Gala concert in Llanelli to mark the centenary of the start of World War One
The concert is being staged by Llanelli Rotary Club in conjunction with the Royal British Legion and Loud Applause Productions.
It takes place at 7pm on Saturday, September 6, at Greenfield Chapel in Llanelli town centre.
The concert is in aid of the British Legion's Poppy Appeal in South West Wales.
"This is a very worthwhile charity and one we are delighted to be supporting," said the President of Llanelli Rotary Club Hywel Bassett.
"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 One 100th anniversary events throughout the country and abroad have touched all our hearts.
"With that in mind, we hope to stage a fitting commemoration of the start of the war in a special concert at Greenfield which brings together a whole host of talented artists.
"It promises to be an evening to remember. Tickets are going fast, so my advice to everyone is get a ticket quickly as this is one Llanelli event you don't want to miss."
Performing during the night will be Côr Meibion Llanelli, Côr Curiad, the 215 City of Swansea Corps of Drums and two young members of the 'Rising Stars' stable from Loud Applause Productions - Keely Morgan and Jordan Williams.
Andrew Pike will accompany on the organ and the evening will also feature readings from Monro Walters and Robert Lloyd.
Cerith Owens of Loud Applause Productions said: "The evening promises to stir the soul, leaving a lasting impression as a fitting remembrance of the sacrifices of the men and woman who served the country so courageously."
Tickets are available from members of Llanelli Rotary Club or the box offices at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, and the Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen.
Andrew J. Pike
Born and brought up in Llanelli, Andrew began piano and organ studies at an early age; by the age of 16 he held his first post as an organist.
Andrew was taught piano by both Mr Arthur Peckham and John Hywel Williams and later the organ by Clive Phillips.
Here began Andrew’s love of choral singing and the organ.
At university he developed his studies of piano, organ, and conducting under the tutelage of Malcolm Green and Timothy Lawford.
During this period, he made several recordings and broadcasts for national radio and television, as well as many recitals.
As an accomplished pianist and organist Andrew has travelled extensively across the UK and Europe accompanying choirs and soloists. As a recitalist he has also played many of the UK’s most famous organs.
Andrew for the last few years has been the musical director of the Kidwelly Festival Choir, raising the choir's profile locally.
One of his greatest skills is encouraging young people to play and sing and giving young people the opportunity to be able to perform.
As well as a busy work schedule, and playing career, Andrew is also the proud owner of the ex-Embassy Braintree mighty Christie cinema pipe organ.
Over the last few years, he has been involved in many organ restoration projects in an advisory capacity.
Keely Morgan
Keely is 16 and is in her last year of Bishopston Comprehensive School in Swansea.
Keely’s passion is classical and music theatre.
In the future, she aspires to study musical theatre and eventually fulfil her dream of performing on the West End stage.
Keely began her singing career at a very early age, making her first solo appearance at Swansea Grand Theatre at the age of eight.
Since then she has gone on to appear in three West End musical tours, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Doctor Dolittle, Joseph & His Technicolor Dream Coat, singing alongside Aled Jones and Tommy Steele.
Her acting roles have included ‘Doctor Who’, ‘Stella’ and ‘Upstairs, Downstairs’.
She recently played the young Adelina Patti on a recent documentary filmed by S4C. Keely is a member of the Youth Music Theatre UK and is honoured to have been invited back to take part in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, for the performance of ‘The Dark Tower’ later this year.
Keely has sung at numerous charity events, some of the most recent being Maggie’s Cancer Trust, Friends of the Welsh National Opera, Armed Forces Day, Chernobyl, Children Lifeline and most recently in an inaugural Gala Concert in Cwmtwrch. She has also represented Wales in a classical singing competition, for this achievement she received a letter from the Welsh Government congratulating her on her achievement.
She is also a member of The Mark Jermin Stage School, playing roles such as The Narrator in Joseph (Mark Jermin the story so far) and solo performance in Songs for a New World, her most recent role playing the part of Cosette in Les Miserables, at the Gwyn Hall Neath.
She is a valued member of the choir at Bishopston School and has sung in Holland and Belgium both with the choir and as a solo artist. During her time in Bishopston she has played roles such as Audrey in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ and Scaramouch in ‘We Will Rock You’.
Keely is a classically trained young soprano, and her vocal coaches have included the late Geoffrey Squires and Maggie Small.
Jordan Williams
Jordan is 17 and lives in Pembrey; he is a pupil at Ysgol Y Strade, Llanelli.
He has a mellow baritone voice which is remarkable for a man of his age.
To great acclaim earlier this year he played the role of the Phantom in SA15 production of ’Phantom of the Opera’ to packed audiences at Llanelli’s Ffwrnes Theatre.
Last year he played the role of ‘The Bishop’ in Les Miserable School Edition by SA15. He was a member of ‘Only Boys Aloud’ for three years and performed with them at Buckingham Palace and on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’.
Jordan is currently working towards his Grade 4 Piano and Grade 8 in Musical Theatre Singing.
Performances under Rising Stars this year included guest soloist in the Armed Forces Day event in Swansea and in the Annual Concert of Kidwelly Festival Choir and the well known lyrical tenor Trebor Edwards.
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