World Wide Search for 40 Choirs to compete for Pavarotti Trophy, potentially the largest financial prize package for Festival Choir Competition

Brand New Childrens Choir of The World Competition

Exciting new changes being introduced to Llangollen International Eisteddfod Competitions in 2013 will be announced online at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk Saturday, June 16th 2012 at 09.00am. The International event has begun the search for 40 Choirs to compete for the coveted Pavarotti Trophy in the world renowned Choir of the World Competition in 2013 enticing World Wide competitors with potentially the largest financial prize package of 5,000 for a festival choir.

Eilir Owen Griffiths, the Musical Director explained, Only eight choirs from the Mixed, Youth, Chamber, Male and Female categories will be selected and they will all be in the running for the Choir of the World title from the outset. Another exciting development is the introduction of a special award for Childrens Choirs. We are introducing a Childrens Choir of the World Trophy with a prize fund of 500 for the highest scoring childrens choir along with a brand new Childrens Folk Choir competition for under 18s. We want to maximise the number of choirs that can compete and also further ensure that Llangollen Eisteddfod has the best choral competitions in the World

Llangollen Eisteddfod 2013 also begins the search for the Voice of the Future . The prize of 2,000 will go towards furthering the solo career of a young singer under the age of 35 and also comes with an invitation to perform in one of the major future Eisteddfod concerts.

Other changes will include a new Musical Director Award, which will be awarded by the Eisteddfods Musical Director for the best performance of a work by a living Composer. In addition a Conductors Prize Trophy and fund of 250 will be awarded to the most inspiring Conductor. Another competition for 2013 is an Authentic Vocal Folk Ensemble for no more than 10 performers to present a programme of authentic music representative of their local or regional tradition.

An application fee of 80 will be introduced in 2013 for all groups entering the Eisteddfod Competitions. Solo entry remains free. There is also a new opportunity for non-competitive groups to come and perform at the Eisteddfod. Their application fee is 50.

Musical Director, Eilir Owen Griffiths added, We have put together a new set of competitions that will appeal to a wider range of potential applicants. All the changes will go live Saturday June 16th at 09.00am and can be seen on the Llangollen International Eisteddfod website www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk .