Côr Meibion Llanelli getting ready to welcome German friends
Côr Meibion Llanelli (Llanelli Male Voice) are getting ready to welcome their 'twin choir' from Germany.
The choir has been twinned with Singverein 1870 Laudenbach since 1979.
The German choir will be joining the choir for a special concert at Llanelli's Ffwrnes Theatre on Saturday, June 7.
Côr Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas said the Llanelli choristers were looking forward to welcoming their old friends from Laudenbach, a town in the Miltenberg district of Germany, just south of Frankfurt.
"I can remember our very first trip to Laudenbach when we took three coaches of choristers and supporters for the trip. When we arrived, they were waving flags in the street. It was a spectacular welcome and the two choirs have remained great friends ever since."
Singverein actually means 'singing club' in German. The 1870 recognises the fact that the Laudenbach choir was formed in that year.
The choir has performed throughout Germany and the rest of Europe. In 1996, they joined a host of Welsh choirs for the 1000 Voices Concert at London's Royal Albert Hall.
The choir's performances were shaped over the course of 50 years by musical director Gerhard Wind.
In 2011, Mr Otto Lamade took over as the musical director.
The choir's repertoire consists largely of German songs for male voice choirs, drawn from classical choral pieces, from operas and modern composers.
Côr Meibion Llanelli
There’s an old saying that identifies the easiest job in the world as being the person who introduces a guest speaker ‘who needs no introduction’.
The same can be said of any attempt to paint a brief profile of Côr Meibion Llanelli.
It would take a fairly hefty book to summarise the achievements of the choir over a history spanning 50 years.
But here are some keynote events -
Côr Meibion Llanelli was formed in the village of Bynea under the baton of the late Denver Phillips BA. in 1964.
The choir’s longest-serving music director is the present holder of the baton, D Eifion Thomas, who has helped the choir grow in stature and strength to become one of the leading male choirs in Britain.
They have been successful at all the major choral competitions that Wales has to offer.
The honours list includes five National Eisteddfod first prizes - at Lampeter in 1984, Fishguard in 1986, Llandeilo in 1996, Bridgend in 1998 and Llanelli in 2000.
The roll-call of wins also records seven firsts at the Miners Eisteddfod at Porthcawl, six firsts at Cardigan and three Pontrhydfendigaid "Eisteddfodau".
The Llanelli Male Choir has graced many leading auditoriums and concert halls in the land - London's Royal Albert Hall and Festival Hall, Birmingham's Town and Symphony Halls, Oxford Town Hall, Plymouth's Guild Hall, The MacRoberts Centre at Stirling, as well as Cardiff's St David's Hall and Swansea's Brangwyn Hall.
The choir has travelled extensively throughout the world – Germany, Canada, USA. France, Ireland, Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand. Most recently, the choir performed at the British Army ‘BritFest’ in the garrison town of Paderborn in Germany. This year, they are off to Salzburg in Austria.
The choristers have thousands of pounds for charities such as Cancer and Leukaemia Research, The Red Cross, Heart Foundation and Tenovus as well as local charities and school groups.
The choir rehearses twice weekly on Monday and Thursday evenings at Furnace Community Hall, 7pm start. Visitors and new members are welcome.
Weblinks -
There’s an old saying that identifies the easiest job in the world as being the person who introduces a guest speaker ‘who needs no introduction’.
The same can be said of any attempt to paint a brief profile of Côr Meibion Llanelli.
It would take a fairly hefty book to summarise the achievements of the choir over a history spanning 50 years.
But here are some keynote events -
Côr Meibion Llanelli was formed in the village of Bynea under the baton of the late Denver Phillips BA. in 1964.
The choir’s longest-serving music director is the present holder of the baton, D Eifion Thomas, who has helped the choir grow in stature and strength to become one of the leading male choirs in Britain.
They have been successful at all the major choral competitions that Wales has to offer.
The honours list includes five National Eisteddfod first prizes - at Lampeter in 1984, Fishguard in 1986, Llandeilo in 1996, Bridgend in 1998 and Llanelli in 2000.
The roll-call of wins also records seven firsts at the Miners Eisteddfod at Porthcawl, six firsts at Cardigan and three Pontrhydfendigaid "Eisteddfodau".
The Llanelli Male Choir has graced many leading auditoriums and concert halls in the land - London's Royal Albert Hall and Festival Hall, Birmingham's Town and Symphony Halls, Oxford Town Hall, Plymouth's Guild Hall, The MacRoberts Centre at Stirling, as well as Cardiff's St David's Hall and Swansea's Brangwyn Hall.
The choir has travelled extensively throughout the world – Germany, Canada, USA. France, Ireland, Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand. Most recently, the choir performed at the British Army ‘BritFest’ in the garrison town of Paderborn in Germany. This year, they are off to Salzburg in Austria.
The choristers have thousands of pounds for charities such as Cancer and Leukaemia Research, The Red Cross, Heart Foundation and Tenovus as well as local charities and school groups.
The choir rehearses twice weekly on Monday and Thursday evenings at Furnace Community Hall, 7pm start. Visitors and new members are welcome.
Weblinks -
You can book tickets for the concert on the following link -
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