Who we are
An award-winning mixed choir of more than 120 voices from Cardiff, singing together since 2006.
Our story
Côr y Gleision began in 2006 with S4C's Codi Canu, a series that set out to bring traditional Welsh singing back to the rugby terraces. When the series ended in 2008 the choir carried on, and it has grown ever since: in numbers, in repertoire and in ambition.
Under musical director Richard Vaughan, the choir that started on the terraces now competes at the National Eisteddfod, performs with orchestras in cathedrals, and tours abroad every two years. Where it once took us three months to learn Calon Lân in four parts, we can now learn a new piece in a single rehearsal. The link with Cardiff Rugby is where we came from, and we still sing at the Arms Park.
We are now two choirs. Alongside Côr y Gleision, Côr Nefi Blŵs is for singers aged 60 and over, and at the 2026 National Eisteddfod both choirs came home with a prize.
Our music
We sing in Welsh, Latin, English, French, Spanish, Fijian and several African languages: sacred and classical works, contemporary pieces, Welsh favourites, and new music by Richard written for the choir, such as Rhyfel and Nadolig 1914.
During lockdown the choir commissioned a full-length Gloria from Richard, to have something to look forward to when we could sing together again. We performed it with the soloists Fflur Wyn and Trystan Llŷr Griffiths and the British Sinfonietta. For our twentieth year we commissioned a full eight-part Magnificat from him, premiered in St David's Metropolitan Cathedral, Cardiff, in October 2026.
- 2006
Formed through S4C's Codi Canu
- 2007
First prize, North Wales Choral Festival, Llandudno
- 2010
Richard Vaughan becomes musical director
- 2012
First prize, Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts
- 2015
Second at the National Eisteddfod; official choir of the Rugby World Cup Fanzone in Cardiff
- 2016
Ten years: anniversary concert, tour to Belgium, first prize at Eisteddfod y Cymoedd
- 2018
Tour to Canada for the Ontario Welsh Festival
- 2025
Best four-part choir and first for show tunes, Oundle Festival of Music and Drama
- 2026
Twenty years: a tour to Malta, first for show tunes at Cheltenham, third at the National Eisteddfod, and the première of Richard Vaughan's Magnificat
The people who lead us
Richard Vaughan
Musical director
A music graduate of Royal Holloway and twice winner at the Urdd National Eisteddfod as a pianist, Richard composes for choirs, S4C and film. He has led Côr y Gleision since 2010.
Rhiannon Pritchard
Accompanist and assistant musical director
A graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Rhiannon is an official accompanist at the National, Llangollen and Urdd Eisteddfodau, and a repetiteur with Welsh National Opera.
Giving back
Singing for good causes
Ann Williams, who has sung with us since the first rehearsal in 2006, likes to say the choir has won more cups than Cardiff Rugby. Many of our concerts also raise money for charity. Over the years we have sung for Tŷ Hafan, the British Lung Foundation, CRY, Maggie's, Parkinson's UK and others: more than £2,000 at a single Christmas concert in 2016.
Côr y Gleision is a registered charity, number 1192490.