A Cardiff-born composer is set to premiere his work to kickstart the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod this year.
The piece, Greeting the Dawn, is the latest work by Sam Buttler and will open the festival’s concert, Uniting Nations: One World, on Tuesday, July 7.
His bilingual work is the result of the Eisteddfod’s Harmony Without Borders initiative, which is supported by the Arts Council of Wales.
The 2026 Eisteddfod will also mark Sir Karl Jenkins’s tenure as festival president, with the world-renowned composer set to conduct his acclaimed One World later in the programme.
Mr Buttler said: "Preparations are going well.
"The singers are rehearsing and I hear they're having a great time learning the piece.
"I can't wait to hear it."
The title, Greeting the Dawn, draws on inspiration from Welsh poems Niwbwrch by Dafydd ap Gwilym and Y Wawr by Hedd Wyn.
The piece tells the story of someone arriving in a new place, being welcomed by the community, and experiencing the beauty of a new dawn.
Mr Buttler said: "I wanted to write something about being welcomed somewhere because I think that's a fundamental aspect of the Llangollen Eisteddfod and the Harmony Without Borders project.
"The piece follows someone arriving in the evening, being welcomed by the town and its people, and then experiencing the dawn the following morning."
He described the process of writing a bilingual work as both challenging and rewarding.
Mr Buttler said: "The biggest challenge was the timescale.
"I like to live with my music for a while, but this had to be written quite quickly.
"I'd also never set Welsh text before, so that was a wonderful challenge and a real test of my Welsh language skills."
He added that writing for both choir and orchestra was a particular highlight.
Mr Buttler said: "The biggest joy has been writing for choir and orchestra together.
"There's something incredibly special about combining voices and orchestra."
The composer hopes the piece will set the tone for the 2026 festival.
He said: "I hope it starts the Eisteddfod off with a bang.
"I hope people leave feeling that music has the power to unite us all.
"When people come together to sing and play, they create something magical, and I hope audiences leave with a sense of hope and wonder at what music can achieve."
Dave Danford, artistic director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, said the festival is committed to supporting new talent.
Mr Danford said: "One of the most exciting parts of our work is creating opportunities for the next generation of composers, and Sam has embraced that opportunity brilliantly.
"Greeting the Dawn captures the warmth, welcome and international friendship that have defined the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for almost 80 years."
Mr Danford added: "We're incredibly grateful to the Arts Council of Wales for supporting our Harmony Without Borders initiative, which has made this commission possible.
"Investing in new music and emerging talent is vital to ensuring the future of choral music remains vibrant and relevant.
"To open Eisteddfod 2026 with a world premiere by a young Welsh composer, before Sir Karl Jenkins conducts One World during his year as our President, is a powerful statement about who we are as a festival.
"We celebrate the world's greatest musical traditions while creating new ones, and we can't wait for audiences to hear Greeting the Dawn for the very first time."
Greeting the Dawn will open Uniting Nations: One World on July 7, before Sir Karl Jenkins conducts One World and a full performance of Peace Child: The Musical.
