Choir News

There’s a special evening of music and song being held in Pontyates in the Gwendraeth Valley next weekend.

An ‘Evening of Music and Song’ is being staged by Côr Merched Glannau’r Gwendraeth and will feature the SA15 stage school from Llanelli and one of our favourite mixed youth choirs, Lleisiau Hardd.

It is being held on Friday, November 25 at 7:30 pm at Pontyates Welfare Hall.

Admission is £7 for adults and £3 for school children (price includes light refreshments and a drink. You may bring a bottle if you choose).

Tickets are available from Côr Merched Glannau’r Gwendraeth choir members or by telephoning 01269 861922.

The ladies choir meets every Tuesday at Pontyates Welfare Hall from 7.30pm, so anyone wishing to join Côr Merched Glannau’r Gwendraeth can pop along and see them at rehearsals.

Côr Lleisiau Hardd will be under the musical director of Bridget Radford.

Meanwhile, the run-up to Christmas will see plenty of concert activity.

The Christmas Fantasia is being staged by the Hywel Girls’ Choir and Hywel Boy Singers at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, on December 3.

The evening will feature plenty of magic and style, with the international voices of the Hywel Girls’ Choir and Hywel Boy Singers, Angelicus, the symphonic sounds of the British Sinfonietta and friends – all under the magical baton of John Hywel Williams.

There will be Christmas favourites and magical moments from The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake.

On December 9, at Ffwrnes, you can catch The Rat Pack at Christmas.

The show features wonderful memories of classic Las Vegas, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Junior.

The touring live show is now in its 14th year.

Every song is a winner: Come Fly With Me, Volare, That’s Amore, Under My Skin, Mr Bojangles, Sway, Mack The Knife and many more.

Between December 21 and Christmas Eve, The Performance Factory will be staging A Christmas Carol at Ffwrnes.

Adapted from the well-loved Charles Dickens Christmas classic, a Christmas Carol follows the story of Ebenezer Scrooge who believes personal wealth is far more valuable than the happiness and comfort of others.

The show takes you back to Dickensian London and really lets the Christmas spirits flow!

In Carmarthen, at the Lyric Theatre, November 18 sees a visit from the South African Gospel Choir, SAGC.

The choir has been formed by the most talented professional African artists and musicians based in the UK.

Led by the charismatic Luyanda Jezile, the SAGC has toured all over the UK and abroad, singing in different African Languages.

Their repertoire consists of acapella, classical and traditional gospel songs with instruments; interspersed with energetic Zulu dance that tells a story and brings much excitement to their performances.

On December 20 at The Lyric, you can see ‘The West End at Christmas’.

Stars from the West End present a magical evening of entertainment featuring hits from the musicals and the best of Christmas song.

The talented cast have starred in many West End productions and national tours, including Les Miserables, We Will Rock You, South Pacific, Singing in the Rain, Starlight Express, Phantom Of The Opera, Godspell, Joseph and Cats . . . to name but a few!

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 December 10, 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.

They have been successful in several other competitions, including Eisteddfod yr Urdd, the National Eisteddfod and also reached the semi-finals of Côr Cymru in 2009.

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