Frances Môn Jones

Frances Môn Jones (20 October 1919 – 8 September 2000) was a Welsh harpist and teacher who won three harp competitions and one solo soprano contest at the National Eisteddfod of Wales from 1937 to 1949. She began playing the organ at age 14 before playing the harp. Jones helped W. S. Gwynn Williams to establish the Llangollen International Eisteddfod and played the harp at events. She attended the Royal Northern College of Music from 1955 to 1960 and subsequently retired from performing to teach in schools around the area of her residence.

Early life On 20 October 1919, Jones was born in Broughton, Wrexham. She was the daughter of David Charles Davies and his wife Mary Jane ( Goodwin). Jones was educated at the local school and later at Grove Park Grammar School. She excelled at Welsh, even though she had no experience of hearing the language at home. During the Second World War, Jones joined the Gwynn Sisters and aided conductor W. S. Gwynn Williams in founding the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in 1947. She sang penillion to her own harp accompaniment at the Eisteddfod opening ceremony with workers authored by her husband every year from 1954 to 1981. She went on to participate in a programme held at the Calvary Baptist Church in Pottsville, Pennsylvania on the evening of 4 September. Jones subsequently performed in Vancouver and Los Angeles later in the year. Between 1955 and 1960, she received instruction in music from David Ewart Parry Williams and took lessons from Jean Bell at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. Jones retired from performing and taught in schools around the area of her residence in Llanfair Caereinion. Students whom she taught include Siân James. People's Collection Wales holds a photograph of Jones in its collection and an entry of her is included in the Dictionary of Welsh Biography.