Llangollen Eisteddfod will be truly international in 2013

Eilir Owen Griffiths took over as head of the music festival in 2012 and has admitted that it had been a big challenge.

But he has revealed that he wants to see more overseas competitors taking part in his second event at Llangollen.

Mr Griffiths said that his goal was to re-emphasise the 'international' element of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

"We have worked hard on approaching a lot of overseas choirs and groups and we hope that this has been a success.

"We have 'World@6' concerts each day that will be truly international in flavour."

"And all evening concerts will have an international element to them, be that an artist or competitors."

The musical director said that the opening concert had been quite special and he had tried to do things a little differently.

"I want to develop this evening further next year. I am also very fond of the large scale concert such as we had on the Friday night.

"I felt that the final concert was a great closing to my first week as musical director and I was very proud to premiere some of my new music too."

In competition Mr Griffiths said he would be keeping the show choirs competition in the 2013 eisteddfod. He said that youth choirs would be added to the prestigious, Choir of the World, competition but said the Barbershop Choruses would no longer be a part of the competition.

The 2013 Eisteddfod will run from July 9 -14 at the Royal International Pavilion.

It is the 67th event since the Eisteddfod began to help bring peace to the world at the end of the second world war.