To mark the organisation’s centenary in 2022, the Urdd Choir is being formed to offer opportunities for young people across Wales to come together in the Urdd’s name for a unique visit to Alabama.
In addition to the 16 winners, the Urdd will arrange open auditions for more Urdd members between 18 and 25 years old to apply for the opportunity to be part of the Choir for this amazing visit.
The opportunity comes following the transatlantic partnership between the Urdd and UAB, University of Alabama at Birmingham. The aim is that the UAB Gospel Choir will come to Wales to perform at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Denbighshire in 2022.
The relationship between the Welsh and the Afro-American community in Birmingham, Alabama was formed over fifty years ago following a terrorist attack by the Klu Klux Klan on the 16th Street Baptist Church. As a sign of support and solidarity, the people of Wales donated a stained-glass window, and to this day, it is known as the Wales Window.
Siân Lewis, the Urdd’s Chief Executive, and the then Welsh Education Minister Kirsty Williams’s official visit to the church and the young people of Birmingham, Alabama in 2019 strengthened that relationship. As a result, final arrangements for the UAB Gospel Choir’s visit to Wales and the Urdd Eisteddfod in Denbighshire were halted by the global spread of Covid-19.
In light of the pandemic’s challenges, a virtual gospel choir was formed between some Urdd members and UAB students, and to celebrate Thanksgiving in November 2020, they joined forces to sing in Welsh for the first time, to release a cover of Every Praise by Hezekiah Walker, called ‘Canwn Glod.’
As well as organising for the Urdd Choir members to perform at concerts in Alabama, to learn more about the gospel singing tradition and the Civil Rights Movement and history in Alabama, the aim is to invite UAB Gospel Choir to perform at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Denbighshire in 2022.
Those who have reached the finals of the following competitions in Eisteddfod T 2021 will get the opportunity to be a part of the Urdd Choir:
- Folk Song Year 10 and under 25 years old
- Solo Year 10 and under 19 years old
- Solo from the Musicals Year 10 and under 19 years old
- Solo 19-25 years old
- Cerdd Dant Solo Year 10 and under 25 years old
- Solo from the Musicals 19-25 years old
The Urdd will be inviting more young people between 18 and 25 years old to join the choir via audition. Further details will be published on the Urdd’s website and social media over the coming months.
As the Urdd approaches its centenary in 2022 it has ambitious plans to ensure Wales makes a positive impact, to ensure that more people know about Wales, offer international experiences for young people, and celebrate the cultural richness of Wales as well as share good practice with international contacts in the success of increasing confidence, use and enjoyment of a minority language.