History
Based in Wales’ capital city, Côr Caerdydd was formed by its present conductor, Gwawr Owen, on April 1st 1992 and has become one of Wales’ leading mixed choirs with a very fine competitive record.
On its first public appearance in August 1992Côr Caerdydd won first prize in the Chief Choral competition at the National
Eisteddfod in Aberystwyth. The choir has gained first prize at the National
Eisteddfod twelve times, most recently at the Cardiff National Eisteddfod in 2018.
Côr Caerdydd has formed a close relationship with Welsh composer Karl Jenkins.
The choir appears on the CD recordings of Requiem and Cantata Memoria and on
the DVD of Jenkins’ Mass for Peace, a work which the choir has performed with
Jenkins at the Wales Millennium Centre, St. David’s Hall, the Royal Festival Hall,
Royal Albert Hall in London and most recently in the Concert for Peace in Berlin in
November 2018. The choir was involved in the première of “The Bards of Wales” in
Budapest, the première tour of Jenkins’ The Peacemakers, and the televised
première of Jenkins’ Cantata Memoria in 2016 to commemorate 50 years since the
Aberfan disaster. Côr Caerdydd has sung in birthday concerts for Sir Karl to
celebrate his 60 th , 65 th , 70 th and 75 th celebrations.
Concert highlights include two performances at the BBC Proms, Beethoven 9 with
Bryn Terfel, Mahler 2 with the BBC NOW, singing at the British Embassy in Paris
and numerous appearances at the Wales Millennium Centre. In 2016 the choir
performed with Barry Manilow and recorded sound tracks for the Roald Dahl
centenary celebrations in Cardiff.
Côr Caerdydd has performed in Vienna, Paris, Budapest, Italy, Prague, Romania, at
the Interceltic Festival in Aviles, Spain and in October 2017 travelled to Belgium for a
series of concerts in Bruges, Brussels and Gent Cathedrals as well as singing in the
Last Post ceremony in Ypres and at the grave of Hedd Wyn, the Welsh poet killed in
action at Passchendaele.
Côr Caerdydd has produced two CDs, the most recent in 2012 of choral music from
Wales – O Gymru. The CD is a wonderful reflection of the wealth of Wales’ choral
heritage with a selection of compositions by Welsh musicians from Ivor Novello to
Karl Jenkins and from William Mathias to Paul Mealor.
Côr Caerdydd appears regularly on S4C, and BBC Television appearances include
FA Classic and Songs of Praise. Radio broadcasts include BBC Radio 2’s Sunday
Half Hour, Morning Service on BBC Radio 4, and various appearances on BBC
Radio 3.