The latest 'On Song' column from the Carmarthen Journal and the Llanelli Star

The latest 'On Song' column from the Carmarthen Journal and the Llanelli Star, by Robert Lloyd.

Excitement is building for a special concert featuring the wonderful ladies of Côr Curiad.
The Llanelli-based choir have a September 2 concert at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, with their special guests, The Overtones.
The night will conclude Côr Curiad’s two-year fundraising efforts for Ty Bryngwyn Hospice in Llanelli.
The choristers have set themselves a £20,000 target.
The target has already been met, so Côr Curiad’s members are looking forward to smashing the figure and handing the final cheque over on a special night!
The Overtones are a five-piece vocal harmony group - Darren, Mark, Timmy, Mike and Lachie.
They were discovered by a Warner Bros Records talent scout while working as decorators in a shop near Oxford Street, singing during their tea break.
Their debut album, Good Ol’ Fashioned Love entered the UK Albums Chart at No16 in November 2010. However, after the re-release of the album in March 2011, it propelled to No4. They have sold in excess of 500,000 copies of their first album.
The line-up is as follows -
Timothy Thomas ‘Timmy’ Matley is from Cork, Ireland. He was born on 16 February 1982. Timmy got into performing arts at the age of 14, and at 16 years old he came to London to audition for a performing arts school. Timmy left Ireland when he was 17, as he didn't enjoy college. He went travelling and then came back and decided to get involved with songwriting and singing. He is the lead singer of the band, and sometimes joins the middle harmonies of the band. He loves meerkats and knits in his spare time.
Mark Robert Franks comes from Sale, Greater Manchester, and was born on 9 May 1977. He attended the Royal Ballet School from age 11 to 16. He was a professional dancer for 10 years before joining The Overtones. Mark has a passion for remixing music, and has released some of his fabulous 1980s remixes under his "DJ Rescue Rangerz" name on Soundcloud. He is very keen on all things 1980s and is a big Back To The Future fan. His favourite shop is Topman. Mark enjoys mixing modern clothing with vintage to create his own style. He sings the middle harmony sections in their songs.
Lachlan Alexander ‘Lachie’ Chapman was born 7 February 1981, and comes from Manly, New South Wales, Australia. He left Australia on his 25th birthday, and came to England in the hope of becoming an actor. He is the bass singer. Lachie would love to perform at Carnegie Hall. Back in Australia he has a dog called Matilda. In early 2016, Lachie appeared in the Channel 4 comedy series Crashing.
Michael ‘Mike’ Crawshaw was born on 12 February 1980 and comes from Bristol. From an early age, Mike wanted to go into football and athletics, and enjoyed family holidays to Cornwall. He got into singing when at college and sings the middle harmonies of the groups. His favourite song is Superstition by Stevie Wonder.
Darren ‘Daz’ Everest is the Essex boy of the band. He was born on 30 May 1981. Originally, he wanted to go into football, but had to stop when getting ill with glandular fever, so went into singing, after he discovered his love for it. Darren is the falsetto voice of the band. He got his ears pierced when he was 18 years old and owns around 64 ties and bowties. He married his longtime girlfriend Bianka on 20 September 2014.
Côr Curiad have a simple aim - to promote the Welsh language and culture of choral singing.
While the majority of members are bilingual, they have an open door policy and Welsh learners and non-Welsh speakers are very welcome.
Since its beginning in 1995, the choir has raised tens of thousands of pounds for local and national charities.
The choir has performed in Bath, St. David’s and Wells Cathedrals, the Millennium Theatre in Cardiff and the new Welsh Assembly Government Building in Cardiff Bay.
Côr Curiad is led Alex Esney-Davies.
The choir’s biggest achievement to date was in 2012, when, with the support of Rhydian Roberts (TV’s X Factor), a sell-out concert raised £16,500 for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
There are currently around 30 members, with an age range from 14 – 80-plus. There are several sets of mothers and daughters, sisters and even a set of twins in the line-up.
The ladies rehearse between 6.45 pm and 9pm every Thursday evening.
The rehearsal venue is at the school room at Hall Street Church, West End, Llanelli.
Other Côr Curiad dates are as follows –
September 9, concert in Glenalla Hall for Llanelli Town Council.
October 6 and 7, performing in Tamworth with new mixed choir.
Other events -
Ffwrnes will see the Clare Hammond Piano Recital on April 29.
Winner of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s ‘Young Artist Award’, pianist Clare Hammond gives a recital that warrants her “reputation for brilliantly imaginative concert programmes” (BBC Music Magazine).
Join her in exploring an enriching, inspiring music experience by Beethoven, Debussy, Fauré and Stravinsky alongside gems by Dutilleux, Jacquet de la Guerre and Kim Ashton.
May 4, at Ffwrnes, sees SnakeStrings.
This is a ground-breaking collaboration between sax maestro Snake Davis and an outstanding British string quartet, featuring peerless sax melody and classical strings in a fresh and innovative crossover of classical, pop, soul and jazz.
Acknowledged as one of the UK’s foremost saxophonists, the go-to guy for session work with the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, M-People and The Eurythmics, Snake Davis explores the emotive and uplifting registers of tenor, alto and soprano sax, shakuhachi and wood flute, in a glorious classical fusion.
Together, SnakeStrings bring a performance which is powerful, moving, and a delight to the senses.
The Last Night of the Proms 2017 takes place at Ffwrnes on June 24.
It’s a case of get your flags ready!
Join the 250-plus massed voices and musicians starring the massed choirs of Hywel Girls’ Choir and Hywel Boy Singers, Angelicus Chorale, Morriston RFC Choir , Llanelli Choral Society, British Sinfonietta, all under the legendary baton of John Hywel Williams MBE, for Wales’ exciting flag-waving extravaganza Last Night of the Proms.

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