Cor Eurovision: Y Daith i Riga Cor Cymru


Cor Eurovision: Y Daith i Riga

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-West is best!

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-It's a remarkable story.

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-The story of a group of schoolgirls

-who started on a journey...

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-..that began

-in a rehearsal room in Drefach.

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-They were crowned Welsh champions.

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-They're now part of the greatest

-TV choral competition in history.

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-Eurovision.

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-This is the story

-of Cor Merched Sir Gar...

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-..and their journey from West Wales

-to Riga and the rest of Europe.

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-Before we look forward,

-let's look back.

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-Last October,

-the girls started preparing...

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-..for the Cor Cymru competition.

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-# Lift up the name of Jesus

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-# Then you want to praise him

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-# Say a prayer #

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-50 girls

-from seven different schools.

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-Some speak Welsh, some don't,

-but they all have talent.

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-What better way to celebrate than

-by gathering everyone together...

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-..singers, families and supporters,

-to reminisce.

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-The drum roll was so long,

-I couldn't wait for it to end.

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-When it did, it was incredible

-to hear our choir.

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-It was, like, wow.

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-Cor Merched Sir Gar.

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-I thought it was a mistake at first.

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-It was such a shock. We all

-gathered together and celebrated.

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-Islwyn's face was my highlight.

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-It was a huge shock for us.

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-I'd never competed

-on a national stage before.

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-To realise we were in the top four

-was a shock.

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-The choir impressed us

-for singing with such conviction...

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-..with sensitivity,

-often musically perfect.

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-# Beth yw'r haf i mi

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-# Dim ond gaeaf llwm

-a dagrau'n lli #

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-One of my favourite moments

-of singing on stage...

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-..is singing Beth Yw'r Haf I Mi?

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-The atmosphere we create

-as a choir is very special.

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-# Gariad bach er crwydro'n ffol

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-If anyone makes a mistake,

-it's so obvious.

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-You have to be really careful.

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-When we get it right,

-it's effective.

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-# Beth yw'r haf i mi?

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-# Dim ond hirlwm

-ers pan gollais ti #

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-In terms of the judges, what

-got us through the semi-final...

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-..was songs

-one, two, three and four.

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-The song everyone enjoyed singing

-was song five...

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-..Going To The Holy City.

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-According to the adjudication...

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-..that's not the one

-that hit the spot.

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-# Goin' to the holy city

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-# I'm going

-to leave this world behind #

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-They didn't fully invest

-in exploring a new sound.

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-What I want to see is almost

-a completely different choir...

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-..singing pieces

-from a different musical genre.

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-# I'm going to live eternally

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-# Yes, I'm going to the holy city

-won't you come and go with me? #

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-I know the girls had a lot of fun

-and the comments were encouraging.

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-They've got tremendous potential.

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-If they do that on an hour a week,

-the sky's the limit.

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-A chance to look forward

-to the final.

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-Islwyn was aware that their

-weakest song in the semi-final...

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-..was the gospel song,

-Goin' To The Holy City.

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-Any other conductor would

-have shied away from the genre...

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-..but not Islwyn Evans.

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-In the final, the panel

-were treated to a gospel medley.

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-# If you came to praise him

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-# Say Amen

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-# If you came to praise him

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-# Say Amen

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-# If you came to lift up

-the name of Jesus

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-# Then you ought to praise him

-and say Amen

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-# Say Amen #

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-The gamble paid off handsomely

-and the plaudits followed.

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-Right from the get-go,

-you could tell they were special.

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-Whey they performed that gospel

-medley, it was a special moment.

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-The winners are...

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-..Cor Merched Sir Gar.

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-It was such an incredible feeling.

-It was great.

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-I thought the performance

-was unbelievable.

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-Fantastic. We're so proud of them.

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-I still can't believe it.

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-I've won in the past

-with other choirs...

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-..but this was quite a challenge.

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-I don't see this choir

-as often as I see the other choirs.

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-You saw the response

-when the announcement was made.

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-The girls were over the moon.

