Weekend feast of choral singing
LOVERS of choral singing can look forward to a whole weekend of their favourite music in November, as the North Wales Choral Festival comes to Venue Cymru, Llandudno.
The festival, which runs from Frida to Sunday, November 2 to 4, organised by Conwy County Borough Council, has gone from strength to strength, and is now a three-day celebration of music.
Over the years, different elements have been introduced to the festival, including competitions, school workshops, concerts, community performances and more, and has attracted choirs from all over the world.
The competition categories include Male Voice, Youth, Just for Fun, Barbershop and Ladies, so there should be something for everyone, and there is also the opening concert with Only Boys Aloud and the Welsh National Opera’s Samantha Hay.
The Festival Celebration Concert on the Saturday was first introduced to mark the festival’s 25th anniversary, but has returned every year since. The choir concert gives choirs the opportunity to relax and enjoy themselves without the eyes of the adjudicators on them. It’s all about entertaining rather than competing.
Past choir concerts have been a great success, with choirs getting involved from all over the UK. It is always guaranteed to be a night full of variety, with male voice choirs, ladies, mixed, youth and barbershop-style all ready to showcase the very best of their repertoires.
Last year there was a special performance from WNO artiste Rebecca Afonwy-Jones!
You might fancy competing yourself, with the chance of winning up to £500 (with second prize of £200, and 3rd prize of £100). If so, there is still time to enter, as the closing date is September 28.
Check the festival website on http://www.northwales choralfestival.com for more details on how to enter, but remember, it is first come, first served if your category gets filled up.
If, on the other hand, you aren’t in a choir but just want to go along and listen, then you can buy your tickets from the Festival website, or from the Venue Cymru Box Office.
The timing of each category will be confirmed in late September after all the competing choirs have been entered.
Whether you are intending to compete, and want to get some ideas, or planning to go along and listen to the choirs, you can get a taste of previous years’ festivals on the website, with videos and galleries of photos taken from other years.