| Welsh Singers Competition | |
| Reward: | £5,000 for the winner and represents Wales in the following year's BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition. The other finalists also win a cash prize |
| Awarded For: | Singing |
| Sponsor: | The Carne Trust, Sickle Foundation |
| Former Name: | Welsh Singers Showcase, Young Welsh Singers’ Competition |
| Network: | BBC Radio Cymru[1] S4C (2021–present) |
| Winner: | Jessica Robinson (2022) |
| Location: | Cardiff |
| Country: | Wales, United Kingdom |
Welsh Singers Competition (Welsh: Cystadleuaeth Cantorion Cymreig, previously known as the Welsh Singers Showcase (Welsh: Llwyfan Cantorion Cymreig)), is a biennial singing competition that is held in Cardiff, Wales. The winner of the competition represents Wales in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World in the following year.[2] The competition is open to Welsh classical singers aged between 17 and 31. The final of the competition in 2022 was held at The Dora Stoutzker Hall, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff. Previously it has been held at St David's Hall in Cardiff.[3]
The competition was established in 1964 by the Welsh Arts Council as the Young Welsh Singers’ Competition by Roy Bohana, Music Director of the Welsh Arts Council,[4] it was initially held every three years. In 1994 a major change took place when it was decided that the winner would automatically represent Wales in BBC Cardiff Singer of the World; this necessitated that the competition became biennial. Organisation was passed to Live Music Now, the charity founded by Yehudi Menuhin, which supports young musicians at the start of their careers, by offering them performing opportunities in care homes, hospitals, community settings, schools, libraries and hospices.
In 2015 the competition became independent; by 2018 the name of the competition was changed from the Welsh Singers Competition to the Welsh Singers Showcase and in 2022 it reverted back to its original name of Welsh Singers Competition.[5] In the same year the Welsh Singers Showcase became a registered charity.[6]
| Year | Winner | Voice type | Other finalists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Buddug Verona James | Mezzo-soprano | |
| 1988 | Bryn Terfel | Bass-baritone | |
| 1990 | Neal Davies[7] | Bass-baritone | |
| 1992 | Jeremy Huw Williams[8] | Baritone | |
| 1994 | Eldrydd Cynan Jones | Soprano | |
| 1996 | Gwyn Hughes Jones | Tenor[9] | |
| 1998 | David Kempster | Baritone | |
| 2000 | Joanne Thomas | Mezzo-soprano[10] | |
| 2002 | Elizabeth Donovan | Soprano | |
| 2004 | Camilla Roberts | Soprano | Fflur Wyn (soprano) Cecilia Eleri Smiga (tenor) Mark Chaundy (tenor)[11] |
| 2006 | Sarah-Jane Davies | Soprano | Caryl Hughes (mezzo-soprano) Paul Carey Jones (baritone) Alun Rhys Jenkins (tenor)[12] |
| 2008 | Natalya Romaniw | Soprano | Laura Parfitt (soprano) John Pierce (tenor) Claire Watkins (soprano)[13] [14] |
| 2010 | John Pierce | Tenor | Catrin Aur Davies (soprano) Rebecca Afonwy-Jones (mezzo) Samuel Evans (baritone) |
| 2012 | Gary Griffiths | Baritone | Rhian Lois (soprano) Fflur Wyn (soprano) Sioned Gwen Davies (mezzo)[15] |
| 2014 | Céline Forrest | Soprano | Samantha Price (mezzo) Eirlys Myfanwy Davies (mezzo) Menna Cazel Davies (soprano) |
| 2016 | Sioned Gwen Davies | Mezzo-soprano | Eirlys Myfanwy Davies (mezzo) Kieron-Connor Valentine (countertenor) Samuel Furness (tenor) Trystan Llŷr Griffiths (tenor)[16] |
| 2018 | Angharad Lyddon | Mezzo-soprano | Sarah Gilford (soprano) Carly Owen (soprano) Jessica Robinson (soprano) Ellen Williams (soprano) |
| 2021 | Sarah Gilford | Soprano | Jessica Cale (soprano) Rachael Marsh (soprano) Osian Wyn Bowen (tenor) Rhys Batt (tenor) Kieron-Connor Valentine (countertenor) |
| 2022 | Jessica Robinson | Soprano | Dafydd Allen (baritone) Osian Wyn Bowen (tenor) Erin Gwyn Rossington (soprano) Kieron-Connor Valentine (countertenor) |