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-Before the announcement,

-not that Islwyn had noticed...

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-..a separate announcement

-was made backstage.

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-Imagine the thrill

-of representing your country...

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-..in a live global TV competition...

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-..against some of the best choirs

-in Europe.

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-It took a few seconds

-for it to sink in.

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-We were going to Latvia!

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-We were so happy we'd won. Then we

-realised we were going to Latvia.

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-I couldn't get my head

-around that at all.

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-That was put to one side. We'd cross

-that bridge when we got to it.

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-Suddenly,

-it's presented in front of you...

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-..and, well, it was...

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-..well,

-it's one of the greatest honours...

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-..for us as a choir,

-and for me as a conductor.

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-The land of song on tour.

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-As an additional surprise

-for the girls....

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-..Scarlets' No.10 Rhys Patchell

-called by...

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-..with some words of advice.

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-I don't often come down

-and speak to choirs!

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-Rugby clubs, usually, or schools.

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-I know that everyone locally

-supports you 100%.

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-I'm sure you'll do Wales,

-your schools, your families...

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-..and all your supporters proud

-if you have pride in yourselves.

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-Good luck to you, enjoy the

-experience, enjoy every minute...

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-..because, 5, 10, 15 years from now,

-you'll look back at this...

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-..and realise how cool it was.

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-Good luck.

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-Rhys' words were inspirational.

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-It gave us the confidence

-to do our best out there...

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-..and enjoy the experience.

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-It'll be a superb experience.

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-It's something they'll remember

-for the rest of their lives.

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-It's absolutely amazing.

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-They'll look back on it

-with great pride and fond memories.

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-We're going to be flying to

-the States when they're on stage.

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-We won't see it until we get there.

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-Our daughter's

-flying out afterwards.

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-We've changed

-all of our arrangements for it.

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-It's so important for her to

-take part, that had to come first.

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-I've had choirs at Llangollen's

-Choir of the World competition.

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-Those are scintillating nights.

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-This is...

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-..a lot, lot more.

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-It's difficult to appreciate

-the enormity of the night.

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-Eurovision, we're on our way.

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-We now understand

-how and why the choir reached Riga.

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-Are they truly ready

-for the enormity of the challenge?

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-Eight of Europe's best choirs.

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-A TV audience of millions.

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-.

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-Subtitles

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-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

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-In 24 hours' time, these girls will

-be singing in front of a crowd...

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-..of 8,000 people...

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-..and a global audience of millions.

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-No pressure.

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-When you realise that the choir

-didn't meet until June 21...

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-..you can understand why Islwyn

-is feeling the pressure.

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-Cor Cymru is one thing.

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-We have weeks of hard work

-ahead of us to prepare...

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-..for this huge competition in Riga.

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-Good luck in Riga.

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-Representing Wales. Superb.

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-The bus leaves here

-four weeks Monday.

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-Good luck in my country,

-Riga, Latvia.

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-Guys, be strong. Good luck.

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-There's work to do.

-I'd say there's a lot of work to do.

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-Right, OK. Now then.

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-Cor Merched Sir Gar,

-you are my favourite choir.

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-I wish you the best of luck in Riga.

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-I hope I get one more chance

-to announce...

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-..the winner is Cor Merched Sir Gar.

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-Four weeks to master

-the new repertoire.

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-With a few months

-having passed since Cor Cymru...

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-..there's only one place to start -

-technique.

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-Grrrr!

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-Grrrr!

-

-Grrrr!

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-Ooooooah!

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-Ooooooah!

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-He has very strange techniques.

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-Buh! You have to copy it perfectly

-or you do it again.

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-Buh!

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-Stronger. Buh!

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-Buh!

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-One of his techniques

-is singing by numbers.

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-# One, five, four, three #

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-It really makes us work together

-and think clearly.

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-# One, three

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-# Two, one #

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-Sometimes he changes the language -

-we sing in French, Spanish.

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-# Cinq, un, deux, trois

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-# Deux, trois #

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-Islwyn is a great conductor.

