Bugles Sound as Regiment invades Llanelli

The mighty bugles of the British Army will sound across Carmarthenshire when The Band and Bugles of The Rifles star in the 2012 Llanelli Proms.

In a rare visit to Wales, the Band and Bugles of the Rifles will join forces with the massed voices of the Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers, Llanelli Choral Society, Dunvant Male Choir and leading soprano Gweneth Ann-Jeffers to stage nearly 250 voices and musicians for a rollercoaster of large scale massed music.

The Band and Bugles of the Rifles are the cream of musicians from the amalgamated Light Infantry, the Royal Green Jackets, the Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry and the Royal Gloucester Berkshire Light Infantry and Wiltshire Light Infantry.

Recent performances by the Band include the Royal Tattoo at Windsor Castle, the world famous Royal Tournament, a tour of South Korea and later this year at London’s Royal Albert Hall to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Peninsular War.

“Let the Bugles Sound!”

The Band is world famous for its Bugles and the reputation for being the world’s fastest marching band. As far back as the Napoleonic Wars, the earliest Riflemen used bugles rather than drums to communicate orders on the battlefield. They were also able to react rapidly to orders by marching at a quickened pace or even marching at the double. These strong traditions and the regimental motto ‘Swift and Bold’ are upheld by The Band and Bugles of The Rifles to this day, marching at 140 paces per minute.

“We are hugely excited to welcome The Band and Bugles of The Rifles to Llanelli”, explains Proms founder and conductor, John Hywel Williams. “The mighty bugles of the British Army promises a great fanfare for audiences and huge massed items with the 200-voice massed choir will definitely raise the roof on the night.”

Key highlights of the Llanelli Proms will include:

• Patriotic moments such as World in Union, Rule Britannia, Land of Hope and Glory
• Broadway hits from Phantom of the Opera, Wizard of Oz, Lion King and Aspects of Love,
• Heart lifting hymns with Jerusalem, Calon Lan, Cwm Rhondda and Battle Hymn of the Republic
• Great choruses from film and opera featuring Easter Hymn from The Godfather, Vangelis’ 1492 Conquest of Paradise and Aida’s Grand March…

LATEST UPDATE: ‘WORLD CLASS’ SAYS KINNOCK

Lord Neil Kinnock, Patron of the Circle of Friends of the Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers, in anticipation of the 2012 Llanelli Proms said:

“Young voices blending in a great choir provide one of the most uplifting sounds in all music – and the Hywel Choristers have the huge advantage of being Welsh and the justified reputation of being World class. What more could any audience want?”

The choir had already received letters and messages of encouragement for the Llanelli Proms from the Her Majesty The Queen, Rt. Hon. Lord Michael Howard QC and also Ed Vaisey MP, the Minister for Culture.

The Llanelli Proms will be held at 7.00pm on Saturday 19th May at the Selwyn Samuel Centre, Llanelli. Further information and tickets from www.LlanelliProms.co.uk and 07767 644733.

For further information, please contact: Jeremy Hywel Williams, email info@hywelchoir.com or mobile 07767 644733

Entry information for the Llanelli Proms:

7.00pm Saturday 19th May 2012 in Selwyn Samuel Centre, Llanelli.  Tickets are £15, £13 and available from

• Bizy Fingers Market Place Llanelli
• Carol Coschignano on 01554 774822 or 07809 223909.
• Info@llanelliproms.co.uk
• info@hywelchoir.co.uk