An annual event in Cwmbran for secondary school choirs looks set to change to allow pupils with talents in music and other areas to take part.

Every year Cwmbran Community Council has organised a choral festival for secondary schools in the town’s Congress Theatre. At this week’s events and community projects committee, councillors saw it was due to take place on 11 October 2023, a little over four weeks away. Due to the new school term just starting they discussed how it could be too close for some teachers to organise a group of pupils to attend and sing. Councillors discussed how previous events had gone well but not always had large numbers of secondary school choirs taking part.

Cllr Julian Davenne, Fairwater and Oaksford Ward, and Cllr Stuart Ashley, Mount Pleasant Ward, agreed it should be a “musical” and not just a “choral” concert. Cllr Ashley said secondary schools didn’t have choirs like they used to. Cllr Susan Morgan, Lowlands and Avondale Ward, said opening it up would allow pupils with talents in “rap” and “street dance” to get involved. Councillors agreed the date should be moved from October to April and take up one of the evenings during the primary schools’ choral festival.