Well that was 2007 – and 2008 (if not 2009) is already well away!

Sing out sister!

It seemed no sooner had the ink dried on the record contracts that followed BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2007 2005 that we were back to work on the 2007 competition.

The 2005 winner Nicole Cabell provided plenty of headline grabbing opportunities in the run up to the 2007 competition with her debut solo CD and London recital debut. The London launch was held at St John’s, Smith’s Square before that London recital and Nicole traveled to Cardiff the next day for a successful launch at the competition’s home St David’s Hall, Cardiff.

The competition was a press and marketing success and the competition produced a stunning winner, the young bass Shen Yang. English soprano Liz Watts won the Song Prize and, yes, plans are well advanced for 2009. www.bbc.co.uk/cardiffsinger

And the winner is...

Meanwhile advanced work is well in hand for the Welsh Singer Competition 2008.

Not only will the aspiring singers compete for a cash prize and trophy but the winner will represent Wales in BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2009.

Watch out for articles in the music press and online in January, closing date for entries, and then in the build up to the June competition: www.welshsingerscompetition.com.

Get plucking

Just before a summer break harpists from around Europe descended on Cardiff’s Millennium Centre for the annual European Harp Festival.

Press work included ensuring an excellent audience for the opening night gala concert and excellent attendances at master classes and a host of other concerts across Cardiff during the festival week. www.arpavivacymru.org.

Lights, music, action.  

Another first, the international gay and lesbian short film festival, held at Cineworld and Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, attracting film makers from a round the world to compete in this inaugural event. 

Extensive coverage included interviews with festival patron Matthew Rhys and festival previews. The 2008 festival is definite fort November. www.irisprize.com

A Ffresh film venture

Valentine’s Day 2008 sees the start of the student moving image festival of Wales in Aberystwyth.

With the deadline for students to apply for the highly useful Pitch to Win sessions coverage has already started in the Welsh press with a flow of media coverage planned for January and during the two day festival on February 14 and 15. www.ffresh.com

Tune in and start ranting.

From arguing with homophobic Christians, telling the Assembly Government to keep its hands off direct arts funding, defending the £13.5 million debt cancellation for Wales Millennium Centre to explaining why belting out a few operatic arias doesn’t make you an opera singer, it has been a busy radio year.  www.bbc.co.uk

Critical condition

Checkout the reviews to see what an excellent year it has been for live arts.

Ranging from Rebecca Evans at English National Opera in a wonderful Turn of the Screw to Rufus Wainwright wowing us at Wales Millennium Centre to an open-air (brrr) Hound of the Baskervilles and even Tintin thrown in. www.icwales.co.uk, www.theatre-wales.co.uk, www.audienceswales.co.uk

Talented teens

The country’s most prestigious competition for the next generation of music stars is now based in Wales.

Press campaign is well underway first raising awareness this is a BBC Wales event and that audiences can attend the preliminary rounds. The campaign steps up a gear in gear February when the category finals take place and then the build up to the final at Wales Millennium Centre in May. www.bbc.co.uk/youngmusician

The hottest competition in Wales

Now for something completely different...the search is on for the best Indian restaurant in Wales.

Launched in December and with voting already taking place the press campaign will drive voting through January and then awareness of the competition through the spring until the final in March and a glittering Welsh Curry House of the Year gala dinner. www.welshcurryhouse.co.uk Plans are also in hand for the Cardiff Indian Food.

Festival in March. www.cardiffsindianfoodfest.co.uk

A new course...

Again a new venture, West Wales restaurateurs didn’t know what had hit them with a foodie foray to write reviews of restaurants in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

Judge what you think by visiting www.icwales.co.uk and check out the restaurant reviews. Hive on the Quay, the Old Sailors and the Harbourmaster reviews: www.icwales.co.uk

Meanwhile in lands far away (and round the corner)....

In the footsteps of Dracula in Transylvania, family expeditions to Ireland, France and West Wales, sampling the delights of Provence and a few European weekend breaks kept the wheels on the luggage trolley turning nicely.

Check out the reviews on: www.icwales.co.uk

< Back

Copyright 2005 MediaSmith