After four weeks of competition, which involved the viewing and adjudication of more than 1,000 performances, 16 standouts were chosen for this year's gala Armidale Eisteddfod concert.
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This concluding event is a program compiled of the performances the judges thought had the most passion, conviction, and presence - they did not have to be winners of their category - but many of them were.
The genres on show on Sunday afternoon at the Old Teacher's College ranged across music, singing, drama, and speech, with a good variety of local schools represented.
Armidale Eisteddfod Society president Elizabeth Peach dedicates hours and hours to the four-week competition each year and watches each performance.
"I am very privileged," she said.
Ms Peach said this year's Armidale Eisteddfod participation levels were on par with previous years, and she thanked her committee and the 30 volunteers for their support.
"It is a lot of time and effort to run the eisteddfod, and it couldn't happen without everyone involved," she said.
"I encourage anyone who has the time and inclination to join us to help stage next year's eisteddfod."
Earlier in the year, the committee announced that the choir section of the 2021 Armidale Eisteddfod would be non-competitive because of the restrictions on singing due to COVID-19 and its impact on practice time for choirs in the lead up to entering the Eisteddfod.
"The atmosphere in the choir section of the Eisteddfod this year, and during the choral evening was extraordinary," Ms Peach said.
"We surveyed the participating schools, and 99 percent said they preferred this non-competitive format, so we have a lot of discussions ahead to decide how we run this section at future eisteddfods."
Armidale's Eisteddfod is an important cultural event in the New England calendar that continues a cultural tradition established in Wales over 900 years ago.
Welsh Eisteddfods were festivals celebrating literature and music performance, and this concept holds true to this day.
Down the centuries, Eisteddfods have evolved to reflect changing societies. Still, they remain an enduring part of Australia's cultural heritage as important training grounds for emerging entertainers - our musicians, dancers, and actors.
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