Twenty-four hours before a ball was kicked in the World Cup final in Brazil the flag of Argentina was raised in triumph in Llangollen.
But the celebration wasn’t anything to do with Lionel Messi’s silky footballing skills – instead it was all about the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod’s Choir of the World competition.
The competition is the blue riband event of the week-long festival and remains one of the foremost choral competitions in the international choral calendar.
While the judges deliberated, the audience were entertained by the popular singing brothers, Richard and Adam, whose careers took off after finishing third in Britain’s Got Talent.
According to the duo from Holywell, following in the footsteps of opera legend Luciano Pavarotti to sing on the Llangollen stage was a dream come true.
They were given a five-minute standing ovation after their final song, Dream the Impossible Dream.
Richard, 23, said: “We really are privileged to have been given the chance to perform during the Choir of the World competition. To follow in the footsteps of someone like Pavarotti is a bit humbling to be perfectly honest.
“A year ago we were up before 8am and down in the café making sandwiches and serving tea and coffee. Every day was pretty much the same to be honest.
“It has been totally life-changing though and we hope our third album is going to be as successful as the first two. Sony, our record label, have been brilliant and supported us all the way.
“What we want is to continue being successful and having more and more opportunities to perform on the biggest stages. And let’s be frank, there’s no bigger stage that the Llangollen International Eisteddfod.”
In the event, Estudio coral meridies, representing Argentina, triumphed to become the first Latin American choir to lift the impressive trophy which has been presented to the outright winner of the youth, open, mixed, female and male choral competitions since 1987.
In what was a close competition the choir, which is based in the Argentine city of Santa Fe, beat off the challenge of Abbellimento, a youth choir representing the Czech Republic, Welsh open choir, Ysgol Glanaethwy, England’s Birmingham University Women’s Choir and Bridgend Male Voice Choir from Wales.
And while Estudio coral meridies treated the packed Eisteddfod audience to their heavenly voices it was left to Northern Ireland’s Loughgiel Folk Dancers to provide the colour and movement as they were crowned 2014 Dance Champions after beating Corryurechan Scottish Dance Display Team to the title.
A tearful Estudio coral meridies conductor and music director, Virginia Bono, says she was humbled and thrilled to have taken the Choir of the World title.
She said: “It was more important for the choir and me just to be here in Llangollen and able to compete. It was more about just taking part and having the opportunity to sing than actually winning.
“This is an incredible festival. The atmosphere, friendship and kindness we have discovered here in Llangollen is unbelievable. I have friends in Patagonia and they told me to take the choir to Wales and to Llangollen as we would receive a warm welcome – how right they were!”
She added: “I am so proud of the choir. They are not professional musicians. In fact most can’t read music. We have doctors, a lawyer, construction workers, people from all walks of life. We come together for four hour practice sessions every weekend.
“They all work so hard and deserve their success. We came to Europe to sing and make friends and we have had a wonderful time. We are traveling to Spain after this competition and will compete again in Barcelona next week. However, I don’t think any future success we have will quite compare with winning this title.”
Loughgiel Folk Dancers’ Leisa Gillan, one of the team’s coaches as well as one of the dancers, says winning the dance title was a dream come true.
She said: “We have been coming to Llangollen for something like 21 years and have, in the past, won several titles. But the overall dance title was only introduced last year so to win it is the icing on the cake for us.
“As a team we practice three times a week back home in County Antrim and winning this title is a just reward for all the hard work every single member of the team has put in.”
Announcing winners from the Llangollen stage, Music Director, Eilir Owen Griffiths, told the huge audience just how much he loved the Eisteddfod.
He said: “What a competition! In fact what an incredible week of competition we have witnessed at this special place. Tonight, the level of performance we enjoyed from all five choirs and two dance teams was just sensational.
“The adjudicators had a very difficult task but I believe they made the right decision and I’m delighted for both Estudio coral meridies and the Loughgiel Folk Dancers.”
