Georgian choir claims third prize at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales

The Choir of the Tbilisi-based Evgeni Mikeladze Central Music School delighted audiences in Wales earlier this month and claimed the third prize of the Open Choir category at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, a long-standing festival hosting performances in cities across the United Kingdom.

The Choir enjoyed a 20-day tour across the UK before receiving the prize from the juries of the event, with performances held at venues in Edinburgh, St Andrews, Norwich and more between July 2-19. Their programme also included workshops and performances with British-based choirs performing Georgian folk songs.

In the latter part of their schedule, they met choirs in Edinburgh, London, Morecambe, Lancaster and Norwich that practice Georgian singing following foundational work of promoting the country's vocal performing culture in Britain since the 1990s by ethnomusicologist Edisher Garakanidze.

• See the performance of the Evgeni Mikeladze Central Music School Choir on the official festival website

The Choir began their UK tour with an appearances in Edinburgh, where they also joined their fellow Scottish-based choirs. Photo via Evgeni Mikeladze Central Music School Choir

At the Welsh festival itself, the Choir performed three Georgian folk songs originating from the country's western Imereti and north-western Abkhazia regions.

Covered by S4C, a Welsh-language TV channel, the festival featured choirs from the United States, Slovakia, Belgium, England, Wales, Ireland and other countries, with the performances held under the Open Choir, Choral, Folk and Solo categories. 

Founded in 1947 as a means to offer cultural respite after the wounds of the Second World War, the festival has hosted over 400,000 contestants representing more than 140 nationalities since. The six-day annual event hosts thousands of singers, dances and instrumentalists every year, with a parade in the streets of Llangollen also celebrating its editions.