Cor Caerdydd
Côr Caerdydd
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 1992 Côr 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 ten times, most recently at the Cardiff National Eisteddfod in 2008 and at the Corwen Choral Festival and Gwyl Fawr Aberteifi.
Highlights include a performance of Belshazzar's Feast with Bryn Terfel and the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales conducted by Richard Hickox at the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall in July 2006; a Beethoven 9 with Terfel and Sinfonia Cymru at St David's Hall conducted by Gareth Jones in April 2006; Mahler 2 and Beethoven 9 with the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales and a Royal Gala at the Wales Millennium Centre in November 2007 to celebrate the 60th birthday of international tenor, Dennis O'Neill. In May 2007, Côr Caerdydd gave performances of Rossini's Petite Messe Solenelle in Cardiff and Barga, Italy with soloists from the Cardiff International Academy of Voice conducted by Massimiliano Murali. The choir returned to Barga in April 2008 for a sacred concert including Fauré's Requiem.
During the last few years, Côr Caerdydd has formed a close relationship with Welsh composer Karl Jenkins. The choir appears on the EMI recording of Requiem, which reached the top of the classical charts in 2005, 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 and the Royal Festival Hall in London.
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. The choir released a CD in 1995 with music by Mathias, Brahms, Handel and Verdi among others.
Côr Caerdydd gives many charity concerts throughout each year and has performed at the Welsh Proms, the Centenary Prom, a Classical Spectacular at the Cardiff International Arena, and given concerts at Llandaff Cathedral, Guildford Cathedral and various venues throughout Wales and the UK. Concert repertoire includes operatic choruses, songs from the shows, folk songs and popular classics.
Gwawr Owen was educated at the Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey and graduated in music from King's College London and The City University London. She spent many years producing music programmes for the BBC and currently works as a free-lance radio/television producer and concerts/events organiser.
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