Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in Carmarthenshire) from the Carmarthen Journal and Llanelli Star - The wonderful ladies of Côr Curiad have an exciting 2017 planned. The highlight will be the September 2 concert at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, with The Overtones. The night will conclude Côr Curiad’s two-year fundraising efforts for Ty Bryngwyn Hospice in Llanelli. The choristers 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 propell...

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star - Chwarae Teg . . . fair play. You’ve got to take your hat off to the ladies of the inspirational Llanelli choir Côr Curiad. They believe in going for gold with their charity concerts. Côr Curiad’s choristers will be welcoming Britain’s Got Talent winners Collabro to Llanelli’s Ffwrnes Theatre on Saturday, May 14. And the event has been a ‘full-house’ sell-out for months, with proceeds from the event going towards one of Llanelli’s most popular charitable causes, the Ty Bryngwyn Hospice adjacent to Prince Philip Hospital. Côr Curiad, formed in 1995, is led by Alex Esney-Davies, supported by accompanist Jane Jewell. The aim of the choir is to enjoy singing together, give pleasure to audiences and raise money for charity. 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 C...

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star - You’ve got to take your hat off to the ladies of Côr Curiad. They believe in going for gold with their charity concerts. 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. Côr Curiad, formed in 1995, is led Alex Esney-Davies, supported by accompanist Jane Jewell. The aim of the choir is to enjoy singing together, give pleasure to audiences and raise money for charity. 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. Last year, the choir celebrated their 20th anniversary. The year saw a memorable gala ...

Côr Curiad Llanelli 20th anniversary celebration concert with Paul Potts, Jordan Williams and Burry Port Town Band at the Selwyn Samuel Centre, Llanelli. For such a shy and retiring guy, Paul Potts knows how to make big statements on the stage. His guest appearance for Côr Curiad’s anniversary took off like a jet-fighter on afterburn as he launched himself into Lara’s classic Granada. It was a ‘full-on’ rendition which left the full house at Llanelli’s Selwyn Samuel Centre gasping for breath. The Paul Potts engine was working on full throttle and he served up a first-half set which included no less than seven different songs. The magnificent seven, which kicked off with Granada, included Nino Rota’s love theme from the film Romeo and Juliet, Non ti scoradar di mi by Ernesto de Curtis, What A Wonderful World, Vesti La Guibba by Ruggeriero Leoncavallo and Caruso by Lucio Dalla. The surprise item was a cover of Home by the Foo Fighters, a song which features on the new album of th...

Popular 'Rising Star' 17-year-old Jordan Williams has been added to the bill for next month's big Paul Potts show in Llanelli. Cor Curiad’s 20th Anniversary Celebration Concert Selwyn Samuel Centre, Llanelli 25th April 2015 Artistes: Paul Potts Cor Curiad Burry Port Band Jordan Williams Kevin Johns  Ysgol Y Strade pupil Jordan has been catapulted to the limelight especially over the past year. It all started with a leading role as the Phantom in Llanelli’s SA15 Stage School production of the Phantom of the Opera.  This followed with numerous praiseworthy appearances on the concert stage. Jordan’s appearances have included prestigious events such as in the Llanelli Rotary Club’s World War I Gala Concert, the Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance at the Brangwyn Hall, the Annual Concert of Kidwelly Festival Choir, at private functions in Llanelly House and Stradey Castle and at last year’s Civic Service of Llanelli’s Town Mayor. Jordan Williams is one of th...

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star - The ladies of Côr Curiad are getting very excited about their special anniversary concert with Paul Potts on Saturday, April 25. The concert also features Eisteddfod winning Burry Port Town Band and will be hosted by Swansea Sound Radio Presenter Kevin Johns MBE. The concert will be in aid of Calon Plus, the Cardiac rehabilitation support service at Prince Philip Hospital and will be held at the Selwyn Samuel Centre. Choir Chair Andrea Matthews said: “The choir adopts a different charity each year to benefit from our fundraising efforts. For our Anniversary Year the ladies have chosen Calon Plus as our charity as we want local people to benefit from our efforts. The ladies have already been busy fundraising. We have had a sponsored walk from Llanelli to Burry Port, fundraising social evenings and a Fashion Show and Craft Fayre at the Diplomat Hotel. The choristers also did ...

The programme for this World War One centenary concert staged by Llanelli Rotary Club carried the bold letters, 'Lest we forget'. The words were foremost in everyone's minds (musicians, singers, narrators and audience members) as a supremely fitting commemoration was staged at Greenfield Chapel, Llanelli. It was an evening which tugged at the heart strings and brought a tear to many eyes. It was a concert which told the story of World War One, with sensitive narration of poetry and prose linking the choral contributions. The concert was in aid of the British Legion's Poppy Appeal in South West Wales. The President of Llanelli Rotary Club Hywel Bassett opened the proceedings and explained: "As a Rotary Club, we will soon be approaching our own 100th anniversary in Llanelli and we wanted to pay our own unique tribute to those who died during the war, those who were injured and those who took part, both at home and abroad. "The World War On...

The latest 'On Song' column about the choral scene in Llanelli (sadly, not used by the Llanelli Star today) -  All eyes will be on the ‘Night With The Stars’ event at Ffwrnes theatre, Llanelli, on Saturday, November 16. The concert will be in aid of Wales’s pancreatic cancer charity Amser Justin Time and is a sell-out. Shan Cothi, who set up the charity in memory of her late husband, will be headlining the evening. Shan will be joined by the very popular baritone Mark Llewelyn Evans. Mark will be performing some songs from his new album ‘This Guy’s in Love’. The two stars will be supported by Côr Meibion Llanelli, making a welcome return to the theatre after their popular ‘annual concert’. Also performing will be the young up-and-coming musical theatre star Samuel Morris. Meanwhile, the ladies of Côr Curiad are off on tour! Choir spokesman Andrea Matthews said: “We are off to Tamworth to sing at Tamworth Male Voice Choir’s Annual Concert on Saturday at the Assembly Rooms in Tam...

