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 -
Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir will have a host of wonderful guests at their annual Christmas concert at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli.
‘Christmas with the Choir’ will be staged on Saturday, December 12, at 7pm.
Côr Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas said: “The Christmas concert is always very popular and hugely appreciated by everyone in Llanelli.
“The choristers love Christmas and the ‘boys’ are getting into the Christmas spirit at their twice-weekly rehearsals.
“This year, we will have some excellent guests taking the stage and we can promise a memorable evening, tailor-made to evoke the spirit of Christmas.
Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi and the popular Phil Harmonics will have dedicated slots in both halves of the programme.
Côr Meibion Mynydd Mawr will join in the final Christmas Medley.
Also taking part will be the school chamber ensemble from St John Lloyd Roman Catholic School and children from Lori’s Dance School.
“All in all, it promises to be a feast of entertainment,” said Mr Thomas. “Tickets are going fast, so my advice is to book early.”
One of the highlights of the evening is sure to be a special adaptation (by Mr Thomas) of the Elvis Presley classic Blue Christmas. This will feature Côr Meibion Llanelli and the Phil Harmonics.
Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi choristers are delighted to be sharing the stage with their old friends from Côr Meibion Llanelli.
The Llandyfaelog-based choir’s secretary, Derrick Rowlands, said: “We are a very busy choir, but we have been looking forward to this special evening of festive entertainment for some time now. We always enjoy sharing the stage with Côr Meibion Llanelli and we can promise a first class evening of singing and rejoicing.”
Rock and pop choir the Phil Harmonics have made their entrance onto the Llanelli music scene gradually over the last year. The group was set up by Sarah Mair Richards, Phil Thomas and Pauline Yudowitz.
Earlier this year, they held a Charity Evening which helped raise more than £1,600 for Prince Philip Hospital Breast Care Unit in Llanelli and a maternity hospital in Uganda.
Choir rehearsals are at The Stradey Park Hotel and the choir members are grateful for the hotel’s continuing support.
The Choir is for 18 - 80 year olds who want to be part of a very exciting group who are very different from your usual choirs, very up-beat and fun.
They sing some of the classics and modern pop/rock. They have their own instrumental band who accompany them at concerts.
Anyone interested in attending the choirs rehearsals or joining can contact - Pauline Yudowitz 07706796677 email philharmonics01@gmail.com
The choir have a Facebook page which can be found by searching for ‘The Phil Harmonics’ or on the following link - https://www.facebook.com/jambori.llanelli
Mynydd Mawr Choir was formed in 1965 in Tumble in the Gwendraeth Valley – just a year after Côr Meibion Llanelli started.
The choir has made a valuable contribution to numerous charitable organisations throughout Britain and has been successful on five occasions on the Royal National Eisteddfod platform, as well as at other eisteddfodau.
Tickets for the Christmas concert are available from Theatrau Sir Gar and the Ffwrnes Theatre box office, or online at –
https://ffwrnes.ticketsolve.com/shows/873537732/events?show_id=873537732
The Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers and their conductor John Hywel Williams will finish off a successful 2015 on a busy yet high note.
On Saturday 19 December, the Hywel Choir will host the landmark ‘Great Christmas Fantasia’– its annual winter performance which has been a sell-out since July.
The festive extravaganza will feature 250+ singers and musicans with the massed voices of the Hywel Choir, Angelicus Chorale, Llanelli Choral Society and the historic Hywel Choir Reunion Chorus and the symphonic sounds of the British Sinfonietta Orchestra. Legendary pop sensation Brotherhood of Man will return to Wales to rekindle musical memories with their singing teacher John Hywel and their childhood times with the Hywel Choir.
In true Hywel Choir tradition, there will be exciting twists and turns throughout the night from giant 250-cast renditions of Holy Night and Joy to the World to poignant lantern lit nativity choral scenes with live donkeys, from the rare opportunity of seeing past and present Hywel choristers spanning six decades unite for a poignant tribute performance in the memory of Jean Hywel to a first time ever joint rendition of the Eurovision winning song Save your Kisses for Me when Brotherhood of Man and the Hywel choristers unite for a fun, ticker tape explosive performance!
BBC Wales has been recording the preparations for the exciting event and ITV cameras will be swooping into Llanelli for interviews with John Hywel and choristers and to film final rehearsals and highlights of the show itself as part of a Christmas tribute to Jean Hywel and John Hywel Williams.
On Sunday 20 December, the Hywel Choristers will be the star guests at the ever popular Christmas Gala Concert at the Brangwyn Hall hosted by the Salvation Army.
Plans for the new year for the Hywel choristers will include an exclusive night of music with the acclaimed Lesley Garrett and Gary Griffiths, the momentous Last Night of the Proms with the British Sinfonietta and the giant 200 voice chorus of the Dunvant Male Choir, Llanelli Choral Society and Hywel Choir, performing at St. David’s Cathedral and the recording of their latest album ENCORE.
But there’s more than singing to the Hywel Choir. On 22 December, the choir will launch its Operation Christmas Kindness which will see choristers dash around the region delviering surprise gifts to unsuspecting strangers in need of a little Christmas kindness – putting the spirit of Christmas into action.
