24 May 2012

 The Welsh Singers Competition 2012, part of the selection for BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2013, will have a wider audience this year thanks to an innovative partnership between S4C, BBC Radio Cymru and production company Rondo Media.

The competition will be shown on S4C and broadcast live on BBC Radio Cymru on the evening of the competition at St David’s Hall, Cardiff – Monday 11 June.

The winner of the Welsh Singers Competition will represent Wales in BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2013 and will also receive a cash prize of £2,000 together with a trophy. The other finalists will each receive a cash prize of £750.

The competition is open to singers at the early stages of their professional career. This year the four who have reached the Final following auditions in Cardiff and London are Rhian Lois (soprano) from Pontrhydygroes, Ceredigion, Fflur Wyn (soprano) from Carmarthenshire, Sioned Gwen Davies (mezzo-soprano) from Colwyn Bay and Gary Griffiths (baritone) from Pembrey.

The competition is arranged by Live Music Now in association with BBC Cymru Wales and with the support of The Arts Council of Wales.

BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Grant Llewellyn, will accompany the finalists and members of the jury for the Final will include internationally-known singers, Rebecca Evans, Della Jones and Donald Maxwell. They will be joined by John McMurray, Head of Casting, English National Opera and Julian Smith, Music Adviser to BBC Cardiff Singer of the World.

Ian Jones, Chief Executive, S4C, said, “This partnership is one of the first between the BBC, an independent production company and ourselves under the new partnership between us the two broadcasters. The audience is at the centre of all our activities and it’s the audience who’ll benefit most from this partnership. I’m confident there’ll be many more examples of working together like this in the future.”

Sian Gwynedd, Head of Welsh Languages and Programmes, BBC Cymru Wales, said, “What better way to mark our spirit of partnership than this co-commission which captures our joint ambition to take Wales to the world through the wealth of talent here. Through this partnership production – the first of many to follow, we hope – radio and TV audiences will be able to share the thrill of discovering which young singer will represent Wales on the global platform of BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2013”.

Gareth Williams, Chief Executive of Rondo Media, said, “I’m extremely pleased that Rondo will be producing the programmes from the Welsh Singers Competition this year.

“It’s a special competition and the standard of the singers who’ve reached the final round this year is very high. Cardiff Singer of the World is very close to my heart as it was the late Mervyn Williams, my father, who created the competition 30 years ago.

“It’s excellent news that S4C and BBC Cymru Wales will be jointly broadcasting the competition and we’re extremely pleased to be working also with Live Music Now and St David’s Hall – home of the competition.”

Ends