The National Eisteddfod, which is taking place this week in Parc Ynysangharad, Pontypridd, is considered the biggest music and poetry festival in Europe
During its eight-day run, it’s estimated that up to 6,000 people take part in the various competitions and generally over 160,000 people enter through the gates to see and enjoy the competitions.
Eisteddfod officials are happy with the standard of the competition this year and are looking forward to the future. The first National Eisteddfod in modern times was held in Aberdare in 1861 and since then it has evolved and developed.
Steffan Prys, Competitions Manager at the National Eisteddfod said, "We’ve seen keen competition at this year's Eisteddfod. There was a competition for new choirs on Sunday and that was very successful with over 750 taking part, a number of these taking part competitively for the very first time.
“The competition was one of the highlights of the Eisteddfod so far and something that will remain in the memory."
He added that Eisteddfod officials had worked very closely with the local committees to draw up the competition programme.
"Our hope was to give some sort of structure to the week. On Monday, competitions for those under 16 took place and the week builds up to the climax of the Eisteddfod with the competitions of the main soloists all taking place on Saturday when individual competitors have a chance to excel on the Pavilion stage. Dance, instrumental, vocal, theatre, folk tune and dance competitions.
"One more thing we have developed this week at the Eisteddfod in Rhondda Cynon Taf is that competitions continues into the evening.
"There was a competition for young people on Tuesday evening, choral competitions on Wednesday and there’s folk competitions on Thursday evening for example. We hope that this gives structure to the week and gives every opportunity to the competitors to perform and for the audience enjoy. This is something I hope will develop into the future," said Steffan Prys.
Looking forward to the future, the Eisteddfod is looking for people with a great interest or experience in the competitive fields of the festival to join the central panels to help prepare entertaining and interesting texts and offer opinions about the Eisteddfod and its work.
Betsan Moses, chief executive of the Eisteddfod, explained: "We’re keen to recruit new members to a number of the panels, and are particularly keen to hear from new Welsh learners and speakers together with members of various ethnic communities and individuals who consider themselves disabled.
There’ll be a discussion session at the Lido Visitor Centre on the Eisteddfod Maes on Friday morning, 9 August, at 11:30, with a chance to chat to some of our members and hear more about the work and responsibilities.
The closing date to apply is 4 September, and for more information email cystadlu@eisteddfod.cymru.