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

A battalion of more than 200 musicians spanning massed choirs, military bands and singers will unite for the 2011 Llanelli Proms. The ever-popular Llanelli Proms will see the musical baton of conductor John Hywel Williams MBE bring together the famous Band of the Adjutant General's Corps, the massed voices of the Hywel Girls' Choir & Hywel Boy Singers, Llanelli Choral Society and the Morriston RFC Male Voice Choir soprano Sarah Estrill, organist Huw Tregelles Willaims and pianist Jean Hywel for a roof-raising evening of patriotic and popular music. "The excitement for the Llanelli Proms is already building", explains the founder and director, John Hywel Williams. "The Llanelli Proms is a rare opportunity for audiences and performers alike to unite in furious flag-waving and roof-raising singing and music and the ‘Llanelli Prommers’ are already chasing their tickets for this year’s music extravaganza.” The Llanelli Proms brings to audiences all time favourites...

There's a buzz in Llanelli about a performance of one of the great choral masterpieces. Haydn’s The Creation is being performed this Friday (11th March) at All Saints Church, Llanelli. As choristers of the mighty Llanelli Choral Society, the Celtic Orchestra, leading operatic singers all under the baton conductor John Hywel Williams MBE have final technical reshearsals in the lead up to Friday’s grand performance, local audiences are swooping passionately on remaining tickets for the event. Although the first public performance of The Creation was given in Vienna in 1799 and its immediate success rivalled that of the legendary ‘Messiah’, more than 200 years later The Creation remains a leading and ever popular choral masterpiece which few choral organisations dare to perform. However, John Hywel Williams and the Llanelli Choral Society are excited to take on the challenge. “Haydn’s adventurous harmony, bold use of orchestral colour, exceptional melodic and rhythmic inventiveness br...

The following Welsh trainers have runners tomorrow - Carmarthen's Alison Thorpe - Ellerslie Tom (GB) 15:35 Newbury King's Realm (IRE) 15:35 Newbury Rebecca Curtis from Newport, Pembrokeshire - Made In Time (IRE) 15:35 Newbury Gus Macrae (IRE) 16:45 Newbury

Award winning singer songwriter Cheryl Beer has produced a wonderful new song, which has already had close to 600 hits on Youtube. The song was inspired by a visit (in her role as Artistic Director) and a re-write of Carmen the Opera’ at the National Botanic Garden of Wales, Llanarthne, near Carmarthen. ‘The Garden’ was written, performed & recorded by Cheryl, who will be performing it live and launching her new album ‘Snow Tracks’ at the garden on November 6, 2011, at 1pm. When Cheryl Beer said she wanted to be a singer/songwriter after leaving school, she was told it was a dream and not a career aspiration. Cheryl, from Carmarthenshire, listened to her careers teacher and went into nursing before completing a first degree at The University of Glamorgan and a Masters at Cardiff. Some 20 years ago she followed her dream - and having performed alongside the likes of Van Morrison, Lonnie Donnegan & Bob Geldof, to name but a few, she now runs her own record label and community pub...

Iwan Bala is one of the most positive and dynamic figures in Welsh culture and his work is now on display at the National Botanic Garden in Llanarthne, near Carmarthen. Now Lecturer at the School of Art, Film and Media at The University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Iwan is a multi disciplinarian and has published numerous books, articles and essays on contemporary art in Wales as well as presenting and researching television programmes, teaching and curating. His latest exhibition “Our Nature” explores the conflicts and conjunctions that exist at the wellspring of creativity, where uncontrolled inspiration is moulded and cultivated, where human attempts to control nature are in themselves natural. Speaking of this driving force, Iwan comments: “In maps we see how nature, in the form of rivers and mountain ranges, affects human settlement patterns. Culture grows and evolves, like plants. The word culture relates to the world of cultivation and growth. “Language develops like plantlife:...

The proceeds of a gruelling 12-hour darts marathon at an Ammanford pub have gone to Healing The Wounds and the charity’s work to fund treatment of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) in Wales. The marathon was staged at the Coopers Arms Pub in Bettws. Ewen Mcloughlin and Clive Bowles, one of the organisers of the event, presented a cheque for £454.25 to Healing The Wounds charity secretary Carol Richards. Organisers Clive and Jean Bowles have plans for another darts marathon later in the year – but this time they plan to play non-stop for 24 hours! Carol Richards, co-founder of Healing The Wounds, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the public and the tenacity of people who organise events such as this. “A 12-hour darts marathon is not as easy as it sounds! Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who took part - and good luck for the next darts marathon!” The Healing The Wounds charity was set up in January 2010 to help provide PTSD treatment for members of the armed for...

It’s going to be ‘A Fine Life’ with plenty of ‘Omm-Pah-Pah’ at the Stagecoach performing arts school in Carmarthen this summer! So, ‘Consider Yourself’ well in and part of the family if you are lucky enough to be part of the Stagecoach team for their summer production. “We’re not short on ambition when it comes to staging our summer show,” said Stagecoach Carmarthen principal Liane Davies. “Last year, it was Billy Elliot. This year, in July, we will be staging Oliver – The Musical. “It’s a real family favourite and a show known the world over, but we will be bringing our own little bit of Stagecoach Carmarthen magic to the production. “All the pupils at Stagecoach Carmarthen are thrilled to bits that we are putting on Oliver and we are all looking forward to rehearsals. “Oliver is a great choice for us as it has just finished its run in the West End, where Russ Abbot was one of the star attractions as Fagin. “One of our members was lucky enough to see that show in Drury Lane and had th...