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

Summer Soiree staged by Loud Applause Productions at Stradey Castle, featuring guests Parti Llwchwr ladies choir and Loud Applause Rising Stars Stephen Davies, Johnny Mansel Lewis, Cai Charles, Nia Rees and Ffion Elin Williams. Designed as a showcase for the musical stars of the future in Llanelli and billed as a ‘summer soiree’, this was an evening with a touch of class. As an intimate and dramatic venue, a packed Great Hall at Stradey Castle takes some beating. Add into the mix one of the finest ladies choirs in Wales, in the shape of Parti Llwchwr, and you have an event which doubled as a musical treat and one of the social events of the year in the Llanelli calendar. Who needs Glyndbourne when you can enjoy canapés, wine and refreshments on the terrace lawn of Stradey Castle? The sense of ‘occasion’ was provided from the outset as guests at this Loud Applause Rising Stars event were greeted by a glorious solo performance from harpist Ffion Elin Williams. At just 16, Ffion display...

The ‘Parti Llwchwr’ ladies choir from Loughor have expressed a very big 'diolch' thank-you to members of the public who supported their campaign in the prestigious televised Côr Cymru (Choir of Wales) competition. The grand final of the competition took place at Aberystwyth Arts Centre. It was screened live on S4C, the Welsh fourth channel, with a public vote for the best choir running side by side with a verdict from the competition judges. “It was a very exciting time for us and a very proud moment for all the choristers,” said choir member Mari Moscrop. “We are only a small choir, but we won our way through the final. "We didn't get the nod from the judges on the night, but we were delighted to be the 'People's Choice' and win the telephone vote on the night. "That success is down to the huge amount of support we had from West Wales and all over the rest of Wales." There was a further feather in the choir's cap as musical directo...

The ‘Parti Llwchwr’ ladies choir from Loughor will be flying the flag for West Wales in the prestigious televised Côr Cymru (Choir of Wales) competition. The grand final of the competition takes place at Aberystwyth Arts Centre next weekend, Sunday, April 19. It will be screened live on S4C, the Welsh fourth channel, with a public vote for the best choir running side by side with a verdict from the competition judges. “It’s a very exciting time for us,” said choir member Mari Moscrop. “We are only a small choir, but we have won our way through the final and we are very proud and delighted at our achievement so far. “It would be the icing on the cake to win the competition and we are hoping for a massive amount of local support in the public vote. “We hope everyone gets behind us as the local West Wales choir and casts their vote for us in the final. “The competition final is live on S4C, so ‘excited’ doesn’t really cover it as far as our feelings go for the competition. We’re very ne...

St David’s Day Concert at Ffwrnes. A Loud Applause production featuring The Three Welsh Tenors, the combined Côr Meibion Llanelli (Llanelli Male Choir) and Bridgend Male Choir, Parti Llwchwr, compere Garry Owen. It may be that the TV company next door to Llanelli’s swish new Ffwrnes Theatre missed a trick by not televising this St David’s Day concert. Tickets were like hot cakes and those lucky enough to get a seat were rewarded with a dazzling evening full of Welsh passion and hwyl. This was an evening worthy of recording for posterity and a great showcase for Wales as the land of song. The Three Welsh Tenors - Aled Hall, Alun Rhys-Jenkins and Rhys Meirion – never disappoint, but they were never going to be able to steal the show in the face of stiff competition from the combined choirs of Côr Meibion Llanelli (Llanelli Male Choir) and Bridgend Male Choir. They teamed up with the choirs for the finale of Tydi a Roddaist – ‘Amens’ which provided a spine-tingling climax to a great eve...

Côr Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas conjured up the festive spirit for the choir’s ‘Sing Christmas’ concert staged at Greenfield Chapel, Llanelli. Mr Thomas organised a show which cleverly blended audience participation on a number of Carols and Christmas favourites with choral treats from Côr Meibion Llanelli and their guests, Côr Baroc and Parti Llwchwr. It was a Christmas cracker of an evening, with musical treats galore culminating in a rousing Hallelujah chorus. Mr Thomas went into the choir’s back catalogue to serve up Song Of Hope from the choir’s 1983 album and provided another gem in Trysor y Crud (The treasure of the manger), a song written by the aunt of BBC newsreader Huw Edwards. Bethlehem from the musical Martin Guerre (written by the team behind Les Miserables) was given a good airing, while a further treat was provided by ‘Sut Nadolig bu eleni?’ (What sort of Christmas will it be?), a song written by former chorister Bryn Davies, of Llwynhe...