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 -

St David’s Day celebrations in Llanelli wouldn’t be complete without Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Choir.
And Llanelli people will get two chances to listen to the choir over the St David’s Day week.
On the patron saint’s day, the choir will be performing in Llanelli town centre to show support for local shopkeepers businesses.
But, before that, they will be the star attraction at the Saturday February 27 (7pm) concert being organised by Llanelli concert promoter Cerith Owens and Loud Applause Productions at Ffwrnes Theatre.
The gala concert 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.
“It promises to be a spectacular evening,” said Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Choir secretary Fred Elias.
“The choristers have been busy rehearsing for the St David’s Day concert and we have some old favourites and some new tricks up our sleeve to delight the audience.
“St David’s Day concerts are always memorable and we are delighted to be teaming up with our old friends from Dunvant. The audience will get two award-winning male voice choirs for the price of one!
“Our musical director D Eifion Thomas is looking forward to the evening and it really does promise to be a cracking evening.”
The school choir from Ysgol Iau Llangennech won the junior school choir category in the BBC Songs of Praises competition last year.
They will be under the direction of Lewis Richards and are sure to include some Welsh classics in their repertoire.
Dunvant Male Choir enjoys the distinction of being one of the oldest continuous serving choirs in Wales.
It was formed in 1895 by a group of miners, steelworkers and quarrymen from the membership of the local Ebenezer Congregational Chapel.
It was initially called the Ebenezer Excelsior Male Voice Choir, but as its membership grew, its name was shortened to the current Dunvant Male Choir (Côr Meibion Dyfnant in Welsh).
The choir has made frequent visits to USA, Canada and Europe including Germany, France and of course Ireland.
The choir has just celebrated 50 years of harmonious friendship with "Sannervereinigung 1866, Essen- Burgaltendorf" in Germany and contributed in words and music at "The Last Post" celebrations at the Menin Gate, Ypres.
The choir has performed nine times at the Royal Albert Hall, London often as the sole male choir, also at the Chapel of Kings College Cambridge, the chapel of Harvard University, the Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto and in the ancient UK Cathedrals including Chichester, Exeter, Gloucester, Hereford, Lichfield, Salisbury and York.
The soloist for the evening will be mezzo-soprano Eirlys Myfanwy Davies, who was born in Trimsaran.
The recipient of an Independent Opera Voice Scholarship in 2014, Myfanwy recently performed at a Christmas concert at Greenfield Chapel, Llanelli.
Myfanwy has studied at the Alexander Gibson Opera School at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Previously, she gained a Distinction and DipRAM in Vocal Performance at the Royal Academy of Music and a BMus (Hons) in Vocal Studies from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Myfanwy has performed the roles of Penelope (Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria) for the Alexander Gibson Opera School, and Pompea (The Little Green Swallow) for British Youth Opera.
Opera scene appearances include as Dorabella (Così fan tutte), Dido (Les Troyens), Cornelia (Giulio Cesare), Mistress Quickly (Falstaff), Lucretia (The Rape of Lucretia), Irene (Tamerlano), Bradamante (Alcina) and Hermia (A Midsummer Night’s Dream).
She gives regular oratorio, recital and gala performances, is a guest artist with many Welsh male choirs and has appeared in venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Brussels Cathedral, Millennium Centre, and the Vatican.
Recent performances include in Elgar’s Music Makers and The Dream of Gerontius, Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Requiem.
Television engagements have included appearances on S4C, on Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol, Wedi 3, Wedi 7 and Noson Lawen.
Myfanwy is a winner of the W Towyn Roberts Memorial Award and the Llais Llwyfan Llambed Award, and was named ‘Voice of the Future’ at Llangollen International Festival.
She has also been a finalist in the Welsh Singers Competition at St David’s Hall, the Stuart Burrows International Voice Award, London Welsh Young Singer of the Year, MOCSA Young Welsh Singer of the Year, and Dunraven Welsh Young Singer of the Year.
The evening will be hosted by the ever popular BBC TV and radio personality Garry Owen.

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