On song
LLANELLI concert promoter Cerith Owens is busy man, regularly organising charity concerts throughout west Wales.
One of the highlights of his busy year is organising the popular annual Night With The Stars concert.
The concert is at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, on October 12. Tickets will be available very soon. The evening will showcase the talented Loud Applause Rising Stars (LARS) singers,
Sharing the stage with will be Kenfig Hill and District Male Voice Choir, a group of young students from the Royal Welsh Music and Drama called ‘Melodynamic’ and fronted by LARS member Callum Howells, and the delightful sounds of the Halfway Primary School Choir.
Kenfig Hill and District Male Voice Choir have a sterling reputation on the Welsh choral circuit.
Choral singing in Kenfig Hill can be traced back as far as 1890 when the Kenfig Hill Male Voice Party won competitions from as far as the lovely Vale of Glamorgan to the distant coastal town of Swansea.
Since those days, many choirs under the Kenfig Hill banner have come and gone.
The predecessor to the present choir was forced to disband through lack of public support in 1949.
For more than 20 years, the male choral vacuum remained unfilled until in December 1971, when a small band of hopefuls from the village met at the local rugby club and formed the present choir. It started life with just 18 members and has since grown to more than 80.
Now internationally renowned, this premier Welsh choir has performed in many European countries, including Norway, Germany, France, Poland and Estonia and has twice toured Canada. Making its first visit to Jersey in 2013, the Choir gave a Grand Charity Gala Evening in the island’s magnificent Opera House.
In May, 2016, the choir visited Italy to give concerts in the beautiful city of Parma and town of Bardi.
In the UK, the choir has appeared in many prestigious concert venues.
In October, 2016, the choir returned to the The Royal Albert Hall by a special invitation from the London Welsh Male Voice Choir to sing in 25th Festival of Male Voices. This was the choir’s 13th performance at The Albert Hall, making it the guest choir with the most appearances.
The choir has also the appeared in the Birmingham Symphony Hall, De Monfort Hall Leicester and The Millennium Centre and St David’s Hall in Cardiff.
The choir has also performed in some notable religious venues, including York Minster, Bradford Cathedral, Selby Abbey, Doncaster Minster, Wimborne Minster and St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. Choristers are proud to have sung in three seats of political power - the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the Palace of Westminster in London and the home of the Welsh Government, The Senedd in Cardiff.
The choir’s Director of Music is Joshua Xerri.
Joshua began his musical education as a boy chorister at Llandaff Cathedral and was educated at the Cathedral School before being awarded a scholarship to study the organ and singing at the prestigious specialist music school, Wells Cathedral School.
During his time at Wells, Josh directed and accompanied numerous school musical groups, including those involved with both regular services and concerts in Wells Cathedral.
Following his time at Wells, Josh was appointed Organ Scholar of Chelmsford Cathedral, where he worked accompanying and directing weekly choral services and helping to train the professional cathedral choirs.
In September, 2014, Josh moved to Birmingham to continue his organ studies with Daniel Moult and Henry Fairs, having been awarded a scholarship to Birmingham Conservatoire.
Josh is also an active singer, having sung with the Cathedral Choirs in Birmingham and Worcester as a Deputy Lay Clerk.
He appeared as a counter-tenor soloist in Birmingham Conservatoire’s Chamber Choir’s concert showcasing the works of Henry Purcell, in which Josh’s modern edition of a 17th century manuscript was used for the performance.
Working as a composer and arranger, he receives regular commissions, and has had his works performed at Birmingham, Chelmsford, Wells, and Llandaff Cathedrals.
Alongside his work, Josh enjoys an active career as an organ soloist, teacher, and freelancer.
Hosting the Night With The Stars concert for the first time will be Samuel Wyn-Morris a founder member of Loud Applause Rising Stars (LARS).
Supporting accompanists to the LARS singers will be Catrin Hughes and Andrew Pike.
LARS is fast becoming a recognised home for highly talented singers
Currently it has 14 singers aged between 14 and 23 years old performing all genres of music.
In its short history, LARS has given opportunities for its members to perform not only at home but also internationally.
Often its members are heard on S4C programmes, radio and as guest artists at a range of musical events from big gala concerts to private functions.
Concert organiser Cerith Owens has also announced that Côr Meibion Llanelli will be performing at another of his prestigious concerts in October.
On Saturday, October 5, they will be performing at The Queen’s Hall in Narberth to help the refurbishment appeal for one of the most popular concert venues in West Wales.
The guest star for the evening will be tenor Trystan Llyr Griffiths and the concert will also feature the Accapella Youth Group, led by Molara.
There’s an opportunity to hear Mendelssohn’s Elijah coming up next weekend.
Côr Glandulais, Pontarddulais, will be staging the oratorio at Siloh Chapel on Saturday, May 18 (7pm).
The performance will also feature Llangennech Primary School Choir and Mold and District Mixed Choir. Guest soloists will be Gail Pearson, soprano, Susan Thomson, contralto, Richard Allen, tenor, and Gary Griffiths, bass. The guest organist will be Huw Tregelles Williams OBE and the conductor will be Alun Tregelles Williams..
Tickets, starting at £10, are available from Côr Glandulais members and Mrs Margaret Thomas, 01792
883117.
If you have news about the choral scene in Llanelli, email robert.lloyd01@ walesonline. co.uk or rlloydpr@ btinternet.com