Cardiff-based choir CF1 has been named Choir of the Year 2014 at the National Choir of the Year Competition.
The UK’s leading amateur choral contest concluded at an event hosted by choirmaster Gareth Malone (pictured) at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall.
Almost 6,000 singers from 150 singing groups entered the competition this year in auditions across the country.
The choirs were judged by a panel that included composer Paul Mealor, American soprano Angel Blue, vocal coach and broadcaster Mary King, and conductor Greg Beardsell.
CF1’s musical director Eilir Owen Griffiths said: ‘It has been an honour to be a part of Choir of the Year throughout 2014 – winning was just the icing on the cake! What a wonderful musical experience and a great early Christmas present.’
The competition’s other finalists this year were:
Children’s Category Winner: Ysgol Glanaethwy Junior Choir, Bangor
Youth Category Winner: Singers Limited, High Wycombe
Adult Category Winner: Northern Spirit Singers, Durham
Open Category Winner: Rainbow Connection Singers, Doncaster
Wildcard: CF1, Cardiff
Wildcard: The Oxford Gargoyles, Oxford