The latest 'On Song' column from the Llanelli Star and the Carmarthen Journal
The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star and the Carmarthen Journal -
The ‘boys’ of Cor Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir are taking a well-earned holiday this August, with rehearsals resuming in September.
“When we get back to work it will be all systems go,” said choir musical director D Eifion Thomas.
“We have our ever-popular annual concert coming up and we will be fine-tuning the items we have already rehearsed.
“The annual is always one of the highlights of the Llanelli musical calendar and we are hoping for a full house at Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli.
“Tickets have gone on sale for what is the choir’s yearly opportunity to showcase their latest repertoire before their ‘home town’ supporters.”
Côr Meibion Llanelli will be staging their annual concert at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, at 7pm on Saturday, September 24.
Tickets can be obtained through the Ffwrnes Theatre box office or through the Theatrau Sir Gar website.
The choir’s special guests will be Penrhyn Male Choir (Penrhyn Male Choir) from North Wales.
Tickets are also now on sale for A Night With The Stars, the annual showcase concert of Loud Applause Productions, the popular production company run by Llanelli-based Cerith Owens.
A Night With The Stars takes place on Saturday 12th November at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, 7.00pm start.
This is a Gala Concert featuring the ever popular soprano Shân Cothi, the world famous Morriston Orpheus Choir, the brilliant young violinist Charlie Lovell Jones and an array of very talented vocalists from Loud Applause Rising Stars.
It will be a bilingual evening of first class musical entertainment to suit all tastes - choral, opera, classical musical theatre, jazz.
The host is BBC TV and radio personality Garry Owen and the accompanists for the Rising Stars are Andrew Pike and Rhiannon Williams Hale.
The Morriston Orpheus Choir have long been rivals to Côr Meibion Llanelli and Pontarddulais Male Voice for the unofficial title of Best Male Voice Choir in Wales.
They have a long history, but many will not appreciate that they also once had a very strong Llanelli link.
In 1969, the Morriston Oprheus appointed a new musical director in the shape of Lyn Harry, a native of Llanelli who had been conductor of the London Welsh Male Choir.
Lyn continued a choir tradition of making successful recordings for EMI.
But he also introduced a newer repertoire, including the first recordings the choir made with brass and military bands.
The period under Lyn Harry is universally recognised as the time when the Orpheus really became an international choir.
After his career with the London Welsh, Lyn had come back to Wales in the mid-1960s to a farm in Ferryside, Carmarthenshire.
His work with the Morriston Orpheus lasted six years and included two highly successful tours to North America and six long playing records for EMI.
These included Land of Hope and Glory with the GUS Band and En Route with the Band of the Welsh Guards.
Lyn decided to remain in Canada when the Orpheus Choir returned from their 1975 tour. He founded the Canadian Orpheus Male Choir and the Burlington Welsh Male Chorus. He died in 2006.
It was during Lyn Harry’s time as musical director that the idea of a formal Supporters Group gathered momentum and in 1974 the Morriston Orpheus Choir Subscribers Association was formed.
Today MOCSA, with the ‘S’ now standing for Supporters rather than Subscribers, continues to support the objectives of the original Association: To support the Choir in all its endeavours, and to encourage the development of young singers with the aid of the Choir.
To many classical singers in Wales MOCSA is synonymous with The Young Welsh Singer of the Year Competition which is now in its 34th year and widely considered to be the premier competition of its kind in Wales.
Famous Young Welsh Singer of the Year Competition winners include Bryn Terfel, Gary Griffiths, Rebecca Evans, and Andrew Rees.
The Young Welsh Singer of the Year Competition is open to students studying classical singing, on a full-time basis only, at any university or college in the United Kingdom and who meet at least one of the following criteria:
1. Were born in Wales
2. Have at least one parent who is Welsh
3. Have resided in Wales on a permanent basis for the past five years.
Events calendar
September
Date to be confirmed, Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi St Anne’s Cwmffrwd
Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi Thursday 29th Sept – Sunday 2nd October North Wales Tour.
October
Saturday 15th October: Mynydd Mawr Choir and Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi concert in Pontyberem Hall.
November
Llanelli's annual Festival of Light event in aid of Ty Bryngwyn Hospice, 6pm Monday 14th November at the St Elli Shopping Centre.
