The National Youth Choir of Wales was formed in 1984 by the Welsh Amateur Music Federation to support both the long-standing choral tradition of Wales and the development needed for that tradition to flourish.
Toward this end, the National Youth Choir of Wales, in association with the Friends of the Choir, regularly commissions new music in addition to exploring an International choral repertoire that spans some five centuries. 2004's commissions included a setting of three psalms for mixed choir, organ, harp and trumpet by Mervyn Burtch (in celebration of his 75th birthday), and three arrangements of Welsh folk songs by Jeffrey Howard.
Members of the Choir, who are aged between 16 and 22 years, are drawn from all parts of Wales, and auditioned annually. They meet for occasional weekend courses, but the Choir's main work is concentrated in a week of intensive rehearsals in the summer, followed by a series of concerts. The majority of tutors and staff are drawn from former members of the Choir - the Choir's President, Bryn Terfel, was himself a founder member - and musical directors are appointed for a three-year period.
Former conductors include George Guest, Gregory Rose, John Hugh Thomas, Simon Halsey, Ralph Aliwood and Jean Stanley Jones. The Choir's current musical director, Dr David Rowland, was appointed in 2002, and completes his contact this year. From 2005 the Choir will be directed by lslwyn Evans.The National Youth Choir of Wales has given concerts In London, Berlin, Leipzig, Bruges, Brussels, Paris, Vienna and Budapest, in addition to performing throughout Wales and at many of the major cathedrals In England. It broadcasts regularly on television and radio.
Performance highlights in 2004, in addition to the Welsh Proms, included those at the Margam Festival and Brangwyn Hall, and the Choir also performed at the opening celebrations of the new Wales Millennium Centre In November. The Choir can also be heard on the new album (released in autumn 2004) of former chorister, Katherine Jenkins.
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