Brecon Choir Festival 2024
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As well as ticketed events, there are many free-to-participate events including the Festival Hike, the Festival Choir Trail and the joyful Afterglows!
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Come & Sing Workshop for The Armed Man
Sat 13 July, 10.30am - 4pm
The Neuadd, Christ College
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Love singing and can read a bit of music? Come and sing 'The Armed Man' for a day. Music scores will be provided
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The workshop will be led by the Musical Director of Brecon Singers Rob Evans (ex The King's Consort, The Sixteen, The Cardinals Musick and The Gabrieli Consort)
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Participants are invited to take part in the concert at Brecon Cathedral on July 18th
Brecon Singers and Festival Chorus present The Armed Man
Thurs 18 July, 7.30pm
Brecon Cathedral
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Brecon Singers are joined by a Festival Chorus to sing the celebrated mass for peace by Sir Karl Jenkins. Soloists include 2023 BCF Young Singer of the Year Erin Thomas.
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Orchestra led by Sonia Hammond with the Brecknock Sinfonia.
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You can book pre-concert suppers with The Hours Cafe in the Cathedral close.
Songs of Passion with Welsh Tenor Ceri Davies
Fri 19 July, 12.30pm
The Guildhall, Brecon
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Back by popular demand, Ceri 'Taffarotti' Davies brings a mix of Welsh folk songs and operatic classics to Brecon's Guildhall
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Ceri recently graduated from the Wales International Academy of Voice as a Master of Arts
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Ceri is a familiar face within the concert scene and is also a frequent guest on Welsh TV channel S4C’s magazine show’s called Prynhawn Dâ and Heno as well as featuring on a number of comedies on Welsh comedy channel Hansh
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Mike Williams (Founder and Director of Eschoir) will accompany on piano
Festival Hike to
The Crug
Fri 19 July, 2.30pm
Depart from The Muse
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Enjoy a gentle walk with other festival goers up onto The Crug to enjoy spectacular views of of the Beacons.
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Approx walking time: 45 mins each way.
'Welsh Cakes and a Cuppa': Festival meet and greet.
The Muse
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Our Festival Hub at The Muse will be open after the hike from 4pm for Welsh Cakes and a cuppa
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Get to know other festival attendees over a brew and The Muse's famous homemade cakes
The Zulu Welsh: a Symphony of Voices
Fri 19 July, 7.30pm
Theatr Brycheiniog
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The legendary Zulu Royal Chorale join forces with local favourites Aberhonddu and District Male Choir
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Hear a spectacular 30 voice ensemble formed of Royal Family Princes and Princesses, Zulu Maidens and Zulu Regiments combined with top class Welsh male voice in an extraordinary sharing of culture and song
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The Chorale are visiting Brecon as part of the Goodwill Collaboration with the visit commemorating King Zwelithini's 50 year reign of the Zulu Monarchy
The Friday Afterglow
Fri 19 July, 9.30pm
The Clarence Inn
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Join the concert choirs and our community in the pub for a rousing communal sing...with a pint or two!
Children's Voices
Sat 20 July, 10.30am
St Mary's Church
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In the weeks leading up to the festival local children will be enjoying some singing workshops with the South Powys Youth Music Team
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Come and enjoy the wonderful music they will create!
Henry Vaughan: Music, Mountains and Memory
Sat 20 July, 11.00am
The Neuadd, Christ College
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Hear Dr. Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury speak alongside Professor Helen Wilcox and Elizabeth Siberry OBE of The Vaughan Association ahead of the Continuum concert
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Learn how Vaughan saw music in nature and how it inspired him to write his poetry set by famous composers through the ages
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Food and refreshments will be available to purchase between the talk & the concert.
