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

A historic reunion of past choristers of Llanelli’s Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers took place at the weekend with great enthusiasm and media attention. The black-tie reunion event held in the beautiful surroundings of Stradey Castle saw a battalion of choristers spanning six decades gather for the first time as a Reunion Chorus. Television cameras filmed the event as part of a documentary feature on the Hywel Choir. The event was the inaugural gathering of the Reunion Chorus of past members of the Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers who later this Autumn will be preparing for a unique and spectacular performance as 160 singers will unite for a performance with the symphonic sounds of the British Sinfonietta Orchestra at Y Ffwrnes. The Great Christmas Fantasia, the Winter Performance of the Hywel Choir, will be held on Saturday 19th December is already a sell-out and will also feature the Llanelli Choral Society, soprano Gwawr Edwards and Eurovision Song...

Past songsters who have travelled the world spreading the joy of Welsh choral singing will reunite in their home town of Llanelli for a historic and televised reunion. This Saturday (Sat 5 September) will see throngs of past choristers from Llanelli’s famous Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers will unite in the beautiful surroundings of Llanelli’s Stradey Castle. The giant chorus of Welsh singers are uniting from across the world for a unique and historic reunion performance – a reunion sadly catalysed by tragedy. Past-members of Wales’ famous children’s choir, Llanelli’s Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers, have been stirred into a giant reunion performance after the recent shock and tragedy which saw their founding conductor and pianist involved in a car crash within minutes of a standing ovation and leaving the concert stage. Conductor John Hywel was seriously injured in the crash and sadly his wife and pianist Jean Hywel was killed. The event is the inaugural ...

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 first ever Young Musician competition organised by Llanelli Rotary Club saw nine children from three different schools battle for the title. Set in the prestigious surroundings of Stradey Castle, the competition set a very high benchmark for future Young Musician events. “It would be fair to say that the talent on display was quite remarkable,” said Llanelli Rotary President Hywel Bassett. “As this was our inaugural Young Musician competition, we didn’t really know what to expect. But I know I was blown away by the quality of musicianship and singing – and I know the audience packed into the Great Hall at Stradey Castle felt the same.” The winner was 16-year-old guitarist Cai Charles from Ysgol Gyfun Y Strade (pictured above with Llanelli Rotary President Hywel Bassett). Cai, who has ambitions to study at the Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, performed The Cello Suite in G Major No1 by J S Bach and Sunburst by Andrew York. Cai said he had been inspired to take up the g...

Summer Soiree at Stradey Castle, Llanelli, featuring Loud Applause ‘Rising Stars’, including Samuel Morris, Keely Morgan, Nia Rees, Jordan Williams, Liam Reilly, Sophie Maliphant, Angharad Elise Thomas, Daniella Difede and ‘Perfect Harmony’. There was a touch of class about this summer showcase for young musical talent from West Wales. As intimate concert venues go, you cannot get much better than the Great Hall at Stradey Castle in Llanelli. And, with a dozen ‘Rising Stars’ taking the stage on the magnificent staircase, this was a musical soiree with something for everyone. Cerith Owens, the director of Loud Applause Productions, has set up the ‘Rising Stars’ platform in an effort to encourage and mentor up-and-coming youngsters and give them much-needed  exposure on concert stages. Ysgol y Strade head boy Samuel Morris and Coedcae school pupil Daniella Difede are already familiar figures on concert stages throughout West Wales, but this was an event designed to a...