FWMiL 2024

Friday 16 February - London Welsh Young Singer Preliminaries

The Welsh Church of Central London, Eastcastle Street, W1W 8DJ

Talented, up-and-coming singers each performed some pieces from their repertoires, including a piece sung in the Welsh language, to compete for a place in the London Welsh Young Singer Competition Final.

Friday 16 February - Night of the Choirs

The Welsh Church of Central London, Eastcastle Street, W1W 8DJ

Visiting mixed-voice Welsh choirs showcased their repertoire for a wonderful evening of choral music. Grand finalists from the London Welsh Young Singer Competition also performed to compete for 1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes as well as for the Audience Prize. 

Saturday 17 February - Gala Concert

Regent Hall, Oxford Street, W1C 2DJ

Four choirs united for a celebration of Welsh music performing:

• Gweddi, Arwel Hughes

• What Sustains the World? (Py a Gynheil Y Byt?), Edward-Rhys Harry

• The Shadows of War, Paul Mealor 

• Symphonic Adiemus, Karl Jenkins 

Night of the Choirs Concert

Choirs: Côr Eifionydd, Côr Llundain, the London Welsh Chorale

Conductors: Pat Jones, Will Thomas, Dr Edward-Rhys Harry

Accompanists: Dafydd Chapman (piano), Will Thomas (organ)

Gala Concert

Conductors: Owain Arwel Hughes CBE, Prof. Paul Mealor LVO CSTJ, Dr Edward-Rhys Harry

Soloist: Jessica Robinson

Instrumentalists: Zands Duggan, Aeron Preston, The British Sinfonietta

Choirs: Côr Eifionydd, The Harry Ensemble, Harlow Chorus and the London Welsh Chorale

Find details about the London Welsh Young Singer Competition participants here.

The festival couldn’t have taken place without the support of our kind and generous sponsors:

Geraint and Meurig Bowen donated a prize for the London Welsh Young Singer Competition in memory of their father, Kenneth Bowen, who, following a career as a tenor of international renown, formed the London Welsh Chorale and was its Musical Director from February 1983 to December 2008. He also enjoyed serving as an Adjudicator of many past London Welsh Young Singer competitions. 

Emma Davies donated a prize to the London Welsh Young Singer Competition in memory of her partner, Tim Brennan, who sang with the Chorale as a tenor and was a fervent supporter. We miss him hugely. 

Paul Foster donated to the Festival in memory of his wife, Jan, who was so supportive of the London Welsh Chorale. We miss her lovely smile beaming out from the front row at every concert.

Geraint Lewis gave invaluable advice on how to run the London Welsh Young Singer Competition, which he helped organise in its former incarnation, and donated towards the running of the this relaunch. 

Martin, Baron Thomas of Gresford OBE, KC donated a prize for the London Welsh Young Singer Competition. Martin is the Honorary President of the London Welsh Chorale.

Grateful thanks also for generous donations from: Lisa Carlisle, Ann Green, Kadia Harrison, Bethan Hughes, Haydn and Susan Jones, Elisabeth Siberry, Alison and Terry Stacey, Lynne and Peter Tew, Gwenllian Williams, J Williams, David Young.