The Treorchy Male Choir Junior Musician of the Year Competition was established in 2006 by choristers Tony Davies and Ian Reynolds to promote music making amongst the young people of the Rhondda Valleys.

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The competition has since become a hugely successful annual event. Well over a thousand primary schoolchildren have since taken part, with the some winners enjoying all-expenses paid trips to Paris and the USA along with visits to the West End theatre.

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The success of such a high-profile musical contest has attracted interest from the world of entertainment with many famous supporters helping to promote the event including Sharon Osbourne, Katherine Jenkins, Cliff Richard, Will Young and McFly.

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To date a number of well-known Welsh musicians and celebrities have joined the adjudication panel at each of the Grand Final events. In fact, such is its fame that the internationally-renowned Welsh bass baritone Sir Bryn Terfel MBE is its Patron.

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Each year up to twenty primary and junior schools have signed up to the competition coming from throughout the Rhondda valleys and beyond.

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The aim of the competition is to encourage children to participate in a musical activity and enjoy performing as soloists. It also allows school children an extra incentive to rehearse and improve their standards of singing or playing an instrument. Hopefully such a competition will lead them to enjoy a lifelong love of music - either as a past time or indeed a career.

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Each of the schools hold their own auditions before a series of preliminary heats are held in each of the schools, adjudicated by members of the Choir itself. From there the winning singer and the instrumentalist from each of the schools enters the Semi Final competitions and a Grand Final is held at Treorchy Comprehensive School.

The Grand Final has also traditionally welcomed BBC Broadcaster Roy Noble, actress Ruth Madoc, singers Sophie Evans and Beverley Humphreys and the legendary Max Boyce to present the trophies to the lucky winners.

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All entrants who perform in the heats receive a certificate. The finalists receive a certificate and a trophy. The two winning finalists of one singer and one instrumentalist each receive £200 prize money. They also receive the Treorchy Male Choir Trophy to be retained by their school for one year and have the opportunity to share the stage with the Treorchy Male Choir at the Good Friday Concert in the Park & Dare Theatre.

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Financial support for the Competition is problematic. The original sponsorship deals of Coca Cola and Rhondda Cynon Taf Council have long-since disappeared and organisers have attempted to secure funding elsewhere, such as local businesses and organisations. The Junior Musician Competition has become a highlight in Rhondda's musical calendar.