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Welsh Singers Competition in Cardiff  : four voices compete for the title (MS)


Tickets are now on sale for the Welsh Singers Competition which will showcase four fresh new talents embarking on their operatic careers. The winner of the prestigious event will receive a cash prize of £2,000 plus a trophy, given by Welsh Royal Crystal. Other finalists will each receive a cash prize of £750.  In addition, the singer who wins the competition will go on to represent Wales in BBC Cardiff Singer of the World to be held in 2009.

Making that decision will be a highly distinguished jury comprising  Elaine Padmore, Director of Opera at the Royal Opera House, Julian Smith, Music Advisor to BBC Cardiff Singer of the World and three highly-acclaimed and award winning singers, soprano Rebecca Evans, baritone Simon Keenlyside and tenor Philip Langridge.

The BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Nicholas Braithwaite, will accompany the finalists at St David's Hall, Cardiff, on Monday, June 16, 2008 and BBC Cymru Wales will be transmitting the final of the Welsh Singers Competition on Radio Cymru.

The Welsh Singers Competition has launched many successful careers so far including David Kempster, Gwyn Hughes Jones, Rebecca Evans and Bryn Terfel, who has since become Patron of the competition.

Last year's competition was won by Sarah-Jane Davies, who went on to represent Wales in BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2007 and is now enjoying a successful career with highly-acclaimed performances at English National Opera in a number of roles including the Countess in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and Pamina in The Magic Flute.

The competition is open to singers at the early stages of their professional career, aged 18 to 32 on June 1, 2009. They must be born or raised in Wales and should have received a significant proportion of their education in Wales.   Live Music Now! Wales, founded by Yehudi Menuhin to benefit both young professional musicians and the whole community, will promote the concert.

Supported by HSBC Bank, Chris Ball, Annette and Bryan Hubble, The Atlantic Foundation, The Drapers’ Company, Welsh Royal Crystal, the Welsh Singers Competition is arranged by Live Music Now! Wales in association with BBC Cymru Wales and with the support of The Arts Council of Wales.

Tickets:

The competition will take place at St David’s Hall, Cardiff CF10 1AH. Tickets are available from St David’s Hall Box Office on 029 2087 8444 or can be booked online at www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk. Tickets cost between £6 and £15.50 with concessions available for group bookings, families, students and the disabled.  The audience needs to be seated by 7.25pm.

More information is available www.welshsingerscompetition.com 

Mike Smith

Tel: 029 2046 2686 Mobile: 07795 325161 Email: mike@mediasmith.co.uk

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