The latest 'On Song' column from the Llanelli Star

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star -

Members of Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir will be holding a recruitment day at Tesco’s Trostre superstore in Llanelli on Saturday, October 31 - 9am to 5pm.
Choir vice-chairman Tony Crossman said: “We are always looking out for new members and we have recently held a couple of very successful recruitment days – one at the St Elli Shopping Centre and another one at Tesco.
“We work very hard to promote the camaraderie of being part of a male voice choir. It is a great experience being part of a 70-strong choir – and it’s a proven fact that singing is good for your health!
“We welcome one and all. The choir members are great ambassadors for Llanelli and being part of a male voice choir means you can join our many away trips. This Christmas, we will be off to North Wales and next spring we will be in Ireland.
“On previous trips, we have visited the USA, New Zealand, Australia and practically every country in Europe. So joining a choir can be your passport to travelling the world, making new friends and sharing new experiences.
“Anyone interested in joining the choir can pop along to meet members at Tesco on October 31, or they can call in to one of our rehearsals, held every Monday and Thursday night at 7pm at Furnace Community Hall.”
The Tesco session will also allow choristers to promote their new CD recording, called Angel.
The CD was made at Adulam Chapel in Felinfoel.
The celebrated soprano Adele O’Neill is the guest soloist for a number of tracks.
Songs recorded for the album include – Mona Lisa, Moon Rover, Speak Softly, Love, Wade in the Water, Ave Maria, Stille Nacht, Cri yn y nos, Some Enchanted Evening and Anfonaf Angel.
Choir stalwarts Byron Thomas and Anthony Bowen have solo spots on the CD.
The Llanelli mixed choir Côr Baroc has been wound up.
The choir was lacking tenors - a vital ingredient for the four-part mixed choir formed by Eifion Thomas in 2006.
Mr Thomas, who is also musical director of Côr Meibion Llanelli, said: “It’s a sad occasion, but we couldn’t go on without more tenor voices.
“Over the years, Côr Baroc has been involved in a great many magical musical occasions in Llanelli.
“And the choir has worked hard to raise thousands for charity.
“The choir members have decided to donate the remaining finances to eight charities - each receiving £1,000.
“There are six local charities based in Llanelli and two national Welsh charities and the money will be handed over at a special function being organised in the near future.”
There’s a chance to hear two of our wonderful male voice choirs at a special ‘Cydweli 900’ concert being staged in Kidwelly next month.
The Cydweli 900 events are dedicated to celebrating the history of Kidwelly Town.
Côr Meibion Llanelli will join forces with Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi (Vale of Towy Male Voice Choir) for the concert at the Princess Gwenllian centre, Kidwelly, on Saturday, November 7 (7.30pm).
The choirs will be sharing the bill with the popular Welsh language mother-and-daughter act ‘Gwenda a Geinor’, soloist Catrin Jones and celebrated wit and raconteur David Vaughan.
The host for the evening will be Dai Jones (Llanilar), of S4C Cefn Gwlad fame.
Tickets are £10 and are available from the Kidwelly Council offices (mornings only), members of Cefn Sidan Rotary Club or from 01554 891176 or 01554 890436.
The event is being sponsored by Gravells Garage and Cefn Sidan Rotary Club.
Côr Meibion Llanelli will be performing at the brand new Bryn Terfel Theatre at the ‘Pontio’ in Bangor on Saturday, December 5.
The Llanelli choristers will be the special guests of the celebrated Côr Y Penrhyn from Bethesda.
Côr Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas said: “This trip to the stunning new Pontio theatre has been on the cards for some months. The Bryn Terfel Theatre promises to be one of the most prestigious concert venues in the north.
“We are great friends with Côr Y Penrhyn and look forward to what should be a great musical treat in the run-up to Christmas.
“We will be one of the first big events to be staged at the Pontio, a venue which is only opening its doors this month.”
Angelicus – a new boutique chorale under the baton of legendary Welsh conductor John Hywel Williams – will soon be adding a prestigious performance at 10 Downing Street London to its achievements in early November.
The chorale will give their public debut on Saturday 24th October when they give local audiences an exciting musical insight when they perform at The Magical Journey of Music at St. Elli Parish Church, Llanelli hosted by the acclaimed Hywel Girls’ Choir and Hywel Boy Singers.
Angelicus comprises of local choristers aged from 11 to 17 years all of whom are choristers with Llanelli’s famous Hywel Girls' Choir and Hywel Boy Singers and have performed at world-class venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, St David's Hall, performed for Royalty and with celebrities such as Katherine Jenkins, Lesley Garrett, Aled Jones, Cerys Mathews, Alfie Boe and enjoyed more than 25 television and radio broadcasts in the last 12 months alone.
Local choristers include Denise Agudilla, Sophie Beake, Holly Fry, Camille Lagman, Rebecca Lewis, Megan Lewis, Alexandra Morgan, Catherine Phillips, Ammanys Robinson, Llio Robinson, Cari Samuel, Hannah Seward, Mercedes Simister, Nikkila Thomas, Carys Watkins, Lauren Williams and Abbie Williams.
Their debut performance will include a hauntingly beautiful sacred Gregorian chant by Benjamin Britten, Bach-Gounod’s inspiring Ave Maria and a heart charging rendition of the ever popular Jerusalem.
Chorale Director Jeremy Hywel said, “It’s always exciting to give young people exciting and life changing opportunities whether that is with television and radio broadcasts or performing at world famous venues.”
Future experiences and performances for the Angelicus choristers will include plans for a studio recording before Christmas and performance in the magnificent setting of St. David’s Cathedral.
The Magical Journey of Music will be held on Saturday 24 October and will also feature a mammoth programme by the Hywel Girls’ Choir and Hywel Boy Singers, fun organ recitals by Huw Tregelles Williams and a journey across Broadway by soprano and actress Elizabeth Bevan. Tickets £10 and available from 01269 841658.

Robert Lloyd works as a media consultant – www.rlloydpr.co.uk
If you have any news about the choral scene in Llanelli, the please contact him on 07777 683637 or email rlloydpr@btinternet.com

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