Singers unite for historic reunion in Llanelli

A historic reunion of past choristers of Llanelli’s Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers took place at the weekend with great enthusiasm and media attention.
The black-tie reunion event held in the beautiful surroundings of Stradey Castle saw a battalion of choristers spanning six decades gather for the first time as a Reunion Chorus. Television cameras filmed the event as part of a documentary feature on the Hywel Choir.
The event was the inaugural gathering of the Reunion Chorus of past members of the Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers who later this Autumn will be preparing for a unique and spectacular performance as 160 singers will unite for a performance with the symphonic sounds of the British Sinfonietta Orchestra at Y Ffwrnes.
The Great Christmas Fantasia, the Winter Performance of the Hywel Choir, will be held on Saturday 19th December is already a sell-out and will also feature the Llanelli Choral Society, soprano Gwawr Edwards and Eurovision Song Contest Winners Brotherhood of Man – who are past choristers of the Hywel Choir.
At the Reunion event at Stradey Castle, founder and conductor John Hywel Williams shared happy memories with the many choristers present who have sung with him across the world in live concerts and television broadcasts. There were poignant moments of reflection on the late Jean Hywel and her love for the choristers and the choir.
“It was thrilling to see so many wonderful faces from across the history of the choir”, said Jeremy Hywel who will be producing the landmark show at the end of the year which will stage a giant cast of 300 singers and musicians. “The passion for the choir by the pat choristers was like electricity in the air and the enthusiasm for the event simply incredible.”
The Reunion Chorus has choristers spanning six decades from the 1950s to present day and come from across the country and beyond. As a group, they hold an incredible heritage of records and achievements which over 800 performances, 5000 rehearsals, over 150 television broadcasts spanning 120 countries, numerous recordings, 25 international concert tours and being the first British choir to travel behind the Iron Curtain – and all under the direction of their legendary founder John Hywel Williams.
Many past choristers in the Reunion Chorus will next meet on Saturday 24th October at “The Magical Journey of Music” – an exclusive performance for the town by the current Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers who are excited to meet and hear stories from the ex-choristers.

Past choristers are welcome to sign up for the giant reunion chorus for this one-off performance by contacting jeremywilliams@me.com or 07545 268841.