Thousands of Cardiff Children to Take Part in Huge City-Wide Singing Event
Cardiff is getting ready for one of its biggest youth music moments yet. Cardiff Council has announced Codi Llais, which means “raise your voice”, a new city-wide singing and songwriting project set to bring together thousands of young people from across the capital.
The ambitious initiative will see children from Years 5 to 7 take part in workshops, songwriting sessions and school visits, before coming together for a huge massed-choir performance at Utilita Arena Cardiff on Wednesday 15 April 2026. It is expected to be one of the largest events of its kind ever held in the city.
Led by CF Music Education and supported by Cardiff Council and the Welsh Government’s National Plan for Music Education, the £60,000 project aims to inspire young people, strengthen music in schools and celebrate Cardiff’s creative energy.
A key part of the project is a brand new song, written by pupils alongside Welsh singer and songwriter Bronwen Lewis, who also hosts the BBC Radio Wales breakfast show. The song and performance will focus on themes of finding your voice, self-belief, being brave, being young and having fun.
In total, the project is set to reach up to 10,000 children through in-school visits. Professional vocal practitioners will work directly with pupils, helping them develop not just singing skills, but confidence, literacy and oracy too. Around 1,600 pupils will eventually take to the stage for the final concert, backed by a professional rock band in a rock and pop-inspired show.
The line-up for the event also includes Welsh singer-songwriter Shellyann, known for winning All Together Now and appearing on The Voice, along with comedian, singer and actor Mike Doyle. The show will be compered by Huw Stephens, a long-time supporter of the Welsh music scene and BBC radio presenter.
Codi Llais has been designed to fit within the Curriculum for Wales expressive arts framework and is intended to leave a lasting legacy. As well as the headline concert, the project aims to strengthen whole-school singing and lay the groundwork for future annual events across the city.
There are wider benefits too. The programme is expected to improve musical skills and confidence, boost wellbeing and a sense of belonging, encourage collaboration across Cardiff’s cultural sector, and increase teacher confidence when it comes to leading music in schools.
Teachers will also be supported with free professional learning sessions, delivered both online and in person. Participating schools will receive a digital resource pack at no cost, including rehearsal tracks, scores and clear teaching guidance to support long-term singing culture.
Cardiff’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Councillor Sarah Merry, said the project is a celebration of the creativity and energy of Cardiff’s young people. She described it as an unforgettable musical moment that also helps build confidence, wellbeing and belonging through the power of singing.
Bronwen Lewis brings a wealth of experience to the project. She first appeared on ITV’s The Voice in 2013 and later returned to the franchise as a judge on Y Llais, the Welsh-language version. Her career also includes a role in the Bafta-winning film Pride, a solo album, touring with Max Boyce, and building a strong online following through virtual concerts and Welsh-language covers during the pandemic.
Tickets for the Codi Llais concert are now on sale via Ticketmaster.
The project also supports Cardiff Council’s wider music strategy, helping build a strong and resilient music scene for future generations. For many of the children involved, it will be their first time performing on a stage of this size, and a moment they are unlikely to forget any time soon.
