Applications are now open for the Brecon Choir Festival Young Singer Award 2026, a key cultural highlight held each spring in Brecon, right in the centre of Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park. The annual competition provides young Welsh singers with a professional platform to perform, gain experience, and contribute to the region’s strong choral heritage.
The competition takes place on Saturday 7 March 2026, with the winner invited to perform as a soloist at the Festival’s Friday night concert on 17 July 2026, one of the signature summer events in Brecon’s vibrant arts calendar. The top prize is £300, and up to three runners-up will each receive £100.
A celebration of Welsh talent in a National Park setting
The Young Singer Award is an important showcase for developing musicians from across Wales, reinforcing Brecon’s long-standing reputation as a cultural hub within the National Park. The competition attracts families, schools, and visitors who combine the event with time exploring the town and surrounding Bannau Brycheiniog landscape.
Eligibility and how to apply
Applicants must:
• Be aged 15–19 on 16 January 2026
• Live in Wales or study at a school or college in Wales
Singers must complete the application form (available in English and Welsh) and submit recordings of two contrasting songs by 16 January 2026.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to Brecon on Competition Day to perform three contrasting pieces, including one by a Welsh composer sung in Welsh. All competitors will work with the festival’s official accompanist, Sue Bird, with sheet music due by 14 February 2026.
The judging panel is made up of respected Welsh music specialists:
Jonathan Rogers – Musical Director of Dunvant Male Choir; Curriculum Leader of Music at Gower College Swansea; Associate Lecturer at Trinity Laban; WJEC examiner; and conductor for recent major Welsh choral events.
Nicola Morgan – Vocal tutor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; experienced adjudicator at the National Eisteddfod and festivals across Wales.
The 2025 Young Singer Award was won by Leisa Lloyd Edwards, who performed at the Festival’s Grand Concert in Brecon Cathedral in July. The Award continues to support the next generation of Welsh singers while strengthening Brecon’s cultural identity within Bannau Brycheiniog.
Full details and application forms are available 👉 Brecon Choir Festival website.
