But the musical director of one of Wales’ most high profile choirs has signalled a sharp warning note over the future of choral music, and how it is approached in schools.
Only Men Aloud’s Tim Rhys Evans claims a “dumbing-down” of music lessons in schools means that young people lack the skills to replenish Wales’ aging choral population.
This month three of the oldest and most established Welsh choirs, Treorchy Choral Society, Ebenezer Choral society in Aberdare, and Ystradgynlais Male Voice Choir, announced that this year’s Christmas concerts would be their last.
They citied falling numbers and an average age of over 75.
The Welsh government insists it continues to “invest significantly in the teaching of music” and that their programmes are “having a positive impact in improving the standards and opportunities for singing in schools”.
But Mr Rhys Evans believes that only pupils whose parents can afford private lessons now learn theory, or how to sight-read music, and that this is making choirs harder for young people to access.
The founder of Only Men Aloud nearly 12 years ago is now hoping recruiting younger children for their next project, Only Kids Aloud, can address some of the issues.
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