Eisteddfod launches solo competitions for 2025

* Mario Kreft, Director at Pendine Park Care Organisation, sponsor of the 2024 Pendine International Voice of the Future, with Shimona Rose, the winning soprano from Singapore, runner-up, Welsh soprano Manon Ogwen-Parry and broadcaster Sian Thomas at Llangollen 2024.

Llangollen International Eisteddfod has opened the application process for soloists and instrumentalists for next year’s festival, which take place between Tuesday 8 and Sunday 13 July 2025.  

There will be 7 solo competitions, 18 group competitions and 4 non-competitive ways to take part, with the world's best soloists and musicians invited.

This year, the festival has introduced youth versions of its Voice of the Future and Voice of Musical Theatre competitions, to encourage younger singers to take part. This is following overwhelming feedback from audiences and competitors in 2024.

The Eisteddfod’s International Voice of the Future competition is always one of the highlights of the festival, which has existed since 1947 to promote peace through music and dance. 

The 2024 Pendine International Voice of the Future winner was Shimona Rose, a soprano from Singapore, with the competition being sponsored by Pendine Park, a care organisation that supports numerous cultural initiatives locally. 

The Voice of Musical Theatre competition was won in 2024 by Shea Ferron, a member of celebrated local choir Johns’ Boys Male Chorus (themselves previous winners of the Eisteddfod’s Choir of the World competition).

Llangollen International Eisteddfod opened its group applications last month. Applications have already been received from choirs from as far away as the USA, Zimbabwe, Philippines, Denmark, Portugal and Canada, as well as dance groups from Burundi, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco and the Republic of Congo, and ensembles from Australia and Ghana.

Dave Danford, Artistic Director of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, said: "Every year our festival attracts some of the most talented singers, dancers, musicians and choirs from around the world. We've been delighted with the response from every corner of the globe for our group competitions this year, and we are now pleased to be opening applications for our solo competitions. 

 

"After listening to feedback from our audiences, we have launched exciting new competitions for young people. We want to bring the best young talent in the world to Llangollen and our standards remain incredibly high. We look forward to welcoming all our competitors next July, as North East Wales once again becomes a vibrant destination for music and dance."