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-He's a perfectionist,

-he works us hard...

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-..but he likes having lots of fun.

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-We'd all be lost without him...

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-..and we wouldn't be where we are

-now so we're very grateful to him.

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-The girls come from

-seven different schools.

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-What kind of personalities

-have you encountered?

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-They're very different

-as you'd expect teenage girls to be.

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-Some are boisterous.

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-We're very talkative.

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-We're on our phones a lot.

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-OK, thank you, stop talking.

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-The variety makes the team,

-doesn't it?

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-I give them a mouthful

-for talking too much...

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-..but, at the end of the day, they

-know when to put the phones away...

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-..and crack on with the work.

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-In Carmarthenshire, we're interested

-in children's holistic development.

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-Extra-curricular activities

-help shape the complete child.

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-Music teaches us about creativity.

-You use creativity in other fields.

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-Creativity in science,

-languages and mathematics.

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-We're working with schools...

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-..to face the funding challenge

-over the next few years.

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-Schools appreciate music's value

-as part of an extended curriculum.

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-We've had a lot of experiences

-with the county choir.

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-We sang in Birmingham's

-Symphony Hall with Music For Youth.

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-We went through from there

-to sing in Royal Albert Hall.

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-It was an unforgettable experience.

-It was amazing.

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-We went to watch Wicked.

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-That was incredible.

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-Caterina is the only girl

-from Ysgol Dyffryn Taf.

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-Mother Tina realises the value

-of being part of this choir.

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-Being in the choir has given me

-more confidence in myself.

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-She was so shy but going

-to these different places...

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-..all these girls she's never been

-with, brought her out of herself.

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-It's helped me

-understand Welsh more.

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-I can understand it a lot more.

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-It's really good,

-a really good feeling.

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-Life skills, unforgettable

-experiences and lifelong friends.

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-It's what being part

-of a choir means to you.

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-It all stems from hard work...

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-..and the girls' insistence

-on accepting nothing but the best...

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-..be that tiddly-winks

-or a game of rounders on the beach.

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-The desire to win is evident.

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-The challenge for you,

-as it is for nine European choirs...

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-..is choosing

-a six-minute repertoire.

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-When I first heard that it

-was six minutes, I just laughed.

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-I thought they were pulling my leg.

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-Of course,

-you want to open with a song...

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-..that grabs the attention

-of the audience and judges.

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-You want a special finale.

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-As a filling to the sandwich, you

-want something that scores points...

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-..but there's not enough time.

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-# Hoj hura hoj,

-hura hoj, hura hoj, hura hoj

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-# Hura hoj, hura hoj,

-hura hoj, hura hoj, hura hoj #

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-I had a short conversation

-with the judges after Cor Cymru...

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-..and we were both agreed

-on Hoj Hura Hoj, the Czech song.

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-It's a four-part choir but there

-are solos for three of the girls.

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-The image we're trying to create...

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-..of shouting across the valley

-and the echo returning...

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-..is very effective.

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-We're there to represent Wales

-and without a doubt...

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-..one of the pieces

-must be sung in Welsh.

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-# Mil harddach

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-In addition to being

-a Welsh folk melody...

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-..it will act as a contrast

-to the first and last song.

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-# Na'r rhosyn coch ar ael y bryn

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-# Na'r alarch

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-In Cor Cymru, quiet pieces work.

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-It surprises me that many conductors

-shy away from quiet pieces.

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-Sometimes, when they think

-something is quiet...

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-..I believe

-you can take it quieter still.

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-# Mwy swynol yw dy chwerthin mwyn

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-# Na chan y fronfraith yn y llwyn

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-# Na murmur mor uwchben y twyn

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-# Fy maban bach #

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-This is the song

-that could put you on the map.

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-What's the finale?

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-What's the finale?

-

-Wade In The Water by Norman Luboff.

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-# Wade, wade, wade in the water

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-# Wade, wade, wade in the water

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-# Wade, wade, wade in the water

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-# God is gonna trouble the waters

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-We have seven,

-eight voices at times.

