The Welsh Singers Competition is a hugely prestigious singing competition that takes place in Wales every two years, with the winner going on to represent Wales in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition the following year. Live Music Now has arranged the Competition on behalf of the Welsh Arts Council since 1994, in association with BBC Cymru Wales.
This year’s competition was another remarkable spectacle, with a very high standard of musicianship throughout. The final took place at St David’s Hall, Cardiff on 25 May, accompanied by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. The orchestra was conducted by Gareth Jones, and the concert was presented by Beti George.
The finalists were mezzo sopranos Eirlys Myfanwy Davies and Sioned Gwen Davies, countertenor Kieron-Connor Valentine and tenors Trystan Llyr Griffiths and Samuel Furness. We were delighted that their piano accompanists included LMN alumni Jeffrey Howard and David Doidge.
The panel, led by Julian Smith, had a very difficult decision, but eventually chose a winner : Sioned Gwen Davies, from Colwyn Bay. She had wowed the jury and audience with Handel’s Crude furie degl’ orridi abissi from Serse, Va! Laisse couler mes larmes from Massenet’s Werther, Da, vspomnila… Podrugi milie from Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades, Bolcom’s Caberet Song Amor! (accompanied by Caradog Williams on Piano) and Fia dunque vero… O mio Fernando from Donizetti’s La Favorita.
The Competition was broadcast Live on Radio Cymru and sponsored by the Arts Council of Wales, Cardiff Council, The Richard Carne Trust, The Sickle Trust and Chris Ball who is a great supporter of singers and a member of the LMN Wales Committee.
