

Published:  Thursday, October 2, 2008 (3 months, 1 week ago)
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By NANCY SPENCER
The Delphos Herald

GOMER — Steeped in Welsh tradition, the burgh of Gomer has celebrated its heritage with song for the past 90 years.
On Oct. 5, Gomer United Church of Christ will host the 91st annual Gymanfa Ganu, a Welsh celebration of song and music. The event draws people from as far away as Fort Wayne, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo.
The program will begin at 7 p.m. with Dr. Patricia Bowers Schultz directing. Schultz is a Gomer native with Welsh background and is a retired professor of music from Northwest Missouri State University.
At 3 p.m. Sunday, Kathleen Sunderland of Gomer will give a vocal recital. She is a senior in music education at Ohio State University and her repertoire is to meet requirements for her college recital Nov. 14 at Hughes Hall at the university in Columbus. She will graduate in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in music education.
Gymanfa Ganu organizers Elizabeth Roberts and Alice Bushong are excited about the upcoming event.
“We put all the parts together — tenor, bass, alto, soprano — and if you like music, it sounds enthralling,” Bushong said. “People say even listening from outside the church it sounds wonderful.”
The pair have been in charge of the event for many years and say the Gymanfa Ganu is a deep-rooted tradition.
“It’s a Welsh tradition and we are Welsh. It’s the Welsh in us that keeps us going,” Roberts said. “Four-part singing was originally started in Wales. Some people came to America just to sing because the emperors didn’t like the way they were doing it.”
The Welsh Society will serve a light lunch of sandwiches and salads beginning at 4:30 p.m. Sunday with a free-will offering taken.
The Welsh Museum across from the church  in Gomer will be open from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday.
A chicken barbecue will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. Saturday for $7. Call the church office at 419-642-2681 for tickets.

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