Côr Cymru is a Welsh TV competition searching for the best choir in Wales, which airs every 2 years on S4C. The first series was presented by Aled Jones and Heledd Cynwal in 2003, but subsequent series have been fronted by Nia Roberts and Gareth Owen. Facilities supplied by The Barcud Derwen Group.

Côr Cymru
GenreTalent show
Presented byAled Jones (2003)
Nia Roberts (2005–2007)
Heledd Cynwal (2009–)
StarringHeledd Cynwal (2003)
Gareth Owen (2005–2007)
Morgan Jones (2009–)
Country of originWales
Original languageWelsh
No. of series8
Production
Production locationsThe Great Hall, Aberystwyth Arts Centre
Running time60 minutes
Production companiesOpus (2003–2007)
Rondo Media (2009–)
Original release
NetworkS4C
Release1 March 2003 (2003-03-01) –
present
Related
Last Choir Standing

Despite a similar show being developed by the BBC in the form of Last Choir Standing, S4C recently revealed Côr Cymru returned for a brand new series in 2009.[1]

Format

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The show sees choirs competing against each other in knockout-style semi finals in five different categories (female voice, male voice, mixed, youth (16–25 years), and children's choirs). The winners in each category then compete in the live final for the grand title of "Choir of Wales". S4C announced on 5 April 2017, that the winner of Côr Cymru 2017 would represent Wales at the Eurovision Choir of the Year 2017.[2]

Winners

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The winners of the title so far are:

Year Choir Category
2003 The Ceredigion School of Music Youth
2005 Serendipity Mixed
2007 Cywair Mixed
2009 The Ceredigion School of Music Children
2011 Cywair Mixed
2013 Côr Y Wiber Women
2015 Côr Heol y March Children
2017 Côr Merched Sir Gâr[3] Youth
2019 Ysgol Gerdd Ceredigion[4] Youth
2022 Côrdydd[5] Mixed
2024 Côr Ifor Bach[6] Youth
Best conductor award
2007: Mari Pritchard: Côr Ieuenctid Môn (Anglesey Youth Choir)
2009: Sioned James: Côrdydd, Cardiff
2011: Islwyn Evans, Cywair
2013: Aled Phillips, Côr Meibion Rhosllannerchrugog (men)
2015: Janet Jones, Parti Llwchwr
2017: Eilir Owen Griffiths, CF1
2019: Mari Pritchard, Anglesey Youth Choir
Viewers' choice award
2011: Cantata, Llanelli (women)
2013: Côr y Cym (youth)
2015: Parti Llwchwr (women)
2017: Côr Ieuenctid Môn
2019: Côr Sioe Môn
Côr Cymru Cynradd (for primary school choirs)
2015: Ysgol Iolo Morganwg
2017: Ysgol Pen Barras
2019: Ysgol Teilo Sant

References

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  1. ^ "S4C Press Release". Archived from the original on 26 May 2011.
  2. ^ Granger, Anthony (5 April 2017). "Wales: Selects for Eurovision Choir of the Year 2017 on April 9". eurovoix.com. Eurovoix. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  3. ^ Granger, Anthony (9 April 2017). "Côr Merched Sir Gâr to Eurovision Choir of the Year 2017". eurovoix.com. Eurovoix. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  4. ^ Granger, Anthony (7 April 2019). "Wales: Ysgol Gerdd Ceredigion Selected For Eurovision Choir of the Year 2019". eurovoix.com. Eurovoix. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Côrdydd yn fuddugol yng nghystadleuaeth Côr Cymru 2022". BBC Cymru Fyw (in Welsh). 3 April 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Côr Ifor Bach win S4C's Côr Cymru 2024 choral competition". www.s4c.cymru. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
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