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 -

There’s plenty going on to celebrate St David’s Day over the next few weeks.
On our patron saint’s day, Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir and Côr Curiad will be performing in Llanelli town centre to give a boost to Llanelli’s town centre traders.
Before that, on Saturday, February 27, Côr Meibion Llanelli will be featured in a grand gala concert at Ffwrnes, Llanelli.
Sunday, February 28, sees three female choirs perform as part of the National Botanic Garden of Wales St David’s Day celebrations in Llanarthne.
Côr Lleisiau’r Cwm(11am), Côr Persain (12.30pm) and Côr Merched Tybie (2pm) will taking to the stage at the Botanic.
In Carmarthen, there is a celebration concert on March 5.
It will feature – Côr Meibion De Cymru, Côr Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin and international baritone Gary Griffiths, from Burry Port.
The evening will be hosted by the excellent Garry Owen.
There will be a great ‘welcome home’ to local hero Gary Griffiths.
Winner of the Welsh Singers Competition in 2012, Gary was a finalist representing Wales in the 2013 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World.
He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where, in 2009, he won the prestigious Gold Medal Competition.
At the Welsh National Opera, where he began as an Associate Artist, he made a critically acclaimed debut in 2011 as Guglielmo (Così fan tutte).
His other roles with the company include Cecil (Maria Stuarda), Masetto (Don Giovanni), Claudio (Béatrice et Bénédict), and Schaunard in a new production of La Bohème (for which he was awarded the Welsh Theatre Critics’ Award).
He recently sang Il Conte (Le nozze di Figaro) for Wiesbaden Opera, Maximillian (Candide) at the Maggio Musicale in Florence, The Executioner (Ines de Castro) for Scottish Opera, Ned Keene (Peter Grimes) for Grange Park Opera, Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro) for New Zealand Festival Opera and Malatesta (Don Pasquale) for the Longborough Festival Opera. Earlier roles have included Germano (La Scala di Seta) for British Youth Opera; Dog/Innkeeper (The Cunning Little Vixen) for Grange Park Opera; and L’Incognito (L’Assedio di Calais), Le Comte (Chérubin), Mr. Gedge (Albert Herring), Arsenio (La Spinabla) and Marquis de la Force (les Dialogues des Carmelites) at the Guildhall School Opera.
Operatic engagements this season include a return to the Wiesbaden State Opera for Ford (Falstaff), to the New Zealand Festival Opera for Marcello (La Bohème) and to the Welsh National Opera.
His recent concert appearances include Berlioz ‘Les Troyens’ with Valery Gergiev and the London Symphony Orchestra, Grieg’s Peer Gynt with the Hallé Orchestra conducted by Nikolaj Znaider, Fauré Requiem with John Wilson and the RTE Concert Orchestra, Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius with the Berliner Kantorei, Mozart’s Requiem with the orchestra of the Welsh National Opera and Christoph Poppen, a gala performance at the National Eisteddfod of Wales with the Welsh Chamber Orchestra, and Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast at the Barbican with the Guildhall Symphony Orchestra conducted by Martyn Brabbins.
A committed recitalist, he has appeared at the Oxford Lieder Festival with Sholto Kynoch, the Cowbridge Music Festival with Joseph Middleton, King’s Place with Iain Burnside, the Ludlow English Song Weekend with Simon Lepper, Chipping Campden Music, in Harrogate, Dore Abbey and St. David’s Hall, Cardiff.
In recording, he appears on Catrin Finch’s Lullabies CD for Deutsche Grammophon and on his solo album ‘Début’ which was released earlier this year. Soon to be released, is a recording of Mendelssohn Songs with Malcolm Martineau for Champs Hills Records.
Other events this month include –
February 20, “Encore” Community Recital. Hywel Girls’ Choir and Hywel Boy Singers, Angelicus Chorale, Musicians and singers from Hywel Academy of Music, Huw Tregelles Williams (organ), Jane Jewell (piano), Gareth Hamlin (percussion), John Hywel Williams (conductor), St. Elli Parish Church, Llanelli.
Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi Sat 27th February Red Lion, Llandyfaelog, Cawl a Chan.
Saturday 27th February - Côr Merched Tybie Ladies Choir, Ammanford RFC, 7pm- Noson Gymreig - Dydd Gwyl Dewi.
Sunday 28th February - Côr Merched Tybie Ladies Choir, Botanical Garden of Wales at Llanarthne, 2pm - Welsh Weekend.

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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