Voices in the Valleys

Cheers, tears and cries of encore summed up Saturday evening when Llanelli’s famous Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers took their voices to the heart of the Welsh Valleys.

As special guest stars of the town and male voice choir of Rhymney, Llanelli’s young choristers excited a capacity audience with a thrilling programme which saw singers as young as 7 years perform works in Welsh, English, Latin and Hebrew. John Hywel Williams’ choristers enthused audiences with a colourful programme of sacred moments, a taste of international folk, magical moments from Broadway and West End and a rapturous ‘raising the spirit’finale.

The choristers, each radiating discipline, confidence and the thrill of performance, put many an adult choir to shame by their constant ability to challenge the norm with surround sound singing, choreography, movement and simple musical magic. A resounding finale arrangement by John Hywel Williams of a tribal heart beating Calon Lân closed the evening on a triumphant note. Even the outcry for additional tickets couldn’t take the shine off the excitement of the event.

In the words of the concert hosts: “We take many lessons from the delivery and professionalism of the Hywel Choir. The obvious enjoyment of the children as they performed speaks volumes for their confidence which can only be the result of thorough preparation.”

With forthcoming concerts including Swansea’s Brangwyn Hall, The Yehudi Menuhin Concert Hall in Surrey, guest stars of the London Welsh St. David’s Day Concert and performances in the Midlands and West Wales, Saturday’s concert confirms that the Hywel choir’s strong supporters are in for a treat at forthcoming performances – not to be missed!