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-We reach a higher level

-than we reached in Cor Cymru.

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-We have to stretch the girls...

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-..to perform

-well out of their comfort zone.

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-# See that band all dressed in red

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-Eyes!

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-So far,

-they've accepted the challenge...

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-..and we'll see how it goes.

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-# God is gonna trouble

-these waters #

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-Alaw and Bethan,

-if you feel nervous backstage...

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-..how do you control that,

-as soloists?

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-I breathe. I don't know what you do.

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-I breathe deeply and before

-going on, I do some star jumps.

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-Just to get my mind off the solo.

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-Star jumps is the answer?

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-Backstage at the eisteddfod,

-I do star jumps.

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-Alaw's on her own in the corner!

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-Challenging pieces

-aren't enough for Islwyn.

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-He wants an extra ingredient

-to create the perfect dish.

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-Lauren is something else.

-She's fantastic.

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-You're too lazy at the moment.

-Wake up.

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-She knows what a choir needs -

-she's not just creating a show.

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-Sometimes it's just the slightest

-move and the girls understand it.

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-Remember the audience - I'm not

-asking you to go all the way around.

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-Just here or the other side.

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-They're lovely, they're disciplined,

-they're like sponges...

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-..but because

-they concentrate so much...

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-..you lose that spark,

-that energy, that enthusiasm.

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-They just want to get things right,

-which is lovely...

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-..but to be able

-to perform something like this...

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-..we've got to be ready to let go.

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-It's a very difficult process.

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-When you turn your head,

-you need the expression...

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-..you need to think...

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-She's very strict. She knows what

-she wants and she's a perfectionist.

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-Islwyn's a perfectionist and Lauren

-wants every move on point.

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-No, it's too slow.

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-You're too nice. You need to be

-more slick. Five, six, seven and go.

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-No.

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-This was meant to be simple.

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-This was meant to be simple.

-

-She's energetic and enthusiastic.

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-She makes us feel enthusiastic

-about dancing...

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-..even when it makes us

-feel nervous.

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-They're going for it, it's amazing.

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-You're competing against

-eight choirs from across Europe.

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-How many choirs

-are you familiar with?

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-Which ones

-are your greatest threats?

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-One of the choirs,

-the Estonian TV Girls' Choir...

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-..we've come across them

-in competitions.

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-The countries involved,

-Estonia, Latvia...

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-..Hungary, Germany, Belgium...

0:21:420:21:46

-..there's a strong choral tradition

-in those countries.

0:21:460:21:51

-Living in our small world....

0:21:520:21:54

-..thinking we're the king pins

-of the choral world...

0:21:550:21:58

-..but when we participate in

-a competition of this magnitude...

0:21:580:22:03

-..I think we're a small fish

-in a big pond.

0:22:040:22:07

-I've already told them that

-along the journey...

0:22:150:22:19

-..as we've been rehearsing.

0:22:190:22:21

-Some of you, maybe,

-will perform on stages...

0:22:230:22:27

-..in grand arenas

-with huge audiences.

0:22:270:22:31

-For the majority of us,

-99% of you and me...

0:22:320:22:36

-..this will be

-the greatest stage for us...

0:22:360:22:39

-..during our choral careers.

0:22:390:22:42

-Preparations are complete,

-there's no turning back now.

0:22:470:22:50

-The bags and the bus are ready

-but are the girls ready?

0:22:510:22:55

-Good luck to Islwyn and the girls.

0:22:590:23:02

-Between you and me...

0:23:020:23:04

-..I don't think the girls

-have any idea of what awaits them.

0:23:040:23:09

-Eight of Europe's best choirs and an

-Eurovision TV audience of millions.

0:23:120:23:17

-Wow, oh, my gosh.

0:23:240:23:25

-It's massive.

0:23:270:23:28

-It's massive.

-

-Wow.

0:23:280:23:29

-Welcome to Arena Riga.

-This is it, this is the place.

0:23:330:23:37

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

0:23:560:23:58

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0:23:580:23:58

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