Singer Kat Grzegorzek, who’s from West Sussex and now lives in Mynydd Isa near Mold, has embraced the Welsh language and life in Wales.
Kat’s partner is from Mold, which led her to move to the area eight years ago. Shortly after moving, Kat enrolled on a Learn Welsh course and is now following an Advanced-level course with Learn Welsh North East, run by Coleg Cambria on behalf of the National Centre for Learning Welsh.
Kat has a degree in Music from Cardiff University and has been singing since the age of 12. Keen to feel part of her local community, she joined CantiLena choir in Llanrwst to practise her Welsh and meet new people.
Kat also sings with the Mold & District Choral Society and enjoys using her Welsh every day – at work as a teaching assistant at St Mary’s School near Wrexham, in the community, and with her partner and his family.
Kat says, “When I moved to the area, I was determined to learn Welsh and feel part of the community.
“I’d always wanted to join a Welsh-language choir, and this year I felt ready to do it and confident that my Welsh was good enough. I’ve joined the CantiLena choir, and I get the chance to speak Welsh there with new friends.
“As a singer, I’m used to singing in different languages, such as Italian or French, and I really enjoy singing in Welsh, even though it can be hard to remember the words sometimes!”
Competing in the Eisteddfod is a fairly new experience for the singer. With the 2025 National Eisteddfod held on her doorstep in Wrexham, Kat enjoyed competing in the learners’ solo singing competition for the first time. She also competed in the learners’ chair competition for poetry, sang with an ensemble group from the Llansannan area, and competed with CantiLena.
She says, “It was a busy week, but I really enjoyed it! This was my first time competing on my own at the Eisteddfod, and although I was nervous, it was such a great experience.
“Because it was local, it felt like the perfect opportunity to compete and just go for it. I’ve attended the National Eisteddfod before, but this was the first time I’d been able to compete in Welsh, which was a great feeling.”
