Gwern Morus Williams wins the Dr Llŷr Roberts Bursary to support him in travel and learning
Gwern Morus Williams, a former student of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s Wales Academy of Voice and Dramatic Arts has been awarded a special Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Bursary in memory of the late Dr Llŷr Roberts.
Gwern is one of four students who will benefit from the bursary. The bursary is for undergraduate students who are studying through the medium of Welsh in order to sponsor an educational journey associated with their degree. This is the second year that it has been offered by the College in collaboration with Llŷr’s family and Bangor University. Dr Llŷr Roberts was one of the first associate lecturers of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.
Gwern has used the bursary to travel to Hawaii. There, he will perform at the International Music Festival before embarking on his course in Voice Development and Musical Theatre at NYU Steinhardt University in New York. Gwern said:
“I’m extremely proud and grateful to have been selected for the Dr Llŷr Roberts Bursary. Winning this award is not only a privilege and an honour, but it has also been a significant help for me to develop my singing and performing skills.
“I had the unique opportunity to participate in the International Music Festival in Hawaii in July 2025, where I performed in the musical ‘A Little Night Music’ by Stephen Sondheim. The festival was an intense professional experience, with a team of Broadway artists responsible for all aspects of the production – from the costumes and set to the acting and vocal training. Working alongside experienced performers in such a rich environment was an exceptional opportunity to develop my performance skills, confidence and understanding of the musical theatre industry.
“As well as the artistic element, I gained valuable cultural experiences – from exploring the island and learning about local traditions, to singing in Welsh at a special concert and having lessons from the festival’s founder. It was a special privilege to have the opportunity to perform in both performances of the show and an important step in my development as a young artist. This experience would not have been possible without the bursary, and I am extremely grateful for the support and the investment in my personal and academic development.”
Ffion Hann-Jones, Branch Officer of y Coleg Cymraeg in the University, added:
“Many congratulations to Gwern on receiving this special bursary. It is a pleasure to see Welsh students having such amazing opportunities to perform and develop on the international stage. We wish him the best as he ventures on the next phase in Hawaii and New York.”
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