Charity Gala Concert aims to raise cash for Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal in South West Wales

Llanelli concert promoter Cerith Owens is hard at work organising the Royal British Legion Charity Gala Concert, which takes place on Saturday, October 17 at the Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen (7pm start, doors open 6.30pm).
The concert, organised by Loud Applause Productions, will support the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal in South West Wales.
It is being billed as, ‘A thrilling and melancholy evening with stirring and evocative music which as always will leave a lasting impression’.
This year’s concert not only raises funds for the Poppy Appeal but also marks the 70th Anniversary of the end of the World War Two, remembering the sacrifices of men and women who have served our country so courageously.
Pendyrus Male Choir and soprano Gwawr Edwards will be headlining this year’s Gala with a special guest appearance by ‘Carmarthen Local Hero’ Mark Llewellyn Evans.
Appearing once again by audience demand will be The 215 City of Swansea Squadron Royal Air Force Cadets Corps of Drums with their stirring and exciting sound.
The evening ends with a very poignant‘Tribute to the Fallen’ with a cascade of poppies.

About Pendyrus Male Choir 

Wales, traditionally the “Land of Song”, is renowned for its “male voice choirs”.

These have flourished since the late 19th Century, particularly in the coal-mining valleys of the south and the slate-quarrying areas of the north, and, for over 90 years, Pendyrus has been one of the foremost names among them..
Pendyrus Male Choir performs throughout the British Isles and overseas. It undertakes fee-paying and charity engagements, and is available for concerts, after-dinner and corporate entertainment, and national and promotional events.
The Welsh choir is a member of the Welsh Music Guild, and of the Welsh Amateur Music Federation, from which it receives financial assistance, and is supported by a Lottery grant from the Arts Council of Wales, and by grants from the Communities First Trust Fund and Menter Iaith.

The Musical Director is Stewart Roberts
 and the Accompanist is Gavin Parry
.

About Gwawr Edwards

Welsh Soprano, Gwawr Edwards is one of Wales's leading talents.

She is in constant demand in the UK, and further afield

Gwawr was born into a farming family in Ceredigion and culturally was nurtured in the rich Eisteddfod tradition giving her a solid foundation for her future career.

Music is truly in the Edwards family blood, as well as being a dedicated farmer, her father was also a busy and popular concert tenor, and her sister is an accomplished accompanist, therefore from a very young age, Gwawr was thrown into the performing world, accompanying them in concerts on regular occasions.

At the age of 11, Gwawr took part in her first concert tour of America, along with her father and sister, singing, playing the harp, and piano duets.

She has since returned on numerous other occasions touring the States, as well as traveling to Beijing, Hong Kong, Europe and South America.
Gwawr studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff where she gained an entrance scholarship. She also studied at The Conservatorio Statale di Musica ‘Giuseppe Verdi’ in Turin, on an Erasmus Exchange, and subsequently at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where she gained a first class Masters degree, under the tuition of Yvonne Kenny.
In 2010, Gwawr was a finalist in the BBC Radio 2’s Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Prize – a search for an ‘opera star of the future.’

She has won all the major awards and competitions in Wales including the prestigious Towyn Roberts Scholarship, the Osborne Roberts Scholarship, Llangollen International Eisteddfod, Lampeter Eisteddfod Blue Riband and the Violet Mary Davies award for most promising soprano at the National Eisteddfod of Wales. She is also a recipient of the Elizabeth Evans Trust, a Samling Artist and a patron of Age Cymru.
Also in 2010 Gwawr released her debut album with the record label SAIN featuring bass-barritone Bryn Terfel and harpist Catrin Finch. She also sang a duet with Bryn on his 2010 Christmas album on the Deutsche Grammophon label.
Gwawr will release her second album, 'Alleluia' later this year.
Recently, Gwawr toured the UK with Bryn Terfel performing at Birmingham Symphony hall, London festival hall, Manchester Bridgewater hall, and Cardiff St David's hall accompanied by the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

She is a regular artist on Welsh Television and radio and has been a soloist on BBC Radio 2’s ‘Friday Night is Music Night’ on numerous occasions accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra. Other noted venues in which she has performed, include The Royal Albert Hall, Cadogan Hall, Wales Millennium Centre, Royal Concert Hall Glasgow ,Wembley Stadium and Highgrove for the Prince of Wales’ Trust Appeal. In 2009 she was a soloist at the Royal Launch For UK’s South Hook LNG Terminal (2) where she sang for Queen Elizabeth the second, and the King of Quatar. Also in 2009 Gwawr toured with the choir ‘Only Men Aloud’ on their UK Christmas Tour.
Her operatic performances include Paquette in Bernstein's Candide for Opera de Lorraine in Nancy. Rossina in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia for Opera Cymru. Melpomene in Gluck's Il Parnaso confuso premier for Bampton Opera. Euridice in La descente d'Orphée aux Enfers, Third Apparition in Macbeth, understudied Zerlina in Don Giovanni and Donna in Rinaldo for Glyndebourne Festival Opera and understudied Virtu in L'incoronazione di Poppea for Glyndebourne Touring Opera.

Roles performed during opera ensemble scenes at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama include Tytania in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Frasquita in Carmen, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni and Titania in The Fairy Queen. Roles whilst at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama included Alice in Alice in Wonderland and the understudy of Dido in Dido and Aeneas.
Her Oratorio repertoire includes Faure's Requiem, Handel's Messiah, Bach's St John's Passion, Mozart's requiem and Haydn’s Creation.

About Mark Llewelyn Evans

Mark Llewelyn Evans, known as ‘The Baritone’ is one of the UK’s most exciting classical cross-over performers appearing regularly on opera stages, concert platforms across the UK, Europe, the Far East and the USA.

His rich, warm, Italianate baritone voice, acclaimed performances and charismatic blend of charm and Celtic humour mean he is very much in demand.

He was classically trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and at the National Opera Studio in London. After his schooling he performed with the Welsh National Opera, the English National Opera, the Royal Opera House and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra after which Evans burst forth to create his own story unconstrained by style or genre. Mark’s performances include both classical and popular songs from his albums, musical hits of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables, scores from the movies, and intimate Celtic ballads.
His performances have taken place all over the world.

He performed alongside Katherine Jenkins at the International Rugby Wales Millennium Stadium and David Blaine in Florida 2013. Whether performing for a 2000 strong opera audience, singing to 75,000 fans before a rugby international, delivering an oratorio in an intimate venue or broadcasting on the BBC, Mark is always at home! He is a true entertainer who captivates all his audiences who love his stage presence, funny stories, expansive repertoire and stunningly powerful voice.
Let the Light In, Mark’s debut album, reached the Top-10 in the UK, and featured powerful performances of Cinema Paradiso (Ennio Morricone), The Prayer (David Foster) and Tell My Father (Frank Wildhorn).

A special performance of Tell My Father with the Band of the Royal Welsh Guards, became the #1 single in the UK and raised £35,000 for the Welsh Guards Afghanistan Appeal.
He not only performs on stage but also on the big screen: he played Don Giovanni alongside Jude Law and Robert Downey Junior in Guy Ritchie’s ‘Sherlock Holmes Game of Shadows’ movie.

Tickets are available from all Carmathenshire Theatres Box Offices – 0845 226 3510.

The 215 City of Swansea Squadron Royal Air Force Cadets Corps of Drums 

Weblinks -
http://pendyrus.org/
http://www.loudapplauseproductions.co.uk/