Côr Meibion Llanelli to shine in Kidwelly showroom
Côr Meibion Llanelli
members are well accustomed to chalking up firsts, but their next concert will
be a little out of the ordinary for even the hardened veterans of the choir.
The venue will be the car showroom at the Gravells
dealership in Kidwelly.
“We’ve performed all over the world and at some
astonishing concert venues, but I think this will be the first time we have
performed in a car showroom,” said choir secretary Fred Elias.
“Having said that, Gravells in Kidwelly is no
ordinary car showroom. It’s a swish venue and I am sure the surroundings will
lend themselves to it being a hugely successful concert.”
The concert, on Saturday,
February 18, will be in aid of TS Echo Llanelli, the Llanelli Sea Cadets
Training Ship. Llanelli Sea Cadets are celebrating
their 70th anniversary this year.
The event starts at 7pm
start and the guest soloist is soprano Joy Cornock.
The showroom has been
set aside for the concert by kind permission of the choir’s president, Mr David
Gravell.
The Gravells name is,
of course, well known throughout South Wales for being dealers in Renault, Kia,
Subaru and Isuzu vehicles.
Choir secretary Mr
Elias added: “It promises to be a memorable evening in very spectacular
surroundings and we hope to do our level best to raise money for the sea
cadets, a very worthy cause.”
Key facts about Côr
Meibion Llanelli
- Côr Meibion Llanelli was
formed in the village of Bynea under the baton of the late Denver Phillips
BA. in 1964.
- The choir’s
longest-serving music director is the present holder of the baton, D Eifion
Thomas, who has helped the choir grow in stature and strength to become
one of the leading male choirs in Britain.
- They have
been successful at all the major choral competitions that Wales has to
offer.
- The honours
list includes five National Eisteddfod first prizes - at Lampeter in 1984,
Fishguard in 1986, Llandeilo in 1996, Bridgend in 1998 and Llanelli in
2000.
- The
roll-call of wins also records seven firsts at the Miners Eisteddfod at
Porthcawl, six firsts at Cardigan and three Pontrhydfendigaid
"Eisteddfodau".
- The choir
was successful in winning the Corwen Choral Competition at its first
attempt in 1987.
- The
Llanelli Male Choir has graced many leading auditoriums and concert halls
in the land - London's Royal Albert Hall and Festival Hall, Birmingham's
Town and Symphony Halls, Oxford Town Hall, Plymouth's Guild Hall, The
MacRoberts Centre at Stirling, as well as Cardiff's St David's Hall and
Swansea's Brangwyn Hall.
- Cathedrals
have also featured high on the choir’s touring list - Coventry, Bury St
Edmunds, Wells, Brecon, Gloucester, St David's and Llandaff cathedrals have
been concert venues, as well as Westminster Abbey.
- The choir
has travelled extensively throughout the world – Germany, Canada, USA.
France, Ireland, Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand.
- The
choristers have thousands of pounds for charities such as Cancer and Leukaemia
Research, The Red Cross, Heart Foundation and Tenovus as well as local
charities and school groups.
- The choir’s
future is secure and their motto of "Ymlaen Llanelli" will
surely hold the choristers in good stead for another 40 years!
- The choir
rehearses twice weekly on Monday and Thursday evenings at Furnace
Community Hall, 7pm start. Visitors and new members are welcome.
About Joy Cornock:
Soprano Joy Cornock is a regular
soloist in recitals and concerts around the UK, Spain, Germany and Ireland.
Joy has been a faithful member of
the Côr Newyddion Da, performing at the Royal Albert Hall, London, The Cardiff
International Arena as well as many parts of Europe.
She has appeared on television on
numerous occasions including being a soloist on the S4C programmes Dechrau Canu
Dechrau Canmol, Noson Lawen and Wedi 3.
Future Côr Meibion
Llanelli events –
Thursday, March 1 – St David’s Day concert in
Twickenham for the Mayor of Richmond’s charity, 7pm start.
Saturday, March 3 – Concert to mark St David’s Day
at Theatr Elli, Llanelli, 7pm start.
Friday, March 9 – Wedding at the Stradey Park Hotel
for Byron Thomas’s daughter. 4pm.
Friday,March 16 – Gala concert at Parc y Scarlets,
7pm start, featuring tenor Wynne Evans and Only Men Aloud (tbc).
Saturday, April 21 – Cor Curiad concert at the
Selwyn Samuel Centre, Llanelli, 7pm start, featuring Rhydian (tbc).
Saturday, April 28 – Concert at the Royal Welsh
Showground in Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, 7pm start.
Saturday, May 26 – Concert at Rhayader Leisure
Centre, 7pm start.
Saturday, June 9 – Pontarddulais Town Band annual
concert, 7pm start.
Saturday, June 30 – Wedding for Peter Thomas’s
daughter, time tbc.
Saturday, June 30 – Annual concert at the Selwyn
Samuel Centre, Llanelli, 7pm start.
Saturday, July 7 – Gala Concert at Theatr Elli,
Llanelli (final concert at Theatr Elli).
Saturday, August 1 – 2012 Royal National Eisteddfod
of Wales in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan.
Weblinks –
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