Audience members describe live performance as “incredible” after choir practised on Zoom
WELSH language youth choir group Côr Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal were back performing in-person last weekend after two years of singing to their computer screens.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, choir members were forced to practise and perform via Zoom until this Sunday, when they performed their annual Christmas concert in front of a live audience at Eglwys Y Crwys Presbyterian Church of Wales.
Their audience was treated to national classics such as Clychau’r Ceirw, Brenin y Sêr and a beautiful Welsh rendition of Carol of the Bells.
Among those in attendance were husband and wife Huw and Emma Davies who travelled down from Cowbridge to support their daughter.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to see them live, it’s great to have them back and to hear live choir music in-person, there’s a real difference,” said Mr Davies, 56.
“From the first note you could really feel its full impact, the sound was incredible,” said Mrs Davies, 47.
For members of the choir, it was a welcome break from their computers.
The in-person performance marked a return to a social setting that so many young people have been looking forward to during the pandemic.
President of Waun Ddyfal, Elin Griffiths, 22, said: “It was two years ago last weekend that we were last together performing like this.
“It’s nice to be back singing as a group and seeing everyone face to face, there’s a social side to it as well as the performance itself and I’ve really missed that, it’s not the same over Zoom.”
Included in the setlist was Geiriau Bychain which translates to ‘small words’ in English.
The song stresses the importance of the preservation of Welsh language by keeping the ‘small words’ alive through song.
This was a message echoed by lead conductor Ruth Roberts, 22.
She said: “We’re very lucky in Wales to have music and I think it’s such an important factor for us to be able to sing in Welsh as it keeps the language alive.
“The tradition has kept going for a number of years and I will pass it on to my children as well.
“Hopefully we will be able to preserve the Welsh language through singing as well as through conversation.”
Waun Ddyfal’s next live performance is due to take place between May 30 and June 4, 2022, at the Urdd Eisteddfod, Wales’ largest Welsh-language youth festival.
The choir will be competing in the hope of repeating their 2018 successes when they won the male and female choir categories.
- Further information on the festival can be found on the Urdd Eisteddfod website.
