Heledd Wynn Newton has won the Main Composer's Medal at the 2026 Urdd National Eisteddfod in Anglesey.

The 21 year-old Cardiff student saw off competition from nine other entries to win the Glynne Jones prize worth £400, presented by Cronfa Ymddiriedolaeth Pendyrus.

Heledd, a former pupil at Ysgol Pwll Coch and Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf, is studying for a music degree at Oxford University.

The winning piece is a four-movement SATB choral song cycle based on an awdl from Y Gododdin by Aneirin.

Under the gudiance of her harp teacher, Catrin Finch, she has also won a scholarship to study for a master's degree at the Royal Academy of Music this September, where she plans to continue her work as a composer.

Heledd said: "I began composing at the age of seven."

"As a member of Côr Heol y March coached by Eleri Roberts, and the National Youth Choir of Wales coach by Tim Rhys Evans, I have been introduced to a wide range of choral works of very different styles, which have influenced my composition work."

"I am a keen member of the experimental composition community in Oxford, and recently I had the opportunity to take part in a composition workshop with BBC Singers."

LISTEN: Heledd Wynn Newton's winning piece for the Composer's Medal.

Heledd has twice finished in the top three in the same competition, in the virtual 2020 Eisteddfod T and last year at Margam Park, near Port Talbot.

Judges Gareth Glyn and Owain Llwyd said "the diversity in terms of style, instrumentation and genre" from this year's entries "reflects the depth of the young compositional talent that we have in Wales today."

On the winning piece, they noted: "The composer has immersed themselves in early Welsh poetry and responds to it in a musical language that is thoroughly contemporary, including extended tonality, the use of glissandi and whispering, and dividing the choir into as many as eight independent parts. This is a professional, contemporary and important voice for the future of Welsh music."

Iestyn Seiriol from Llanddaniel, who attends Ysgol David Hughes in Menai Bridge, was runner-up while third place went to Rhydian Llŷr Williams from Llanrug.

The Medal is presented this year by Rheinallt and Rowenna Thomas from Cardiff (formerly of Llanfairpwll and Porthaethwy)