S4C are calling on choirs in all parts of Wales – and beyond - to compete in the choral competition Côr Cymru 2013 which will be held in Aberystwyth in April.
As well as choirs all over Wales, applications are invited from choirs outside Wales that have a close connection with Wales or who perform regularly in the Welsh language.
The closing date is on Monday 1 October 2012 and entries will be split into five categories – Children's, Youth, Women's, Male Voice and Mixed choirs. The auditions will be held during November.
Each choir must have a minimum of 20 members. In the Youth category, each member has to be younger than 25 years of age on the day of the final, 14 April 2013. In the Children's category, each member of the choir must be 16 or under on 31 August 2013.
Once again, the competition will return to the Aberystwyth Arts Centre with the semi-finals held on the weekend of 15 to 17 February and the final on Sunday 14 April. Each stage will be filmed in front of an audience for S4C with the final broadcast live.
Hefin Owen of Rondo Media, who produce the programmes for S4C, says,
"We are all looking forward to the Côr Cymru competition. It is an event which has earned its place in the choral calendar and winning the title has become an ambition for many choirs.
"As well as established choirs, our hope is that new choirs will form in order to apply. The prizes are generous, and it’s a wonderful experience. Judging by the standard of past competitions, Côr Cymru has become the biggest prize of all for choirs in Wales."
Each choir who make it to the semi-finals in February will receive an award of £500. A further £500 will be awarded to the winners of each category and they will then go on to compete for a £4000 prize in the live final on 14 April.
This will be the sixth time for S4C to hold the choral competition. Côr Cywair, a mixed choir from Newcastle Emlyn, under the baton of Islwyn Evans won the competition in 2011.
Previous winners are Ysgol Gerdd Ceredigion in 2009, Côr Cywair in 2007, Cardiff choir Serendipity in 2005 and Ysgol Gerdd Ceredigion in 2003.
For more information contact Rondo Media on 02920 223 456 or email corcymru@rondomedia.co.uk
Competition details and rules can be seen on the website s4c.co.uk/corcymru
