Choir Scene – News from Llanelli and Carmarthenshire

Llanelli & Carmarthenshire Choir Scene 

Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi choristers are getting ready for a busy Christmas and also looking forward to concerts in 2017.

Helen Wyn has stepped up to the podium as temporary musical director as Davinia Harries is on maternity leave.

With their regular accompanist, Maureen Chapman, Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi have the following engagements planned for December –

• Thursday 15th December, Glanmorfa Care Home, Kidwelly.
• Monday 19th December, Towy Castle Care Home, Uplands Arms.
• Tuesday 20th December, Community Carol Singing, Red Lion, Llandyfaelog.
• Thursday 22nd December, Gwernllwyn Care Home, Cross Hands.

The choir members rehearse at the Red Lion in Llandyfaelog and anyone interested in joining Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi, can contact Derrick Rowlands on email on onnen@hotmail.com or fill out the contact form on the website –www.cormeibiondyffryntywi.co.uk

Looking further ahead to 2017, the following concerts are planned for Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi –

• Thursday 2nd March, Ferryside Hall.
• Saturday 4th March, Cawl a Chan, Red Lion, Llandyfaelog.
• Saturday 11th March, Massed Male Voice Choir, Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli.
• Saturday 22nd July, Choir Annual Concert, Gwenllian Centre, Kidwelly, featuring guest artists soprano Fflur Wyn, Trio Cymru (back by popular demand) and compere Ioan Hefin.

Y Trio Cymraeg are from the heart of Snowdonia and feature the voices of Bedwyr Gwyn Parri (baritone), Emyr Wyn Gibson (tenor) and Steffan Lloyd Owen (bass-baritone).

The trio’s roots are deep in a culture of music and song, a culture where singing is the natural mode of enjoyment, and where singing in harmony is second nature.

Their superb performance at last year’s Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi has earned them a return trip.

Meinciau soprano, Fflur Wyn, graduated with a B.Mus(Hons) and Dip.RAM from the Royal Academy of Music London, where she studied with Beatrice Unsworth and Clara Taylor.

She is the recipient of many awards and scholarships, which include First Prize and Audience Prize at the National Handel Competition, the Kathleen Ferrier Bursary, the London Welsh Young Singer of the Year, the Bryn Terfel Scholarship and the MOCSA Young Welsh Singer Prize.

Her operatic performances include Pamina (The Magic Flute – Holland Park Opera); Barbarina (Le Nozze di Figaro – La Monnaie); Iphis (Jephtha – Welsh National Opera); Sophie (Werther), Clerida (Croesus by Keiser), Gretel (Hansel and Gretel), Papagena (The Magic Flute) and Giulietta (Capuleti e i Montecchi) all for Opera North; Karolka (Jenufa – St Endellion Festival with the late Richard Hickox); Susanna (The Marriage of Figaro – Court Opera); and she created the role of Adele (Jane Eyre by Berkeley – Music Theatre Wales, The Linbury Theatre Covent Garden).

Whilst at the Academy, her roles included Almirena Rinaldo, SerpettaLa Finta Giardiniera, First Boy, The Magic Flute, conducted by Sir Colin Davis, and Young Vixen, The Cunning Little Vixen, conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras.

Over in Burry Port, there’s a Christmas treat being served up by the award-winning Burry Port Town Band.

The band’s annual Christmas Gala Concert will take place on Saturday 10th December, featuring award winning guests Côr Aelwyd Y Waun Ddyfal and the Burry Port Junior Band.

It will be a relaxed show of Christmas classics, with cabaret-style seating and bar.

Tickets available soon from Elgan Jones Butchers and Burry Port Premier Stores.

Alternatively please contact Edmond John on 01554 833749.

Côr Aelwyd y Waun Ddyfal is a youth choir from Cardiff.

In 2013, they won the very competitive junior choir competition Côr Ieuenctid Côr Cymru.

The choir was established in 2005 to satisfy the need for more youth organisations in Cardiff and its success is obvious as it has provided a home for both music and socialising.

In other news, there’s a musical spectacular being staged at the Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli on Saturday, February 4, 2017.

The concert is being organised by the Chairman of Carmarthenshire County Council, Councillor Eryl Morgan, to support his chosen charities for his year of office.

Councillor Morgan is raising cash for the Ty Bryngwyn Hospice in Llanelli and for a new MRI scanner for Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli.

Top of the bill will be the sensational Valli Boys, South Wales based performers who specialise in the ‘Jersey Boys’ catalogue made famous by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons.

The Valli Boys are made up of four very talented West End performers.

The Valli Boys members have appeared in musicals such as Les Miserables, Mamma Mia, The Lord Of The Rings, Merrily We Roll Along, Starlight Express, Miss Saigon and, of course, Jersey Boys.

Ben Evans, the founding member of the group, set up the Valli Boys after understudying and playing the role of Frankie Valli in the West End production of Jersey Boys for five years.

The Valli Boys will take you on a musical journey through major hits from the Jersey Boys, including ‘Sherry’, ‘Grease Is The Word’, ‘Bye Bye Baby’, ‘Stay’, ‘Silence is Golden’, ‘Working My Way Back to You Babe’ and‘Oh What a Night’.

Supporting the Valli Boys will be Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir and rock and pop choir The Phil Harmonics.

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