Every year the Festival invites Welsh musicians to give a concert on Saturday night. In 2027, Bechgyn Bro Taf will join us in Kitchener for the gala concert on Saturday, April 24, 2027 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.
Bechgyn Bro Taf
Formed 20 years ago from the male voices of the renowned mixed-voice choir Côrdydd, Bechgyn Bro Taf (BBT) has grown into one of Wales’ most successful and innovative male voice choirs. The choir first came to national prominence in 2009 when it won the Male Voice Choir category at the televised Côr Cymru competition on S4C. It has also claimed the title twice since, most recently in 2024.
Based in Cardiff, BBT comprises around 30 singers who are all Welsh speakers or have a strong understanding of the language. The choir’s weekly rehearsals provide an important opportunity to socialise and sing through the medium of Welsh. With members originating from across Wales, as well as the capital itself, the choir brings together a rich blend of regional idioms, accents and perspectives.
BBT has enjoyed considerable success on the competition stage, regularly securing honours at local eisteddfodau and choral festivals across the UK. Recent achievements include being named Best Choir at the Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts in 2023, Male Voice Champions at the Isle of Man Festival of Choirs in 2025, and Male Voice Champions at the Bournemouth Performing Arts Competition in 2026.
The choir’s outstanding run of success has continued this year, with second place at the 2026 Llangollen International Eisteddfod and first place at the National Eisteddfod of Wales held in Llantwd outside Cardigan.
BBT has also become well known beyond the sphere of competition singing. For many years, the choir served as Guinness’s resident choir at Wales’ home rugby internationals in Cardiff and has performed on numerous occasions for the Welsh Rugby Union, both on the pitch and at corporate events.
Under the musical direction of Richard Vaughan for the past seven years, supported by long-serving accompanist Ffion Rhisiart, the choir has broadened its repertoire beyond the traditional male voice canon. Today, BBT performs music spanning a wide range of styles, genres and languages from around the world while remaining firmly rooted in its Welsh identity.
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the week’s choral music with all three of his successful choirs, Richard was awarded the prestigious Conductor of the Festival Award at the 2026 National Eisteddfod. His innovative and contemporary approach continues to inspire and challenge BBT, helping to build on the choir’s reputation for musical excellence while preserving the strong sense of community and Welsh-language culture that remains at the heart of the choir.
BBT’s performances have consistently attracted praise from respected figures in the choral world. Internationally acclaimed conductor and music educator Gregg Beardsell described the choir as “the future of male voice choirs in Wales”, while internationally renowned conductor Grant Llewellyn praised their “fantastic attention to detail” and described them as “a joy to listen to”. Conductor and composer Darius Lim commended the choir’s “beautiful tone”, and acclaimed conductor Zimfira Poloz remarked: “I love this resonating, full sound.” Broadcaster and soprano Elin Manahan Thomas memorably observed that “they’re like milk chocolate; there’s something wonderful about them”. BBC Radio 4 presenter Kate Molleson was equally enthusiastic, declaring: “I’ve found my choir.”