2003 was the centenary year of the death of Welsh-American singer, composer, and teacher of music, Dr. Joseph Parry, . The Association honored Dr. Parry at the State Gymanfa Ganu on May 4. With the help of a grant from the Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association, our Association brought Dr. Dulais Rhys of Caerfyrddin to Wisconsin. Readers of Welsh will want to begin learning about Dr. Parry in a recently published biography of him, "Bachgen Bach o Ferthyr", written by Welsh music scholar Dr. Dulais Rhys. Click here to see a quiz about Joseph Parry (with answers provided).

The Association presented the Joseph Parry memorial plaque to Rev. Judson Bennett (third from left) at the State Gymanfa Ganu on May 4, 2003. Also pictured are Mary Williams-Norton (memorial committee), Mary Davis (WGGAW president), Rev. Joseph Corbin (directory), Ann Lemmenes (WGGAW treasurer), and Marilyn Schrader (memorial committee member and organist).

The WGGAW received a $250 grant from the Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu Association to help defray the cost of Dr. Rhys's air travel to Wisconsin. We hope that those of you who attended the lectures July 27 or 29 enjoyed them. Thanks go to the Cambrian Heritage Society, the Druids, and the St. David's Society of Oshkosh for providing financial support and refreshments at the lectures. Below is a picture of Dr. Rhys playing an excerpt from a Parry sonata during his lecture at Oshkosh.