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 -
It’s been quite a year for Llanelli concert promoter and impresario Cerith Owens – and 2016 promises to be bigger and better.
Mr Owens has worked tirelessly during the year to develop his stable of ‘Rising Stars’ at Loud Applause Productions.
He explained: “I was already heavily involved in concert promotion in Llanelli, but I could see the need to provide different platforms to help develop young talent in the area.
“We’ve got so many talented youngsters in the area and they all need careful tuition and mentoring to fulfil their potential.
“My core idea was to provide them with ‘gentle’ introductions to concert stage – and it seems to have worked a treat.
“Many of the Rising Stars team are now familiar figures on bigger concert stages – Samuel Morris, Daniella Difede, Keely Morgan and Jordan Williams, for example.
“They will continue to develop further over the next year and at the same time we are helping to nurture other talented youngsters who will be names to watch for the coming year.”
Among the singers in the Rising Stars team are Nia Rees and JohnnyMansel Lewis.
Nia Rees is currently studying Music at City University London where she will receive vocal tuition from the acclaimed Guildhall School of Music.
Nia has sung in many prestigious events, the highlight being the First Night of The Proms at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms Youth Choir.
She has also sung Verdi’s Requiem at the St David’s Hall Cardiff as part of the St David’s Day Concert broadcasted live on Radio 3. She is a past member of the National Youth Choir of Wales.
Nia has also sung in many competitions as part of choirs, winning at the Urdd Eisteddfod and the People’s Vote in Côr Cymru. She has also sung at the International Eisteddfod, the BBC Songs of Praise Choir of the Year and many other musical events.
Nia has attended the National Youth Musical Theatre Company in London. She has also appeared in several musicals including National award winning productions of Beauty and the Beast and Pirates of Penzance.
Johnny Mansel Lewis, aged 21, grew up in Llandeilo and studied psychology at Plymouth University.
His singing career began with a classical focus, in his lower and upper 6th form at Shrewsbury school where he sang in the choir, featured in a number of concerts, starred as Zidler in the school musical production of ‘West Side Story’ and sang the part of Aeneas in a showcase of the opera ‘Dido and Aeneas’.
At University he starred in the musical ‘The Wedding Singer’ playing the role of ‘Robbie Hart’ and more recently took the supporting role of ‘Stride’ in the performance of ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ – both performances were produced by the university’s ‘Musical Theatre Society’.
He was the resident singer at the University’s ‘Big Band’ for three years, performing with the 30-piece Brass and Woodwind ensemble across the whole south west of England.
The Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers and their conductor John Hywel Williams will finish off a successful 2015 on a busy yet high note.
On Saturday December 19, the Hywel Choir will host the landmark ‘Great Christmas Fantasia’– its annual winter performance which has been a sell-out since July.
The festive extravaganza will feature 250-plus singers and musicans with the massed voices of the Hywel Choir, Angelicus Chorale, Llanelli Choral Society and the historic Hywel Choir Reunion Chorus and the symphonic sounds of the British Sinfonietta Orchestra. Legendary pop sensation Brotherhood of Man will return to Wales to rekindle musical memories with their singing teacher John Hywel and their childhood times with the Hywel Choir.
In true Hywel Choir tradition, there will be exciting twists and turns throughout the night from giant 250-cast renditions of Holy Night and Joy to the World to poignant lantern lit nativity choral scenes with live donkeys, from the rare opportunity of seeing past and present Hywel choristers spanning six decades unite for a poignant tribute performance in the memory of Jean Hywel to a first time ever joint rendition of the Eurovision winning song Save your Kisses for Me when Brotherhood of Man and the Hywel choristers unite for a fun, ticker tape explosive performance!
BBC Wales has been recording the preparations for the exciting event and ITV cameras will be swooping into Llanelli for interviews with John Hywel and choristers and to film final rehearsals and highlights of the show itself as part of a Christmas tribute to Jean Hywel and John Hywel Williams.
On Sunday December 20, the Hywel Choristers will be the star guests at the ever popular Christmas Gala Concert at the Brangwyn Hall hosted by the Salvation Army.
Plans for the new year for the Hywel choristers will include an exclusive night of music with the acclaimed Lesley Garrett and Gary Griffiths, the momentous Last Night of the Proms with the British Sinfonietta and the giant 200 voice chorus of the Dunvant Male Choir, Llanelli Choral Society and Hywel Choir, performing at St. David’s Cathedral and the recording of their latest album ENCORE.
But there’s more than singing to the Hywel Choir. On December 22, the choir will launch its Operation Christmas Kindness which will see choristers dash around the region delivering surprise gifts to unsuspecting strangers in need of a little Christmas kindness – putting the spirit of Christmas into action.
