13 August 2007
A new choir of rugby supporters from across North Wales is set to challenge the four South Walian rugby choirs formed by fans of the Llanelli Scarlets, Cardiff Blues, Ospreys and Newport Gwent Dragons in the second series of S4C’s hit challenge-a-choir show, Codi Canu.
The first meeting of the North Wales choir – under the musical direction of Mari Pritchard and Geraint Roberts – is set for Wednesday, 12 September at Bangor Rugby Club. Individuals or groups of friends, Welsh speakers and non-Welsh speakers and people of all musical abilities are welcome to attend as long as they are aged 18 or over.
The eight-part series will follow the development of the five mixed choirs, as they learn hymns and rugby anthems. Ultimately, they will have to face each other in a final choral challenge which will be judged by the internationally-acclaimed music conductor, Owain Arwel Hughes.
The first series reached its climax in the match build-up to the Wales v England game at the Millennium Stadium in March this year. The Newport Gwent Dragons choir won the competition and were given the honour of singing the national anthem, Hen Wlad fy Nhadau ahead of kick-off. This time, the winning choir will sing the anthems before the Wales v France game on 15 March 2008.
Codi Canu Executive Producer, Ronw Protheroe, from the Boomerang Group said, “The first series really captured the imagination of the viewers. The response among the rugby regions was very enthusiastic, with everybody saying that the new choirs had added to the atmosphere during games throughout the season, particularly during the international match against England. Our aim this time is to get thousands of voices singing in unison during the Wales game against France.
“The feedback to the series was particularly enthusiastic from viewers in North Wales, so much so that we had to offer this opportunity for rugby fans there to establish their own choir and challenge the South Wales regions.”
The North Wales choir is not the only new development in the second series. Maestro Owain Arwel Hughes will be attending the rehearsals of the five choirs in order to select 12 members from each one to create a ‘super choir’ of 60 that will perform at special events. There is also room for one or two new members among all the South Wales choirs. If you’re interested, please contact alan@boomerang.co.uk
The conductors of the four South Wales regional rugby choirs stay the same – Tim Rhys Evans, Cefin and Rhian Roberts (Dragons); Eilir Griffiths and Delyth Medi (Blues); Alwyn Humphreys and Sioned James (Ospreys); and Islwyn Evans and Catrin Hughes (Scarlets).
The first meetings of the South Wales regions will be held on the following dates: Scarlets – Monday, 3 September; Dragons – Tuesday, 4 September; Ospreys – Wednesday, 5 September; Blues – Thursday, 13 September. Each meeting starts at 7.30pm. More details are available regarding the venues at www.s4c.co.uk/codicanu
ENDS
Note to the editor
A special hour-long programme looking back at the highlights of the first series of Codi Canu will be
broadcast on S4C on Sunday, 19 August at 8.30pm.