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Entry for the talk is free with a ticket for Continuum sing Henry Vaughan
Continuum sing Henry Vaughan
Sat 20 July, 12.30pm
The Chapel, Christ College
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Hear rising stars of the British choral scene Continuum in an ancient chapel
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Singers are drawn from world class choral institutions including Trinity College Cambridge and St John's College Cambridge
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Inspired by the poems of local Welsh poet, Henry Vaughan, the programme includes many British choral classics by the likes of Parry, Holst, Howells and Purcell
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Music includes 'Songs of Farewell' by Parry including famous Vaughan settings as heard at The Queen's funeral
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Listen to the world premiere of The Morning-Watch set by Welsh composer Geraint Lewis
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The Festival Choir Trail
Sat 20 July, 2.45pm
Start from the Canal Basin, Theatr Brycheiniog
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Follow choirs around town in iconic Brecon locations led by festival compere Mark Salmon
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Choirs include Men's Shed Shanty Chorus, Aberhonddu & District Male Voice Choir and The Dolor Consort
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More details on locations and timings to be announced shortly
Grand Concert: London Welsh Male Voice Choir
Sat 20 July, 7.00pm
Brecon Cathedral
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Hear the famous 'Red Jackets' of the London Welsh Male Voice Choir led by Edward Rhys-Harry, in a virtuoso evening at ancient Brecon Cathedral
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The choir has appeared twice at the Royal Variety Command Performances and have recorded with Charlotte Church, Aled Jones and Bryn Terfel
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Soloist Penelope George, winner of 2024 Young Singer Award will perform alongside the choir
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Hear and join in with power of the legendary Welsh National Anthem to close
We have paused ticket sales for this concert while we review capacity. We hope to release more
tickets next week.
Book pre-concert supper with The Hours Cafe in the cathedral close.
The Saturday Afterglow
Sat 20 July, 9.30pm
The Clarence Inn
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Enjoy a second evening of rousing song for one of our great Festival Afterglows, this time alongside the Red Jackets of the London Welsh
Morning Eucharist with The Dolor Consort
Sun 21 July, 9.30am
St Mary's Church
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Join St Mary's Church for a special morning Eucharist in the heart of Brecon
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Hear the beautiful sounds of early music specialists The Dolor Consort led by MD Richie Zhang
Vaughan in Memory: Brecon in revolution!
Sun 21 July, 10.30am
Leaving from St. Mary's Church
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Join a guided tour of civil war Brecon with renowned expert and Brecon resident Professor Sarah Clavier
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Expect to hear of Brecon skirmishes, battles and intrigue which provided the background of Vaughan's life and work
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Walk to Priory Groves, the setting of a famous Vaughan poem.
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Tour will last approximately an hour. Bring suitable footwear
Solstice Chorale Ensemble sing Brahms, Bruckner and Vaughan
Sun 21 July, 12 noon
The Chapel, Christ College
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Hear Cardiff based octet made up of current and graduate vocal students from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama sing a Romantic masterpiece
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Established in 2022 to expand on a love of choral singing, their past performances range from the music of Tallis to Whitacre, with highlights including performances of Faure's Requiem and Brahms Neue Liebeslieder.
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Recent performances include the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Festival, and the Sounds Sublime Festival in collaboration with The Sixteen
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Watch out for music by Bruckner in his 200th anniversary year and a Vaughan setting by local composer Tim Pratt
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Come and Sing Festival Evensong
Sun 21 July, 4.00pm
Brecon Cathedral
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Experience a unique British choral tradition and join the cathedral choir and congregation for their Festival Evensong
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Music includes Stanford in B flat and Let All The World by Vaughan Williams
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String players from the Gwent Chamber Orchestra will be accompanying the event
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Singers to arrive at 2.15pm ahead of a 2.30pm rehearsal
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Those wishing to sing should RSVP to breconchoirfestival@gmail.com by the beginning of July
Festival Finale: Cymanfa Ganu
Sunday 21 July, 6pm
The Plough Chapel
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Experience the unique power of congregational hymn singing in the spectacular Plough Church to close the festival
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Learn iconic Welsh and English tunes alongside fellow festival attendees under the baton of Lynnette Thomas (MD of Aberhonddu and District Male Choir)