William Mathias

Photo of grave of William MathiasWilliam Mathias, d.1992

William Mathias CBE was one of Britain’s leading composers of the second half of the 20th century. His greatest exposure came in 1981 when an anthem he had written was performed at the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981, an event broadcast to millions of people around the world.

He was born in 1934 in Whitland, Carmarthenshire. His father was a teacher and his mother an organist and pianist. He studied music at Aberystwyth and later at the Royal Academy of Music, London, where his tutors included the composer Sir Lennox Berkeley. He taught at Bangor and Edinburgh universities before being appointed professor of music at Bangor.

He married Yvonne Collins of Aberdare in 1959. She died in 2014 and is also buried here. They had one daughter, Rhiannon, who is an academic and music historian, noted for her research on women composers, among other subjects.

William’s output as a composer was wide-ranging. It included an opera, three symphonies and three “Landscapes of the Mind” for orchestra. Most of his choral works are liturgical. Some of his compositions remain firm favourites for choral performances at celebratory events.

William was also an accomplished conductor. He founded the North Wales Music Festival in St Asaph in 1972, and remained its musical director until his death 20 years later.

Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias, named in his honour, was formed in 1999 and has provided musical tuition to thousands of children and young people in North Wales.

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