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 -
The ‘On Song’ spotlight this week falls on Kidwelly Festival Choir, a mixed voice choir formed in 1984, the year of the Festival of Castles.
The choir performs a varied repertoire, from sacred and classical pieces to musical showtunes and popular songs. The annual concert takes place in St. Mary's Church, Kidwelly (date to be announced later).
The Choir has performed at many other venues, in South Wales and beyond, including three times at the Royal Albert Hall concert for 1000 mixed voices.
Kidwelly Festival Choir is twinned with a German choir and has performed in Mannheim, Weinheim and Nieder-Liebersbach on two exchange visits. The choir has raised more than £10,000 for charities.
The Musical Director is Andrew J. Pike.
The launch of the choir came following the prestigious Festival of Castles in 1874. It was a prestigious affair lasting some seven days, with most events taking place in Kidwelly Castle grounds.
The superb programme was opened by a Songs of Praise, and included drama, a lecture by the well-known historian Mr. W. Hill Morris, a performance by the male voice choir Hwyrnos, a silver band, a children's choir, a Medieval Fayre organised by the Scouts, and an exhibition of "Old Kidwelly" - culminating in a Grand Pageant organised by the local WI.
Following the success of this wonderful week, the idea of forming a mixed choir in Kidwelly was suggested - the brainchild of the renowned musician Dr Terry James (also a native of Kidwelly but at that time living in Los Angeles).
The idea was received with great enthusiasm, and subsequently a small committee, who met at the Borough Ofices (the old Pelican Inn) arranged to advertise for members. The response was tremendous, and the following January a choir of some 30 voices attended the first rehearsal.
Dr Terry James, whose musical renown was global, was unable to assume the position of Musical Director due to other commitments. However, the choir was most fortunate to acquire the able talents of Mrs Catherine Francis to take up the baton, and the newly-formed choir soon went from strength to strength.
In addition to writing and arranging music for the choir, Mrs Francis wrote two wonderful works –Benedictus and Magnificat.
Mrs Francis continued as Musical Director for 13 years but then had to resign due to ill-health. She was succeeded by another excellent conductor, Mr Penri Williams, well known for conducting Cymanfaoedd Canu. He was followed by Mr Roger Lewis, who was not only our Musical Director but also an accomplished cellist and often performed at concerts with his Tawe Quartetensemble.
Following Roger's departure, the choir secured the services of the energetic Andrew Pike.
The Kidwelly Festival Choir chairman, Simon Hands, has come up with the idea of creating a ‘shared list’ of choir and musical events for 2016, to avoid unnecessary clashes of concert dates.
Here’s how the 2016 calendar is shaping up (attention all choirs: send your dates either to me at rlloydpr@btinternet.com or to Simon Hands at s.j.hands@swansea.ac.uk
January
Friday 29th January: Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi, Ferryside Hall.
February
Saturday, February 6, Côr Lleisiau Cwm will be celebrating their 20th anniversary with a special gala night at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli
Llanelli gala concert at Ffwrnes Theatre on February 27 will feature Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Choir and Dunvant Male Choir with Côr Ysgol Iau Llangennech, soprano Eirlys Myfanwy Davies, plus the young up and coming singer Jordan Williams. Presented by Loud Applause Productions and Theatrau Sir Gar.
March
4th or 5th March: Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi, Cawl a Chan Red Lion Llandyfaelog.
Loud Applause and Theatrau Sir Gar present Carmarthen St David’s Day celebration concert at the Lyric Theatre on March 5. The event will feature – Côr Meibion De Cymru, Côr Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin and international baritone Gary Griffiths, from Burry Port. The evening (and the Llanelli St David’s Day event on February 27) will be hosted by the BBC radio and TV personality Garry Owen.
March 11 sees the return of Max Boyce to FFwrnes Theatre, Llanelli.
March 17 British pianist Robin Covill presents ‘Bach to Gershwin at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli.
Sinfonia Cymru bring an evening of Stravinsky, Beethoven and Mozart to Pontyberem on Friday, March 18. The concert takes place at the Pontyberem Memorial Hall, starting at 7.30pm.
March 20 Academic Male Choir of Tallinn University of Technology – Estonia, Ffwrnes Theatre.
March 31 Swansea City Opera bring their production of La Bohème to Ffwrnes
April
Hywel Girls Choir and Hywel Boy Singers present Encore, an evening with Lesley Garrett, Saturday, April 16 at Ffwrnes Theatre Llanelli.
Curtain Up Theatre Company present Aspects of Andrew Lloyd Webber at Ffwrnes, Theatre, on April 23.
May
Côr Curiad’s choristers will be welcoming Britain’s Got Talent winners Collabro to Llanelli’s Ffwrnes Theatre on Saturday, May 14. Tickets are selling fast with proceeds from the event going towards one of Llanelli’s most popular charitable causes, the Ty Bryngwyn Hospice adjacent to Prince Philip Hospital.
June
Last Night of the Proms, Saturday, June 4 at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli.
July
Saturday 9th July: Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi, annual concert, Princess Gwenllian Centre, Kidwelly.
October
Saturday 15th October: Mynydd Mawr Choir concert in Pontyberem Hall.
As mentioned earlier, we hope to make this universal calendar of events available on the internet so that choirs and events organisers can use it for reference purposes. Send your concert dates either to me at rlloydpr@btinternet.com or to Simon Hands at s.j.hands@swansea.ac.uk
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
The ‘On Song’ spotlight this week falls on Kidwelly Festival Choir, a mixed voice choir formed in 1984, the year of the Festival of Castles.
