Sunday 25 July 2010
Competition time approaches.............
In its 50th Birthday Year, Bridgend Male Choir will again attempt to win the Fusiliers Cup at the Welsh National Eisteddfod. Recent practice has become more and more focused on its entry repertoire and the choristers know they will have to be at their very best to be among the prizewinners.
Also entered into the competition for the first time since 1968 is Pendyrus Male Voice Choir, which enters the competition on a high, having recently won at the Cardigan Eisteddfod. They are joined by Bro Taf – second last year at Bala and like Bridgend, which won Cor Cymru's male voice competition in 2005, won overall Cor Cymru in 2009. North Wales choirs, Cor Brythoniad and Cor y Traeth, both amongst the prizes when the National was last held in the south, at Cardiff in 2008 are also entered, as are other very good competition choirs, Dunvant and Llanelli from the west. Sadly, there are no choirs from Gwent entered into this premier choir competition, even though the Saturday, 7th August venue is Ebbw Vale.
Having won the Fusiliers Cup twice from their last three entries, Newport in 2004 and Swansea in 2006, Bridgend has a great special birthday incentive to do well in 2010, under the musical direction of the experienced John Jenkins and talented accompanist, Laura Smith. Let's hope choristers can deliver the Cup – what a birthday present it would be!