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

Two members of the Loud Applause Productions 'Rising Stars' team are on their way to The Netherlands to sing at a prestigious event. Thomas Bytheway (above) and Callum Rhys Williams (top) will join Loud Applause Ambassador Mark Llewellyn Evans at special events in the famous town of s'Hertogenbosch. The town has great links with Wales from World War Two and always includes Welsh artistes in concerts designed to mark the wartime liberation of the town. On the 22nd October 1944, the 53rd Welsh Division returned southwards from Nijmegen to capture the town of s'Hertogenbosch. For the next five days it was involved in some brutal fighting advancing to and then capturing the town. The 53rd Division finally liberated s'Hertogenbosch on the 27th October. Loud Applause Rising Stars (LARS) were honoured to receive an invite to perform in the town on the 26th and 27th October. They will join events under the baton of the conductor of the s'Hertogenbosch m...

Friends of Loud Applause Rising Stars launch night at Llanelly House There must have been many nights like this is in the rich Georgian history of Llanelly House. But few would have featured such a dazzling array of young talent. Cerith Owens already has a fine reputation in Llanelli and the rest of South Wales for promoting major concerts and charitable events through his Loud Applause Productions team. Now, Mr Owens has branched out by launching the Loud Applause Rising Stars charity and the Friends of Loud Applause Rising Stars. The Rising Stars brand aims to mentor and encourage young talent in South Wales and provide performance opportunities for singers and musicians. “It’s all about spotting young talent and then encouraging youngsters to fulfil their potential,” said Mr Owens. His launch night for the Friends of Loud Applause Rising Stars saw established young singers and new faces take the ‘stage’ at Llanelly House. Keely Morgan and Jordan Williams are two perform...

It was a night to remember – and a night for Remembrance. ‘A Night With The Stars’ at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, was an occasion for showcasing up-and-coming talent – the stars of the future - in Llanelli. And, with a clever change of mood and gear, it also served as on occasion for Remembrance, with an emotional Tribute To the Fallen in the second half of the programme. The event was designed to provide a platform for members of the Loud Applause Rising Stars team to show off their talents. With the sterling support of the Morriston Orpheus Choir, they did just that. Samuel Morris, Jordan Williams, Daniella Difede and Keely Morgan now seem like fully-established and rounded performers in their own right thanks to the nurturing of the Rising Stars programme. They practically have their own fan clubs – and they didn’t disappoint on a night when there was stiff competition for best performer of the night. Sophie Maliphant and Callum Howells (runaway winner of the ‘suit of the night’ ba...

A Night with the Stars A Loud Applause Production Saturday November 7th 7.00pm Ffwrnes, Llanelli Tickets from £16.00 Loud Applause Productions Annual Showcase Gala Concert promises once again to be a wonderful evening of entertainment. Featuring talented up and coming singers and instrumentalists from South West Wales ‘the Loud Applause Rising Stars’ along with seasoned and professional performers. The ‘Rising Stars’ are now becoming familar names and include vocalists Samuel Morris, Jordan Williams, Daniella Difede, Keely Morgan, Sophie Maliphant, Angharad Elise Thomas and Nia Rees accompanied by Andrew J. Pike and Rhiannon Williams Hale. A new feature to the Rising Stars are instrumentalists who will be represented by Cai Charles (guitar), Ffion Elin Williams (harp) and Rhodri Thomas (trombone). Appearing with the Rising Stars will be the highly talented jazz singer from Birmingham Anthony Marsden and, back by popular demand, the world famous Morriston Orpheus C...

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 latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star - Llanelli-based concert promoter Cerith Owens is continuing to expand his stable of ‘Rising Stars’ – young singers making their mark in the South West wales area with Loud Applause Productions. A recent addition to the Loud Applause Rising Stars stable is Johnny Mansel Lewis, aged 21, from Stradey Castle, Llanelli. Johnny grew up in Llandeilo is a third year student at Plymouth University studying psychology. 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’. Since being at University he has starred in the musical ‘The Wedding Singer’ playing the role of ‘Robbie Hart’ and more recently took the supporting role of ‘Stride’ in ...

The latest 'On Song' column (about the choral scene in and around Llanelli) from the Llanelli Star - It’s always refreshing to see youngsters making their mark in the world of song. This week, it’s time to shine the spotlight on Jordan Williams, who has had a busy few weeks. He’s performed at engagements at Llanelly House and at the very emotional St David’s Day concert staged in Carmarthen to raise funds for the Cameron Comey and Rescue Teams Fund. The concert was full of emotion as the search of missing 11-year-old Cameron was continuing at the time. Jordan performed Tell My Father and Anfonaf Angel – and it’s fair to say there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Jordan is 17 and lives in Pembrey. He is a pupil at Ysgol Y Strade, Llanelli. He is also part of the growing ‘stable’ of talented youngsters being put together by Loud Applause Productions director Cerith Owens. Mr Owens has called his youngsters Loud Applause’s Rising Stars. Jordan has a mellow baritone voice which is re...

Popular 'Rising Star' 17-year-old Jordan Williams has been added to the bill for next month's big Paul Potts show in Llanelli. Cor Curiad’s 20th Anniversary Celebration Concert Selwyn Samuel Centre, Llanelli 25th April 2015 Artistes: Paul Potts Cor Curiad Burry Port Band Jordan Williams Kevin Johns  Ysgol Y Strade pupil Jordan has been catapulted to the limelight especially over the past year. It all started with a leading role as the Phantom in Llanelli’s SA15 Stage School production of the Phantom of the Opera.  This followed with numerous praiseworthy appearances on the concert stage. Jordan’s appearances have included prestigious events such as in the Llanelli Rotary Club’s World War I Gala Concert, the Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance at the Brangwyn Hall, the Annual Concert of Kidwelly Festival Choir, at private functions in Llanelly House and Stradey Castle and at last year’s Civic Service of Llanelli’s Town Mayor. Jordan Williams is one of th...

South West Wales concert promoter Cerith Owens is launching an ambitious plan to develop young talent. The director of Loud Applause Productions has set up a ‘Rising Stars’ platform as part of his concert and theatre company. “Working in theatres and concert halls throughout South West Wales, I have been amazed at the amount of young talent there is in the area,” Mr Owens said. “If we are not careful, a lot of this young talent escapes the net here in South West Wales. “It’s my ambition to use my experiences of concerts and theatre projects to help nurture, encourage and mentor up-and-coming youngsters to make sure they get the exposure they deserve on the concert stage.” Mr Owens added: “There is so much talk nowadays about celebrity-style programmes like the X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent, but I want to focus on the proper development of young talent in our area. “There is a need for some careful and sensible mentoring of the young talent which shines through in South West Wales...