It remains a sign of the times that even a notice of cancellation for a step towards a national final can create some optimism, but that is largely what Welsh broadcaster S4C have done with their announcement regarding Welsh choral competition Côr Cymru.
Côr Cymru 2021, to be held on May 2, 2021, is being used again as a national selection for Eurovision Choir of the Year 2021, the third installment of the biennial contest.
“It remains our intention to produce Côr Cymru 2021,” the show’s producers said in a brief statement posted on Twitter and Facebook. “[B]ut due to current restrictions we will not be recording auditions in December. Further details will be announced in due course.”
🚨Diweddariad – Côr Cymru 2021 @S4C – Update🚨 pic.twitter.com/wvhBR1KEDB
— Côr Cymru (@cor_cymru) October 1, 2020
Typically, choirs would audition in the S4C television studios in Cardiff, but given current gathering size restrictions – indeed, the United Kingdom is under threat of more severe restrictions in the coming months due to increasing cases of COVID-19 (1,295 on September 1, 2020 to 7,143 on September 29, 2020) – the usual auditions in December would not be possible.
As with Eurovision 2021, Eurovision Choir 2021 has contingency plans in place and appears willing to proceed despite several pandemic situations in Europe being possible by the time of the contest in August 2021.
Edlira Keta, a choral consultant for Interkultur, who produce Eurovision Choir of the Year alongside the European Broadcasting Union, told Eurovision Ireland on September 15, 2020, “There will most definitely be a Eurovision Choir 2021. However, the details regarding host city and dates are still under discussion, so please stay tuned to the official webpage for any upcoming news.”
To date, Wales is the only country to confirm participation at Eurovision Choir 2021. Denmark’s Vocal Line won Eurovision Choir 2019, but unlike Eurovision itself, the Choir version does not have a host requirement for the winner.
Wales’s Côr Merched Sir Gâr came in second place at Eurovision Choir 2017, but unfortunately Ysgol Gerdd Ceredigion could not make it to the final at Eurovision Choir 2019. Both won Côr Cymru to get there.
Côr Cymru has been going since 2003, even though choral contests have been running a lot longer in the relatively choir mad Wales.
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