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
Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir will have a host of wonderful guests at their annual Christmas concert at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli.
‘Christmas with the Choir’ will be staged on Saturday, December 12, at 7pm.
Côr Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas said: “The Christmas concert is always very popular and hugely appreciated by everyone in Llanelli.
“The choristers love Christmas and the ‘boys’ are getting into the Christmas spirit at their twice-weekly rehearsals.
“This year, we will have some excellent guests taking the stage and we can promise a memorable evening, tailor-made to evoke the spirit of Christmas.
Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi and the popular Phil Harmonics will have dedicated slots in both halves of the programme.
Côr Meibion Mynydd Mawr will join in the final Christmas Medley.
Also taking part will be the school chamber ensemble from St John Lloyd Roman Catholic School and children from Lori’s Dance School.
“All in all, it promises to be a feast of entertainment,” said Mr Thomas. “Tickets are going fast, so my advice is to book early.”
One of the highlights of the evening is sure to be a special adaptation (by Mr Thomas) of the Elvis Presley classic Blue Christmas. This will feature Côr Meibion Llanelli and the Phil Harmonics.
Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi choristers are delighted to be sharing the stage with their old friends from Côr Meibion Llanelli.
The Llandyfaelog-based choir’s secretary, Derrick Rowlands, said: “We are a very busy choir, but we have been looking forward to this special evening of festive entertainment for some time now. We always enjoy sharing the stage with Côr Meibion Llanelli and we can promise a first class evening of singing and rejoicing.”
Rock and pop choir the Phil Harmonics have made their entrance onto the Llanelli music scene gradually over the last year. The group was set up by Sarah Mair Richards, Phil Thomas and Pauline Yudowitz.
Earlier this year, they held a Charity Evening which helped raise more than £1,600 for Prince Philip Hospital Breast Care Unit in Llanelli and a maternity hospital in Uganda.
Choir rehearsals are at The Stradey Park Hotel and the choir members are grateful for the hotel’s continuing support.
The Choir is for 18 - 80 year olds who want to be part of a very exciting group who are very different from your usual choirs, very up-beat and fun.
They sing some of the classics and modern pop/rock. They have their own instrumental band who accompany them at concerts.
Anyone interested in attending the choirs rehearsals or joining can contact - Pauline Yudowitz 07706796677 email philharmonics01@gmail.com
The choir have a Facebook page which can be found by searching for ‘The Phil Harmonics’ or on the following link - https://www.facebook.com/jambori.llanelli
Mynydd Mawr Choir was formed in 1965 in Tumble in the Gwendraeth Valley – just a year after Côr Meibion Llanelli started.
The choir has made a valuable contribution to numerous charitable organisations throughout Britain and has been successful on five occasions on the Royal National Eisteddfod platform, as well as at other eisteddfodau.
Tickets for the Christmas concert are available from Theatrau Sir Gar and the Ffwrnes Theatre box office, or online at –
https://ffwrnes.ticketsolve.com/shows/873537732/events?show_id=873537732
The Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers and their conductor John Hywel Williams will finish off a successful 2015 on a busy yet high note.
On Saturday 19 December, the Hywel Choir will host the landmark ‘Great Christmas Fantasia’– its annual winter performance which has been a sell-out since July.
The festive extravaganza will feature 250+ singers and musicans with the massed voices of the Hywel Choir, Angelicus Chorale, Llanelli Choral Society and the historic Hywel Choir Reunion Chorus and the symphonic sounds of the British Sinfonietta Orchestra. Legendary pop sensation Brotherhood of Man will return to Wales to rekindle musical memories with their singing teacher John Hywel and their childhood times with the Hywel Choir.
In true Hywel Choir tradition, there will be exciting twists and turns throughout the night from giant 250-cast renditions of Holy Night and Joy to the World to poignant lantern lit nativity choral scenes with live donkeys, from the rare opportunity of seeing past and present Hywel choristers spanning six decades unite for a poignant tribute performance in the memory of Jean Hywel to a first time ever joint rendition of the Eurovision winning song Save your Kisses for Me when Brotherhood of Man and the Hywel choristers unite for a fun, ticker tape explosive performance!
BBC Wales has been recording the preparations for the exciting event and ITV cameras will be swooping into Llanelli for interviews with John Hywel and choristers and to film final rehearsals and highlights of the show itself as part of a Christmas tribute to Jean Hywel and John Hywel Williams.
On Sunday 20 December, the Hywel Choristers will be the star guests at the ever popular Christmas Gala Concert at the Brangwyn Hall hosted by the Salvation Army.
Plans for the new year for the Hywel choristers will include an exclusive night of music with the acclaimed Lesley Garrett and Gary Griffiths, the momentous Last Night of the Proms with the British Sinfonietta and the giant 200 voice chorus of the Dunvant Male Choir, Llanelli Choral Society and Hywel Choir, performing at St. David’s Cathedral and the recording of their latest album ENCORE.
But there’s more than singing to the Hywel Choir. On 22 December, the choir will launch its Operation Christmas Kindness which will see choristers dash around the region delviering surprise gifts to unsuspecting strangers in need of a little Christmas kindness – putting the spirit of Christmas into action.
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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