MOCSA YOUNG WELSH SINGER OF THE YEAR COMPETITION

The 2024 MOCSA Young Welsh Singer of the Year is

Sophie Kidwell

More details - click here

The winner and runner up will perform, along with the Morriston Orpheus Choir, at the Annual MOCSA Concert on Sunday 15 September (4pm) at The Calon Lan Centre, Swansea. More details click here.

Rachel Roper a 23 year old Mezzo Soprano from Hereford (of Welsh parentage), studying at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, is the 2022 MOCSA Young Welsh Singer of the Year. (Click here for more details)

The MOCSA Young Welsh Singer of the Year Competition is open to students, who on the closing date of the Competition, are over 18; studying classical singing, on a full-time basis only, at a university or college and meet at least ONE of the following criteria:

1. Were born in Wales

2. Have at least one parent who was born in Wales

3. Resident in Wales for at least 10 years immediately prior to their 18^th birthday.

The Winner will receive:

The MOCSA Young Welsh Singer of the Year Trophy,
sponsored by Gravells Ltd of Kidwelly,

(A replica of the trophy will be kept by the winner)

AND

The Ivor E Sims Memorial Prize of £1,500 - donated by the Morriston Orpheus Choir

The Runner Up will receive an inscribed plaque and cheque for £500

More details from Competition Organiser:
Howie Johnson Tel/Text 07971 663861

EMail: competition@morristonorpheus.com

Click here for a report on the 2021 Competition

Previous winners have included international stars Rebecca Evans and Bryn Terfel, both of whom are Vice-Presidents of the Association.

Click for List of Previous Winners

Whenever possible, winners are given the opportunity of staging with the Morriston Orpheus Choir. The 2018 winner Kieron -Connor Valentine sang with the Choir in June 2019 and Chloe Angharad Morgan, the 2017 winner, was the guest soloist with the Choir when they visited Austria and Poland in April 2018. Some have recorded with the Choir and a number have accompanied the Choir on earlier overseas concert tours, appearing in such prestigious venues as, the Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto, and the Sydney Opera House.

PREVIOUS WINNERS’ COMMENTS

Gary Griffiths - Winner 2008

Winning the MOCSA trophy was a poignant moment for me and I feel it has been pivotal in my development as a singer. Having the privilege to perform with the choir as a result not only in the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea, but also abroad in Geneva and at other high profile venues has given me invaluable experience. I truly hope this tradition will last for many more years to come! Visit Gary's website.

Leah-Marian Jones - Winner 1985

Winning the MOCSA prize was instrumental in my transition from student to professional singer. The prize gave me many opportunities to sing with the Choir to large audiences, which inevitably boosts your confidence. So I feel very grateful to Mr Humphreys and the Choir for giving me that chance.

Sir Bryn Terfel - Winner 1988

For any young singer who is still studying or who is in the first years of building a career, competitions like the MOCSA Young Welsh Singer of the Year are invaluable. Singing in a competitive environment is good grounding for the inevitable round of auditions which young singers face. And if, like me, you are fortunate enough to make the final of the competition and then win, it is a real boost to a fledgling career. I know I speak on behalf of many singers when I say that we are grateful to those such as MOCSA who do so much to support and encourage young singers - long may it continue!

Gwyn Hughes Jones - Winner 1990

The MOCSA Competition provides the Orpheus Choir with a valuable opportunity to encourage young singers in Wales. It is the duty of every choir to encourage young vocal talent where they can and the competition goes a long way to fulfilling that duty. I wish the Morriston Orpheus Choir and the MOCSA Competition every success. Pob hwyl.

Anthony Stuart Lloyd - Winner 1993

The MOCSA Young Welsh Singer Of The Year Competition offers many advantages to its competitors. It is a valuable experience on all levels, from prelim to final. It provides a sense of ambience unmatched by any other competition held in Wales or Britain for that matter. It has proved itself an early stepping stone for the singer along his or her professional path and has acted as a barometer for up-and-coming talent with a track record to substantiate. So may it continue for the next twenty five years.

Andrew Rees - Winner 2000

Thank you MOCSA for hosting this special competition. Being able to compete on a concert platform, and in such wonderful venues, enhances the excitement of the occasion. The experience of sharing the stage with the Choir and performing to a large capacity audience is rare, yet invaluable for singers at the early stages of their careers. Thank you for recognising the need to support and nurture young vocal talent and long may it last throughout the 21st century. Diolch a phob lwc.

MOCSA TROPHY WINNERS

1977	Jacqueline Nelmes	Soprano	Abertillery
1978	Catherine Savoury	Contralto	Cardiff
1979	Llinos Haf Williams	Soprano	Llanrhaedr-ym-Mochnant
1980	Lynne Davies	Soprano	St Asaph
1981	Helen Edwards	Soprano	Brynmawr
1982	Sharon Lloyd	Soprano	Llanelli
1983	Huw Rhys Evans Mari Ffion Williams	Tenor Soprano	Tregaron Synod Inn
1984	Meinir Williams	Soprano	Tywyn
1985	Leah-Marian Jones	Mezzo-Soprano	Cilgerran
1986	Helen Miles Arwel Treharne Morgan	Soprano Tenor	Gorseinon Llanelli
1987	Rhian Owen	Soprano	Llanberis
1988	Bryn Terfel	Baritone	Garndolbenmaen
1989	Rebecca Evans	Soprano	Neath
1990	Gwyn Hughes Jones	Baritone	Llanbedrgoch
1991	Catrin Wyn Davies	Soprano	Cardiff
1992	Elizabeth Ann Stevens	Mezzo-Soprano	Cardiff
1993	Anthony Stuart Lloyd	Bass	Cardiff
1994	Darren Jones	Baritone	Gelli
1995	Joanne Thomas	Mezzo-Soprano	Tonyrefail
1996	Jill Padfield	Soprano	Trinant
1997	Owen David Webb	Baritone	Pontlliw
1998	Emma Dennis	Soprano	Ferry
1999	Natasha Marsh	Soprano	London
2000	Andrew Rees	Tenor	Carmarthen
2001	Douglas Bowen	Baritone	Swansea
2002	Fflur Wyn	Soprano	Brynaman
2003	Sarah-Jane Davies	Soprano	Brecon
2004	Nicola Hughes	Soprano	Tonna, Neath
2005	Katherine Allen	Mezzo Soprano	Cardiff
2006	Caryl Hughes	Mezzo Soprano	Aberdaron
2007	Rhian Mair Lewis	Soprano	Aberystwyth
2008	Gary Griffiths	Baritone	Carmarthen
2009	Catrin Aur	Soprano	Carmarthen
2010	John Pierce	Tenor	Holywell
2011	Kathryn McAdam	Mezzo Soprano	Farnborough
2012	Trystan Llyr Griffiths	Tenor	Clunderwen
2013	Joshua Owen Mills	Tenor	Neath
2014	Rhiannon Llewellyn	Soprano	Swansea
2015	Emyr Wyn Jones	Bass Baritone	Aberdare
2016	Robert Garland	Baritone	Northampton
2017	Chloe Angharad Morgan	Soprano	London
2018	Kieron-Connor Valentine	Countertenor	Rhosllanerchrugog
2019	Osian Wyn Bowen	Tenor	Burry Port
2020	Not Held	Global Pandemic
2021	Rhydian Jenkins	Tenor	Maesteg
2022	Rachel Roper	Mezzo Soprano	Hereford
2023 2024	Not Held Sophie Kidwell	Competition Review Mezzo Soprano London

We are always delighted to hear from past winners and finalists through our social media channels or, better still, come and visit us at rehearsal or a concert!

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