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
It’s been quite a year for Llanelli concert promoter and impresario Cerith Owens – and 2016 promises to be bigger and better.
Mr Owens has worked tirelessly during the year to develop his stable of ‘Rising Stars’ at Loud Applause Productions.
He explained: “I was already heavily involved in concert promotion in Llanelli, but I could see the need to provide different platforms to help develop young talent in the area.
“We’ve got so many talented youngsters in the area and they all need careful tuition and mentoring to fulfil their potential.
“My core idea was to provide them with ‘gentle’ introductions to concert stage – and it seems to have worked a treat.
“Many of the Rising Stars team are now familiar figures on bigger concert stages – Samuel Morris, Daniella Difede, Keely Morgan and Jordan Williams, for example.
“They will continue to develop further over the next year and at the same time we are helping to nurture other talented youngsters who will be names to watch for the coming year.”
Among the singers in the Rising Stars team are Nia Rees and JohnnyMansel Lewis.
Nia Rees is currently studying Music at City University London where she will receive vocal tuition from the acclaimed Guildhall School of Music.
Nia has sung in many prestigious events, the highlight being the First Night of The Proms at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms Youth Choir.
She has also sung Verdi’s Requiem at the St David’s Hall Cardiff as part of the St David’s Day Concert broadcasted live on Radio 3. She is a past member of the National Youth Choir of Wales.
Nia has also sung in many competitions as part of choirs, winning at the Urdd Eisteddfod and the People’s Vote in Côr Cymru. She has also sung at the International Eisteddfod, the BBC Songs of Praise Choir of the Year and many other musical events.
Nia has attended the National Youth Musical Theatre Company in London. She has also appeared in several musicals including National award winning productions of Beauty and the Beast and Pirates of Penzance.
Johnny Mansel Lewis, aged 21, grew up in Llandeilo and studied psychology at Plymouth University.
His singing career began with a classical focus, in his lower and upper 6th form at Shrewsbury school where he sang in the choir, featured in a number of concerts, starred as Zidler in the school musical production of ‘West Side Story’ and sang the part of Aeneas in a showcase of the opera ‘Dido and Aeneas’.
At University he starred in the musical ‘The Wedding Singer’ playing the role of ‘Robbie Hart’ and more recently took the supporting role of ‘Stride’ in the performance of ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ – both performances were produced by the university’s ‘Musical Theatre Society’.
He was the resident singer at the University’s ‘Big Band’ for three years, performing with the 30-piece Brass and Woodwind ensemble across the whole south west of England.
The Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers and their conductor John Hywel Williams will finish off a successful 2015 on a busy yet high note.
On Saturday December 19, the Hywel Choir will host the landmark ‘Great Christmas Fantasia’– its annual winter performance which has been a sell-out since July.
The festive extravaganza will feature 250-plus singers and musicans with the massed voices of the Hywel Choir, Angelicus Chorale, Llanelli Choral Society and the historic Hywel Choir Reunion Chorus and the symphonic sounds of the British Sinfonietta Orchestra. Legendary pop sensation Brotherhood of Man will return to Wales to rekindle musical memories with their singing teacher John Hywel and their childhood times with the Hywel Choir.
In true Hywel Choir tradition, there will be exciting twists and turns throughout the night from giant 250-cast renditions of Holy Night and Joy to the World to poignant lantern lit nativity choral scenes with live donkeys, from the rare opportunity of seeing past and present Hywel choristers spanning six decades unite for a poignant tribute performance in the memory of Jean Hywel to a first time ever joint rendition of the Eurovision winning song Save your Kisses for Me when Brotherhood of Man and the Hywel choristers unite for a fun, ticker tape explosive performance!
BBC Wales has been recording the preparations for the exciting event and ITV cameras will be swooping into Llanelli for interviews with John Hywel and choristers and to film final rehearsals and highlights of the show itself as part of a Christmas tribute to Jean Hywel and John Hywel Williams.
On Sunday December 20, the Hywel Choristers will be the star guests at the ever popular Christmas Gala Concert at the Brangwyn Hall hosted by the Salvation Army.
Plans for the new year for the Hywel choristers will include an exclusive night of music with the acclaimed Lesley Garrett and Gary Griffiths, the momentous Last Night of the Proms with the British Sinfonietta and the giant 200 voice chorus of the Dunvant Male Choir, Llanelli Choral Society and Hywel Choir, performing at St. David’s Cathedral and the recording of their latest album ENCORE.
But there’s more than singing to the Hywel Choir. On December 22, the choir will launch its Operation Christmas Kindness which will see choristers dash around the region delivering surprise gifts to unsuspecting strangers in need of a little Christmas kindness – putting the spirit of Christmas into action.
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