Welsh choirs need to hurry if they want to enter one of Wales’ most prestigious choral competitions as the entry deadline for S4C’s 2009 Côor Cymru is approachingpending.
The biennial competition, which has previously featured ‘Last Choir Standing’ finalists Only Men Aloud and Côr Ysgol Glanaethwy, has become one of the must-see events of the Welsh musical calendar.
But most choirs who dreaming of following in the footsteps of the three previous winners and picking up the first prize of £7.000, have to get in their applications to production company Rondo Media by Monday, 6 October.
This deadline is relevant to four of the five choir categories - Children’s Choirs 16 years of age and under; Mixed Voice Choirs; Female Voice Choirs and Male Voice Choirs. However, the deadline for the Youth Choirs under 25 years of age has been extended to 28 October.
Choirs from Wales or those further afield with a close connection to Wales, or choirs which perform regularly in the Welsh language, are welcome to enter the competition. To enter, please contact 029 20223456 and ask for the 2009 Côr Cymru 2009 Office or email. corcymru@rondomedia.co.uk.
Robert Nicholls, S4C’s Content Editor Culture, said, “Rondo Media has already receivedb a wide cross-section of entries for the S4C’s 2009 Côr Cymru competition, but we are determined to make this the biggest and best yet. Choral competitions are all the rage at the moment, but Côr Cymru has led the way, in giving Welsh choirs the stage they deserve since the inaugural competition held in 2003.”
A panel of international judges will adjudicate the competition, with preliminary rounds held during November 2008. The semi-final round will be held during February 2009 and the final round will take place on Sunday, 5 April at The Great Hall, Aberystwyth Arts Centre.
The semi-final and final rounds will be recorded by Rondo Media and broadcast on S4C and S4C’s digital channel, S4C digidol.
The competition’s previous winners are mixed choir Cywair from Newcastle Emlyn (2007) and children’s choir Ysgol Gerdd Ceredigion (2003), both conducted by musical director Islwyn Evans. and Cardiff-based Serendipity, (2005), conducted by Only Men Aloud musical director, Tim Rhys Evans, won the competition in 2005.
