04 July 2014

   S4C and Rondo Media production company have opened the Côr Cymru 2015 competition and are inviting Welsh choirs to compete for the coveted title which is awarded every two years – with the top prize of £4,000 for the winner.

At the same time, the organisers are opening a brand new competition for primary school choirs - Côr Cymru Cynradd 2015 (Wales Primary School Choir 2015) which will offer a £500 prize to the winner, and £100 to each finalist.

The intention of the new Côr Cymru Cynradd 2015 award, according to one of the organisers, Gwawr Owen of Rondo Media, is to extend the influence of Côr Cymru to younger singers.

Gwawr Owen says, "Each time Côr Cymru is held, the standard of the children's choirs are superb and are equally as impressive as the adult choirs. In fact a children's choir has won the title twice in the competition's history. By inviting academic primary schools only, the intention of Côr Cymru Cynradd 2015 is to give more children the opportunity to experience the thrill of competing on a stage like Côr Cymru."

The closing date for applicants for Côr Cymru Cynradd 2015 is Wednesday 1 October 2014. This is a competition for academic schools only – theatre or performing schools may not enter.

But theatre and performing schools can compete in the Côr Cymru 2015 competition, which features five separate categories:

• Children’s Choirs 16 years of age and under

• Youth Choirs under 25 years of age

• Mixed Voice Choirs

• Female Voice Choirs

• Male Voice Choirs

The closing date to apply for Côr Cymru 2015 is Wednesday 1 October 2014; except for Youth Choirs which is Wednesday 8 October 2014, taking into account the college term dates.

Gaynor Davies, S4C Entertainment Commissioner says, "Côr Cymru has earned a reputation as a competition of very high calibre, and it's a prize that choirs are very eager to win. What's exciting about introducing the new Côr Cymru Cynradd competition is that we can offer the youngest singers the chance to experience the thrill of a brand new competition set up especially for them."

Go to s4c.co.uk/corcymru for a link to the Terms and Conditions and Application Form. For more information or contact corcymru@rondomedia.co.uk or call Rondo Media on 02920 223 456

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