The choir performs a varied repertoire, from sacred and classical pieces to musical showtunes and popular songs. The annual concert takes place in St. Mary's Church, Kidwelly (date to be announced later).
The Choir has performed at many other venues, in South Wales and beyond, including three times at the Royal Albert Hall concert for 1000 mixed voices.
Kidwelly Festival Choir is twinned with a German choir and has performed in Mannheim, Weinheim and Nieder-Liebersbach on two exchange visits. The choir has raised more than £10,000 for charities.
The Musical Director is Andrew J. Pike.
The launch of the choir came following the prestigious Festival of Castles in 1874. It was a prestigious affair lasting some seven days, with most events taking place in Kidwelly Castle grounds.
The superb programme was opened by a Songs of Praise, and included drama, a lecture by the well-known historian Mr. W. Hill Morris, a performance by the male voice choir Hwyrnos, a silver band, a children's choir, a Medieval Fayre organised by the Scouts, and an exhibition of "Old Kidwelly" - culminating in a Grand Pageant organised by the local WI.
Following the success of this wonderful week, the idea of forming a mixed choir in Kidwelly was suggested - the brainchild of the renowned musician Dr Terry James (also a native of Kidwelly but at that time living in Los Angeles).
The idea was received with great enthusiasm, and subsequently a small committee, who met at the Borough Ofices (the old Pelican Inn) arranged to advertise for members. The response was tremendous, and the following January a choir of some 30 voices attended the first rehearsal.
Dr Terry James, whose musical renown was global, was unable to assume the position of Musical Director due to other commitments. However, the choir was most fortunate to acquire the able talents of Mrs Catherine Francis to take up the baton, and the newly-formed choir soon went from strength to strength.
In addition to writing and arranging music for the choir, Mrs Francis wrote two wonderful works –Benedictus and Magnificat.
Mrs Francis continued as Musical Director for 13 years but then had to resign due to ill-health. She was succeeded by another excellent conductor, Mr Penri Williams, well known for conducting Cymanfaoedd Canu. He was followed by Mr Roger Lewis, who was not only our Musical Director but also an accomplished cellist and often performed at concerts with his Tawe Quartetensemble.
Following Roger's departure, the choir secured the services of the energetic Andrew Pike.
The Kidwelly Festival Choir chairman, Simon Hands, has come up with the idea of creating a ‘shared list’ of choir and musical events for 2016, to avoid unnecessary clashes of concert dates.
Here’s how the 2016 calendar is shaping up (attention all choirs: send your dates either to me at rlloydpr@btinternet.com or to Simon Hands at s.j.hands@swansea.ac.uk
January
Friday 29th January: Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi, Ferryside Hall.
February
Saturday, February 6, Côr Lleisiau Cwm will be celebrating their 20th anniversary with a special gala night at the Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli
Llanelli gala concert at Ffwrnes Theatre on February 27 will feature Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Choir and Dunvant Male Choir with Côr Ysgol Iau Llangennech, soprano Eirlys Myfanwy Davies, plus the young up and coming singer Jordan Williams. Presented by Loud Applause Productions and Theatrau Sir Gar.
March
4th or 5th March: Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi, Cawl a Chan Red Lion Llandyfaelog.
Loud Applause and Theatrau Sir Gar present Carmarthen St David’s Day celebration concert at the Lyric Theatre on March 5. The event will feature – Côr Meibion De Cymru, Côr Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin and international baritone Gary Griffiths, from Burry Port. The evening (and the Llanelli St David’s Day event on February 27) will be hosted by the BBC radio and TV personality Garry Owen.
March 11 sees the return of Max Boyce to FFwrnes Theatre, Llanelli.
March 17 British pianist Robin Covill presents ‘Bach to Gershwin at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli.
Sinfonia Cymru bring an evening of Stravinsky, Beethoven and Mozart to Pontyberem on Friday, March 18. The concert takes place at the Pontyberem Memorial Hall, starting at 7.30pm.
March 20 Academic Male Choir of Tallinn University of Technology – Estonia, Ffwrnes Theatre.
March 31 Swansea City Opera bring their production of La Bohème to Ffwrnes
April
Hywel Girls Choir and Hywel Boy Singers present Encore, an evening with Lesley Garrett, Saturday, April 16 at Ffwrnes Theatre Llanelli.
Curtain Up Theatre Company present Aspects of Andrew Lloyd Webber at Ffwrnes, Theatre, on April 23.
May
Côr Curiad’s choristers will be welcoming Britain’s Got Talent winners Collabro to Llanelli’s Ffwrnes Theatre on Saturday, May 14. Tickets are selling fast with proceeds from the event going towards one of Llanelli’s most popular charitable causes, the Ty Bryngwyn Hospice adjacent to Prince Philip Hospital.
June
Last Night of the Proms, Saturday, June 4 at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli.
July
Saturday 9th July: Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi, annual concert, Princess Gwenllian Centre, Kidwelly.
October
Saturday 15th October: Mynydd Mawr Choir concert in Pontyberem Hall.
As mentioned earlier, we hope to make this universal calendar of events available on the internet so that choirs and events organisers can use it for reference purposes. Send your concert dates either to me at rlloydpr@btinternet.com or to Simon Hands at s.j.hands@swansea.ac.uk
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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