Carwyn Ellis Reflects on Influence of Teacher Haf Morris
Carwyn Ellis has traveled the world with his music and expresses gratitude to his former music teacher Haf Morris, who passed away in 2012, for her influence on his career.
From touring globally with The Pretenders and Edwyn Collins to exploring bossa nova rhythms with Rio 18, Carwyn Ellis's career might seem distant from the traditional Welsh art of cerdd dant.
However, his latest album—and one of its tracks—is named after a key figure in this art form as a tribute to her nurturing of his talent and interest in music.
"It's really, really special to do something for someone—to see that something is there and to help someone develop what they have," he said.
Originally from Trawsfynydd, Haf Morris lived on Anglesey since the 1950s. She was a cerdd dant adjudicator and harpist, and in 2009 she received the Sir T.H. Parry-Williams Medal at the National Eisteddfod.
Haf Morris was a leading name in the cerdd dant world for decades and taught at Sir Thomas Jones Secondary School in Amlwch.
When Carwyn Ellis started school in the 1980s after his family moved from Hereford to the village of Benllech on Anglesey, she recognized his musical talent.
Alongside the organ, the new student had begun playing clarinet and bassoon and possessed a good musical ear.
Therefore, Haf Morris offered to give him extra lessons at school early in the morning before other students arrived.
Twice a week, Carwyn's father would take him there on the way to his job as a bank manager.
He underwent musical ear tests—listening to simple piano melodies and singing them back—progressing to more complex pieces.
The album Haf was recorded in London, Cardiff, and Llandwrog and mixed in Rio de Janeiro. The song "Haf" is the first track on side B of the vinyl.
"Over time, she didn’t need to sit at the piano—she would just play records for me and give me manuscript paper, and I would write down what I heard," Carwyn Ellis told BBC Cymru Fyw.
"I could transcribe things from audio, whether it was a Beatles track or a Sibelius symphony—I could write them all down because of her.
"In the work I do now, that skill is incredibly important. If I’m playing with people on my album or if I go to Brazil, I can play with anyone and know exactly what they’re doing, no matter the type of music.
"And if someone hires me to rehearse with them, I can listen to the tunes a couple of times and know what line I have to play—and thanks to her, I have all those skills."
He added that his former teacher also showed him the importance of discipline, hard work, and maintaining high standards, which are essential for being a professional musician.
Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18 performed at the album launch for Haf at Galeri, Caernarfon, in February 2026.
Career and Continuing Legacy
After leaving school, Carwyn Ellis studied music at a conservatoire in London before living in the capital as a session musician.
He has been a member of bands such as The Pretenders and Edwyn Collins for years and has played with other artists including Saint Etienne, Oasis, and the North Mississippi Allstars.
He began releasing his own music around age 30 with his bands Colorama and now Rio 18, which is influenced by South American music.
Soon after starting college, Carwyn’s father passed away, leading the family to leave Anglesey and lose contact with the area. The musician lived in London for years, traveling worldwide for work, and did not see Haf Morris after leaving school; she died on 25 December 2012.
Now 52 and living in Cardiff, Carwyn said:
"I regret that. As you get older, you spend more time looking back and appreciating the people who have been good to you.
"I’ve written several songs now thanking people, so it was time to write one for Haf—and to make one good enough for her, something nice and interesting that she would appreciate."
Although his career traveling with rock bands is very different from the world of Anglesey’s cerdd dant, he believes Haf Morris would have enjoyed discussing his musical journey.
"She had genuine curiosity, and that’s what the best musicians have, I think—whether they’re learning, broadcasting on the radio, or playing music. For me, the best people are those with curiosity.
"So I would have loved to catch up with her and have a chat about the things I’ve seen."
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Listen to Carwyn Ellis and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18 and Kizzy Crawford with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
