Côr y Wiber are the winners of the prestigious S4C coral competition Côr Cymru 2013.
The choir from Newcastle Emlyn claimed the title in a thrilling final round at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre which was broadcast live on S4C on Sunday 14 April. They have won the coveted Côr Cymru trophy and the prize of £4000.
Competing in the final were six choirs, a mix of children's choirs, youth, male, female and a mixed choir: Côr Iau Glanaethwy; Côr y Cwm; Côr Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal; Côr Meibion Rhosllannerchrugog; Côr y Wiber and CF1.
Each choir raised the roof with their repertoire of songs and made quite and impression on the international judging panel. On the panel this year were former choir master at London's St Paul's Cathedral, Dr Barry Rose OBE; Ceredigion born singer, conductor and composer Katie Thomas; and Cape Town based conductor André van der Merwe.
Hefin Owen, of Rondo Media production company who makes the series for S4C, says, "Congratulations to Côr y Wiber on winning the Côr Cymru 2013 title. It was a fantastic final and the Aberystwyth Arts Centre was brimming with excitement throughout the competition. It's safe to say that the standard this year was as excellent as ever.
"One of the aims of the competition is to give Welsh choirs a chance to take part in a competition of an international standard, with judges from all over the world invited to be on the judging panel. Through this we can show the world the true extent of our choirs' talents."
This year, Côr Cymru celebrated ten years since the first ever competition in 2003. It's held every two years and draws a large number of entrants. Twenty one choirs competed in the semi-final rounds in March, and the judges chose six from among them to compete in the final.
Côr Cywair of Newcastle Emlyn were victorious in the last competition in 2011, claiming their second title as they also won in 2007. Ysgol Gerdd Ceredigion also boast two wins in 2009 and in the first ever competition in 2003. Mixed choir Serendipity, under the lead of Tim Rhys Evans, won in 2005.
Watch the Côr Cymru 2013 any time online on s4c.co.uk/clic
The s4c.co.uk/corcymru website has more information including videos of the choirs' semi-final performances and judges' comments.
