Brecon Choir Festival returns this week with a rich and varied programme of live performances, community events and cultural experiences taking place from Thursday 17 to Sunday 20 July. Set against the dramatic backdrop of Bannau Brycheiniog, the festival brings together choirs, soloists, composers and audiences for four days of harmony and celebration.
The festival opens on Thursday evening with Mendelssohn’s dramatic oratorio Elijah, performed by the Brecon Singers and Festival Chorus, accompanied by Brecknock Sinfonia and guest soloists, at Brecon Cathedral. This grand choral work, full of powerful drama and lyrical beauty, sets the tone for a weekend of music that balances the traditional with the contemporary.
Friday's highlights include an evocative medieval programme from the Hildegard Singers at Brecon Cathedral and a rare opportunity to take part in a gospel singing workshop at St Mary’s Church. Throughout the day, visitors will also have a chance to explore the town’s cafés, galleries and bookshops, with informal recitals and opportunities to meet performers woven into the schedule.
Saturday brings the return of the ever-popular Festival Choir Trail, offering free performances at multiple locations around the town between 2:30pm and 5:45pm. Choirs from across Wales and beyond will perform in a trail that celebrates both vocal excellence and community participation. Also on Saturday afternoon, The King’s Men of King’s College Cambridge perform at lunchtime, with a range of other activities taking place across the town.
The day culminates in one of the festival’s most anticipated events: a performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana at Brecon Cathedral. The work, known for its bold rhythms and unforgettable opening chorus, will be performed by the BBC National Chorus of Wales, joined by soloists from Continuum, two pianists and a percussion ensemble. The first half of the concert will also include a new work by composer Lucy Walker, based on R. S. Thomas’s poem “Song”, alongside works by Alex Mills and Jeremy Thurlow.
Sunday’s programme features an early Festival Eucharist at St Mary’s Church, a concert of new vocal music exploring the theme of technology and humanity in R. S. Thomas’s poetry, and a Festival Evensong at the Cathedral. The weekend closes with a special performance by Only Boys Aloud at Theatr Brycheiniog.
Brecon Cathedral plays a central role throughout the festival as host venue for several major performances. Brecon Beacons Tourism members also include The Hours Bookshop and Café, which will host a pre-concert conversation with composer Lucy Walker, and Found Gallery, which supports the festival’s fringe events and welcomes visitors to view contemporary Welsh art and design.
Brecon Choir Festival continues to grow in scale and ambition, offering both locals and visitors a warm welcome and a powerful reminder of the enduring importance of music, community and creativity. With performances ranging from intimate solo pieces to massed choir works, the 2025 edition promises to be a memorable experience at the heart of the Bannau Brycheiniog summer season.
Brecon Beacons Tourism is proud to support local festivals like this through promotion and partnership with our members. If you’re a business operating in and around Bannau Brycheiniog and want to benefit from our network, support, and visibility, we’d love to welcome you.
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