December
December 17, Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir, Christmas Concert at Ffwrnes (7pm) with special guests The Phil Harmonics.
The ‘boys’ of Cor Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir are taking a well-earned holiday this August, with rehearsals resuming in September.
“When we get back to work it will be all systems go,” said choir musical director D Eifion Thomas.
“We have our ever-popular annual concert coming up and we will be fine-tuning the items we have already rehearsed.
“The annual is always one of the highlights of the Llanelli musical calendar and we are hoping for a full house at Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli.
“Tickets have gone on sale for what is the choir’s yearly opportunity to showcase their latest repertoire before their ‘home town’ supporters.”
Côr Meibion Llanelli will be staging their annual concert at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, at 7pm on Saturday, September 24.
Tickets can be obtained through the Ffwrnes Theatre box office or through the Theatrau Sir Gar website.
The choir’s special guests will be Penrhyn Male Choir (Penrhyn Male Choir) from North Wales.
Tickets are also now on sale for A Night With The Stars, the annual showcase concert of Loud Applause Productions, the popular production company run by Llanelli-based Cerith Owens.
A Night With The Stars takes place on Saturday 12th November at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, 7.00pm start.
This is a Gala Concert featuring the ever popular soprano Shân Cothi, the world famous Morriston Orpheus Choir, the brilliant young violinist Charlie Lovell Jones and an array of very talented vocalists from Loud Applause Rising Stars.
It will be a bilingual evening of first class musical entertainment to suit all tastes - choral, opera, classical musical theatre, jazz.
The host is BBC TV and radio personality Garry Owen and the accompanists for the Rising Stars are Andrew Pike and Rhiannon Williams Hale.
The Morriston Orpheus Choir have long been rivals to Côr Meibion Llanelli and Pontarddulais Male Voice for the unofficial title of Best Male Voice Choir in Wales.
They have a long history, but many will not appreciate that they also once had a very strong Llanelli link.
In 1969, the Morriston Oprheus appointed a new musical director in the shape of Lyn Harry, a native of Llanelli who had been conductor of the London Welsh Male Choir.
Lyn continued a choir tradition of making successful recordings for EMI.
But he also introduced a newer repertoire, including the first recordings the choir made with brass and military bands.
The period under Lyn Harry is universally recognised as the time when the Orpheus really became an international choir.
After his career with the London Welsh, Lyn had come back to Wales in the mid-1960s to a farm in Ferryside, Carmarthenshire.
His work with the Morriston Orpheus lasted six years and included two highly successful tours to North America and six long playing records for EMI.
These included Land of Hope and Glory with the GUS Band and En Route with the Band of the Welsh Guards.
Lyn decided to remain in Canada when the Orpheus Choir returned from their 1975 tour. He founded the Canadian Orpheus Male Choir and the Burlington Welsh Male Chorus. He died in 2006.
It was during Lyn Harry’s time as musical director that the idea of a formal Supporters Group gathered momentum and in 1974 the Morriston Orpheus Choir Subscribers Association was formed.
Today MOCSA, with the ‘S’ now standing for Supporters rather than Subscribers, continues to support the objectives of the original Association: To support the Choir in all its endeavours, and to encourage the development of young singers with the aid of the Choir.
To many classical singers in Wales MOCSA is synonymous with The Young Welsh Singer of the Year Competition which is now in its 34th year and widely considered to be the premier competition of its kind in Wales.
Famous Young Welsh Singer of the Year Competition winners include Bryn Terfel, Gary Griffiths, Rebecca Evans, and Andrew Rees.
The Young Welsh Singer of the Year Competition is open to students studying classical singing, on a full-time basis only, at any university or college in the United Kingdom and who meet at least one of the following criteria:
1. Were born in Wales
2. Have at least one parent who is Welsh
3. Have resided in Wales on a permanent basis for the past five years.
Events calendar
September
Date to be confirmed, Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi St Anne’s Cwmffrwd
Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi Thursday 29th Sept – Sunday 2nd October North Wales Tour.
October
Saturday 15th October: Mynydd Mawr Choir and Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi concert in Pontyberem Hall.
November
Llanelli's annual Festival of Light event in aid of Ty Bryngwyn Hospice, 6pm Monday 14th November at the St Elli Shopping Centre.
December
December 17, Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir, Christmas Concert at Ffwrnes (7pm) with special guests The Phil Harmonics.
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
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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