The latest 'On Song' column from the Llanelli Star - The ladies of Côr Curiad have a busy autumn schedule lined-up just as they move into their new rehearsal rooms at the Lantern Room at Hall Street Church, Llanelli. Côr Curiad will be rehearsing at the Lantern Room from tomorrow (Thursday, October 3), 7pm. The choir members are grateful to Llanelli Public Library for allowing them rehearsal space while the Lantern Room works were carried out. Autumn engagements for Côr Curiad include a concert at St John Lloyd School on Thursday, October 24. On Saturday, October 26, the choir will be entertaining the Cooperative Society at their annual general meeting at Ffos Las racecourse in Carway. The choir members are grateful to the Cooperative Society for their kind grant of funds. On November 15, 16 and 17, the choir will be off to Tamworth in Staffordshire in The Midlands to visit and sing with old friends at Tamworth Male Voice Choir. Choir spokesman Andrew Matthews said: “Th...

The latest 'On Song' column from the Llanelli Star -  The ladies of Côr Curiad are excited at the move into new rehearsal rooms at the Lantern Room at Hall Street Church, Llanelli. While work has been carried out on the Hall Street Church, the ladies have been busy rehearsing at Llanelli Public Library. This week’s Thursday rehearsal has been called off. But next week, October 3, the choir members will be in their new ‘home’ in the Lantern Room, starting at 7pm. The ladies of Côr Curiad are looking forward to their ‘winter tour’ to Tamworth in Staffordshire. The choristers will be the guests of Tamworth Male Voice Choir on the weekend of November 15-17. Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi have an ‘away trip’ this Friday (September 27) when they travel up the M4 motorway for a concert with Swindon Male Voice Choir. Derrick Rowlands, secretary of Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi, said: “It’s been a busy start to the autumn season for the choir and the ‘boys’ are looking forward to a great evening i...

The latest 'On Song' column from the Llanelli Star -  The ladies of Côr Curiad are looking forward to their ‘winter tour’ to Tamworth in Staffordshire. The choristers will be the guests of Tamworth Male Voice Choir on the weekend of November 15-17. Choir spokesman Andrea Matthews said: “The choristers of Côr Curiad and Tamworth Male Voice are old friends and this will be our third visit to Staffordshire. “We always get a great welcome in Tamworth and the ladies and really looking forward to the trip.” Côr Curiad, formed in 1995, is led Alex Esney-Davies, supported by accompanist Jane Jewell. The aim of the choir is to enjoy singing together, give pleasure to audiences and raise money for charity. 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 ...

The new 'On Song' column for the Llanelli Star -   It was a case of young and old celebrating at the Centenary Concert staged by Halfway Primary School. The stars of the show were the young singers from Halfway. But they received a helping hand from the older generation, in the shape of Côr Meibion Llanelli (Llanelli Male Voice Choir). The concert marked a special occasion for Côr Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas. He was headmaster of Halfway School until his retirement eight years ago after completing more than 20 years teaching at the school. "It was a great treat and an honour for me to be taking the stage with Côr Meibion Llanelli as I have such very fond memories of my time at Halfway School," said Mr Thomas. The stage was also shared by former Halfway pupil Laura Morris, a soprano who currently works as a music teacher at Penyrheol School, Gorseinon. "It was wonderful to hear Laura singing. She was excellent and her singing was g...

Rhydian Roberts, Côr Curiad and Côr Meibion Llanelli, Selwyn Samuel Centre, Llanelli. They came from as far away as Scotland. Some came from North Lincolnshire, Southampton and Brighton. There were even a couple of hundred from Felinfoel! The Rhydian Roberts Fan Club must be as well travelled as the Llanelli’s Scarlets rugby team. They certainly made sure that visiting Munster rugby fans had their work cut out trying to find a spare hotel room in Llanelli on Saturday night. For the first time, the ‘Full House’ notices went up at the Selwyn Samuel Centre in Llanelli, with 1,200 packed into the bowls hall. The gala concert had been arranged by the ladies of Côr Curiad to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust, with a cheque for an amazing £14,000 being handed over on the night. The classically-trained Rhydian, hero of X Factor and much more besides, made a grand entrance with a dramatic rendition of the Tom Jones classic Thunderball, from the James Bond film of the same name. Rhydian...

Rhydian Roberts, of TV's X Factor, will be taking the stage with two of Llanelli's leading choirs this weekend. The concert has been arranged by Côr Curiad as a fund-raiser for the Teenage Cancer Trust Cardiff Unit. It takes place at the Selwyn Samuel Centre, Llanelli, on Saturday, April 21. The evening will be compered by Swansea Sound personality Kevin Johns MBE and will also feature Côr Meibion Llanelli. Tickets are available at Llanelli Library and from George Lewis, Market Precinct Llanelli. There are only a few £17 tickets left. Côr Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas said he was looking forward to a great evening's entertainment. He added: "All the Côr Meibion Llanelli choristers have been looking forward to this event and it is for a very worthy cause." Côr Curiad is a ladies choir based in Llanelli. The aim of the choir is to promote the Welsh language and the culture of choral singing. Côr Curiad’s youngest m...