CWMBRAN’S Nidus Children’s Choir are celebrating having won a silver medal at the the World Choir Games.

The group were the only choir competing at the games, held in Riga, from Wales.

Nidus volunteer Heidi Nicholson, who accompanied the children to Latvia, said: “It was fantastic for our choir to compete with the leading children’s choirs of the world, the vast majority of which were at least double the size of the Nidus Choir.”

Members had a hectic month after starring in a production of Sweeney Todd alongside Bryn Terfel, only days before jumping on a plane to Latvia.

On July 7, the choir took to the stage at the opening concert at Llangollen with an audience of more than 4,500.

Then, on July 12, they were on stage for the main day of the choir games, competing for gold.

Forty children’s choirs took part in the competition, with all achieving prior success in their respective national competitions.

The Nidus children who competed were aged between 10 and 16 years old.

They performed Alleluia, Laus et Gloria by Tariq O’Regan, an SSAA version of The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy, and Abendlied (Evensong) by Friedrich Moeller arranged by choir conductor Christian Jenkins, 22.

They also performed the Welsh traditional folk song Clychau Aberdyfi, arranged SSAA by the choir’s musical director Evelyn Nicholson.

Ms Nicholson said: “The choir’s performance was phenomenal and their silver medal reflected the standard they’ve now reached. The children work hard but thoroughly enjoy the rewards and experiences.”