Reviews of Wessex Male Choir
Swindon Advertiser, 22nd July 2006
[Photo: Andrew Hannath. Graphic: Rhiannon]
Wessex Success at International Music Festival, by Shirley Ludford
Wessex Male Choir have taken 2nd place in the male choir competition at the 2006 Llangollen International Eisteddfod in north Wales, finishing ahead of all the other UK Choirs. In the 4,500-seat auditorium of the 60th international musical festival, audiences heard the panel of international judges give high praise to Wessex Male Choir for their three choral pieces saying there was "good balance, quality, beauty, a gorgeous sound and a demonstration of a real love of singing".
Rob Elliott, Musical Director, said "I'm absolutely delighted with the choir's performance. They did themselves as well as Swindon and England proud".
The Winners were the Detroit Concert Choir from Michigan, USA.
Patron of Wessex Male Choir Aled Jones, who broadcast live for the BBC for the festival said "Hearty congratulations to the choir. A superb result and the comment about demonstrating a real love of singing is one I made when I first heard them in Swindon earlier this year. They sing from the heart".
Festival Patron Terry Waite praised all who entered competitions, performed their traditional songs or dances, or came from across the country and the world to enjoy the festival which represented the peace that the Arts can bring.
The week-long festival itself is fascinating, truly multi-cultural and unique, with everything from indigenous north Canadian tribal dancers to black-faced morris dancers from north Wales to hip hop and choir competitions, topped off with sell-out concerts - this year by such as Katherine Jenkins and Bryn Terfil. A successful event all round and, if you've not visited before, well worth putting in the diary for next year.