More than 300 singers have been rehearsing for months for their part in two prestigious concerts in the National Eisteddfod Pavilion
For many of them singing before an audience of more than 1,500 people will be a new experience.
But not for Paul Carson who has, remarkably, taken part in the National Eisteddfod's community-based choir no less than eight times previously.
And the 81-year-old retired pharmacist would be celebrating his tenth Eisteddfod choir had he not suffered a dislocated shoulder which ruled him out of performing with the Eisteddfod choir when it was held at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire eight years ago.
Taking a break from final rehearsals for this year's opening concert Paul, who lives in Cwmbach near Aberdare, said: "I've always loved singing. I went to school in Shrewsbury and we had a wonderful music teacher. He formed choirs at times with more than 200 boys and we sang everything from Handel's Messiah to Tippet's Child of Time with the composer himself in the audience.
"When the Eisteddfod visited Neath more than 30 years ago I went along to the first rehearsals and stuck around. Neath isn't really that far from Cwmbach.
"And the other Eisteddfodau in south-east Wales are not that far either and I've enjoying singing at all of them. We've sung some wonderful pieces during that time," he added.
Paul's wife, Marie, is also a member of the Rhondda Cynon Taf choir. "It's her sixth time this year," remarked Paul.
The couple moved to Wales 35 years ago after seeing a small-holding advertised in a local newspaper.
"We saw it and said why not go for it. We had no children and no mortgage and we got it. We kept Highland cattle for more than 25 years. They're wonderful animals," he said.
This year the Eisteddfod choir are taking part in two very different concerts.
This evening (Saturday) and Monday they form the chorus for the rock-opera Nia Ben Aur. First performed 50 years ago the opera is based on a Nia well-known Irish legend. Nia (Niamh) falls in love with Osian (Oisín) and goes to Tír na nÓg - the land of etrnal youth - to get married.
They live happily in Tir na nÓg for three years but Osian becomes homesick and wishes to leave the magical kingdom to visit his family in Ireland.
Written by Cleif Harpwood, Tecwyn Ifan, Alun 'Sbardun' Huws and Phil Edwards it was well received although the perfomance suffered from technical problems.
Sunday evenings concert is a Cymanfa Ganu during which the choir will join in congregational singing of hymns.
"Nia Ben Aur isn't really my cup of tea but it's interesting and it's good to challenge oneself. The Gymanfa Ganu is something else. With everyone standing and singing heartily the hair on your neck stand up and I get all tingly," added Paul.
The National Eisteddfod will be held in Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd from August 3-10. For more details go to eisteddfod.cymru