World’s top voices sing to win at St David’s Hall, Cardiff for National Choir of the Year 2016

• Sixteen singing groups from across the West of England and Wales to compete in Cardiff Auditions for Choir of the Year 2016
• Voices will include the first British finalists of the Let the Peoples Sing 2013 competition, Wells Cathedral School Choralia, Staff members who work for the charity Tenovus Cancer Care, Sing With Us and supporting choir of Aled Jones in Port Talbot, The Sound of Voices
• Singers of all ages will take to the stage in an attempt to impress expert judges and move one step closer to being crowned Choir of the Year 2016, presented by renowned choral conductor, Greg Beardsell
• Local singing groups looking to improve further still can register to attend a Choral workshop at the audition day event 
• St David’s Hall, Saturday 7 May (Times and ticket info below)

Cardiff will be alive with music as the best singing groups from across the region converge on Saturday 7 May 2016 to take part in the prestigious National Choir of the Year competition. Tickets cost just £10 [details below] and can be bought online at http://www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk/whats-on/choir-of-the-year-2016-auditions-cardiff/ or at St David’s Hall box office.

Sixteen talented singing groups with singers aged from six-90 will be performing diverse repertoire spanning classical and contemporary choral music, pop arrangements and songs from around the world in an action packed day – including the opportunity for audience members to sing along with renowned choral conductor Greg Beardsell. A full list of competing choirs is given below.

The competition is the largest and most prestigious of its kind in the UK and this year the very best singing groups will compete for the accolade ‘Choir of the Year 2016’.  The Auditions are held at venues across the UK with only the very best choirs making it through to the National Selection Stage and on to the Category Finals at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall on 16 October and Grand Final at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff on 3 December. The competition is recorded and broadcast by the BBC in special Choir of the Year programmes.

Stephen Connolly, Choir of the Year 2016 Judge said:

‘Since 1994, when my own choir won the competition, I have been proud to be a regular judge for Choir of the Year. It’s one of the few competitions that allow those of all ages and music styles to compete, whilst retaining a level of excellence across all of the participating groups. The Audition round is full of trepidation for both the judges and the choirs, and I cannot wait to see what happens!’

This year, Choir of the Year is delighted to be teaming up with the Association of British Choral Directors (ABCD) on a new element to our Audition programme: a series of choral workshops led by an experienced ABCD tutor. The workshops are open to all choirs not already taking part in the competition. Groups of any age and music style are welcome to apply.

Whilst open to choirs and conductors of all levels of ability, the workshops programme is particularly suited to groups who would like some support and ideas to improve technically and build confidence.