The latest 'On Song' column from the Llanelli Star
The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star -
Côr Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas has made a passionate plea for singers to make ‘joining a choir’ their New Year’s Resolution for 2015.
Mr Thomas is also the conductor of the Côr Baroc mixed choir in Llanelli, a town which has a rich and fascinating musical heritage.
Mr Thomas said: “During my 37-year teaching career, I had the honour and pleasure of forming school choirs which were able to perform music of a very high standard - from the very first Christmas Concert by Furnace Primary School in 1967.
“I recall the boys’ choir at Coleshill Secondary Modern School which sang at Llangollen International Eisteddfod in 1972 and at the annual prize-givings held at Tabernacle Chapel in Llanelli ; the choir at Burry Port Boys' Primary School in 1978/79, which sang so beautifully at the combined schools concert in the Memorial Hall; the Halfway Primary School choir of 1987/88 which produced the cassette ;Gloria’ on the SAIN label; the Halfway School Choir which performed on many occasions at Theatr Elli; and the Halfway School Choir which took part in a concert performance of Verdi’s opera Nabucco in 1994.
“All this rich heritage draws attention to the fact we have a wealth of choral singing talent in Llanelli.
“To keep that rich heritage going, we all need to encourage people to consider joining the choral societies which abound in our town.
“The joy of singing together in a choir cannot be measured entirely in practical terms. It is something for the soul. It is something which encourages a feeling of well-being within the singer. It is something which elevates one to a higher plane of existence when attempting to create those sounds which the composer heard as he/she created the original manuscript.
“Then there is the camaraderie and friendship which abounds within a choral group and the sense of achievement created when you see this transmitted to a listening audience at a concert.
“If you have not sung in a choir since your schooldays, why not take up the challenge of joining a choir during the coming year by contacting 01554 741027 or 01554 770751.
“My personal invitation to you is to join Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Choir or my mixed-voices choir Côr Baroc. But my aim also is to promote and raise awareness of all the choirs which exist in our town.
“Côr Meibion Llanelli has had the honour of taking the name of Llanelli to countries worldwide. I invite everyone to help us perpetuate the town’s proud choral tradition by joining us as choristers so that we can say with complete confidence for the future, ‘Ymlaen Llanelli – Forward Llanelli’.”
Two contrasting concerts in Kidwelly will soon cheer up peoples lives in the dismal months of January and February.
On January 24th at the Princess Gwenllian Hall , beginning at 7.30 pm., the Cwmbach Male Voice Choir from Aberdare will be singing. This fine choir will be joined by young instrumentalists from Carmarthenshire for an evening of entertainment.
On February 21st at 7.30 in St Mary’s Church, Kidwelly, the brass section of the Royal Welsh College of Music, Cardiff, will be performing. This outstanding group of musicians will play a wide variety of music from Glen Miller to Handel and Purcell.
Tickets will be available on the door and from the Council offices, mornings only, Tel. 0154 891104. E-mail towncouncil@kidwelly.gov.uk
Local residents can buy from Cydweli 900 committee members
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.
Tickets at £27.50 for Premium seats and £22.50 for Standard seats are available from Anyone Waiting either at the Halfway Hotel , Pemberton, Llanelli, from the concert venue at the Selwyn Samuel Centre, Park Crescent, Llanelli, or by telephone on 01554 753571.
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 Choir will also be found “busking” for Calon Plus at local Tesco stores in the lead up to Christmas. The Anniversary Concert will be the culmination of a year of fundraising and with Paul Potts as our Guest Star we are anticipating a huge demand for tickets. We are working closely with Paul Francis of Anyone Waiting to host the event at the refurbished Selwyn Samuel Centre. Paul has been immensely helpful and supportive and will be the focus for ticket sales.”
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
Côr Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas has made a passionate plea for singers to make ‘joining a choir’ their New Year’s Resolution for 2015.
Mr Thomas is also the conductor of the Côr Baroc mixed choir in Llanelli, a town which has a rich and fascinating musical heritage.
Mr Thomas said: “During my 37-year teaching career, I had the honour and pleasure of forming school choirs which were able to perform music of a very high standard - from the very first Christmas Concert by Furnace Primary School in 1967.
“I recall the boys’ choir at Coleshill Secondary Modern School which sang at Llangollen International Eisteddfod in 1972 and at the annual prize-givings held at Tabernacle Chapel in Llanelli ; the choir at Burry Port Boys' Primary School in 1978/79, which sang so beautifully at the combined schools concert in the Memorial Hall; the Halfway Primary School choir of 1987/88 which produced the cassette ;Gloria’ on the SAIN label; the Halfway School Choir which performed on many occasions at Theatr Elli; and the Halfway School Choir which took part in a concert performance of Verdi’s opera Nabucco in 1994.
“All this rich heritage draws attention to the fact we have a wealth of choral singing talent in Llanelli.
“To keep that rich heritage going, we all need to encourage people to consider joining the choral societies which abound in our town.
“The joy of singing together in a choir cannot be measured entirely in practical terms. It is something for the soul. It is something which encourages a feeling of well-being within the singer. It is something which elevates one to a higher plane of existence when attempting to create those sounds which the composer heard as he/she created the original manuscript.
“Then there is the camaraderie and friendship which abounds within a choral group and the sense of achievement created when you see this transmitted to a listening audience at a concert.
“If you have not sung in a choir since your schooldays, why not take up the challenge of joining a choir during the coming year by contacting 01554 741027 or 01554 770751.
“My personal invitation to you is to join Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Choir or my mixed-voices choir Côr Baroc. But my aim also is to promote and raise awareness of all the choirs which exist in our town.
“Côr Meibion Llanelli has had the honour of taking the name of Llanelli to countries worldwide. I invite everyone to help us perpetuate the town’s proud choral tradition by joining us as choristers so that we can say with complete confidence for the future, ‘Ymlaen Llanelli – Forward Llanelli’.”
Two contrasting concerts in Kidwelly will soon cheer up peoples lives in the dismal months of January and February.
On January 24th at the Princess Gwenllian Hall , beginning at 7.30 pm., the Cwmbach Male Voice Choir from Aberdare will be singing. This fine choir will be joined by young instrumentalists from Carmarthenshire for an evening of entertainment.
On February 21st at 7.30 in St Mary’s Church, Kidwelly, the brass section of the Royal Welsh College of Music, Cardiff, will be performing. This outstanding group of musicians will play a wide variety of music from Glen Miller to Handel and Purcell.
Tickets will be available on the door and from the Council offices, mornings only, Tel. 0154 891104. E-mail towncouncil@kidwelly.gov.uk
Local residents can buy from Cydweli 900 committee members
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.
Tickets at £27.50 for Premium seats and £22.50 for Standard seats are available from Anyone Waiting either at the Halfway Hotel , Pemberton, Llanelli, from the concert venue at the Selwyn Samuel Centre, Park Crescent, Llanelli, or by telephone on 01554 753571.
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 Choir will also be found “busking” for Calon Plus at local Tesco stores in the lead up to Christmas. The Anniversary Concert will be the culmination of a year of fundraising and with Paul Potts as our Guest Star we are anticipating a huge demand for tickets. We are working closely with Paul Francis of Anyone Waiting to host the event at the refurbished Selwyn Samuel Centre. Paul has been immensely helpful and supportive and will be the focus for ticket sales.”
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
Comments