THE winner of this year’s Aberystwyth Arts Centre Ian McKellen Award has been announced.

The 2020 winner is musician Cerys Havana Hickman (pictured), who will be starting her studies for a degree in music at Goldsmiths, University of London later this year.

She was awarded £500 towards the cost of her studies as part of this special award which was set up with funds donated during Sir Ian McKellen’s visit to the arts centre in 2019.

Cerys said: “With the award I bought a full-size stage piano/keyboard to take with me to uni, which will allow me to continue to create and perform at university and will increase the things that I can do creatively.

“Apart from the financial help, it has given me a boost in the confidence to follow my artistic path. It’s always great to feel supported in what can sometimes feel a slightly lonely field, and I’m very grateful to have been given the award.”

Cerys is a multi-instru­mentalist who specialises in the triple harp and the piano, but also plays Celtic harp, clarinet and fiddle.

She performs as a solo artist under the name Cerys Hafana and has just released her first CD, Cwmwl, and is also a member of Avanc: the Youth Folk Ensemble of Wales.

Tracks from her album have been played extensively on Radio Cymru and during lockdown she was comm­issioned to create three ‘home sessions’ for the BBC, one of which was played on Radio 6 Music in August.

She has also recorded a solo virtual concert for the T? Gwerin at the National Eisteddfod and filmed for Noson Lawen at the end of August.

Cerys was the unanimous choice from the award’s interview panel, who were once again bowled over by the calibre of applicants for the award.

Arts centre director Dafydd Rhys said: “The standard of applications this year was again really high and the young people we met were so enthusiastic and inspiring.

“Cerys stood out with her commitment to Welsh folk music, both of the past and the future, and her interest in working across musical genres to develop her own unique style.

“We look forward to seeing her work develop through her studies and are sure she has a great future ahead of her.”

When Sir Ian came to perform at the arts centre in February 2019, all the money raised from ticket sales and donations during his visit was set aside to be used for supporting the centre’s important work with young people.