On song with
THEY are the newest choir in West Wales – but you will find plenty of familiar faces in the ranks of Côr Meibion Elli.
The choristers are drawn from Carmarthenshire and are eagerly looking forward to resuming rehearsals after the lifting of coronavirus restrictions.
Formed in 2019 by former Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir musical director D Eifion Thomas, the choristers have had to spend the last year in isolation, rehearsing their parts separately over the internet.
“We are now ready for the lifting of restrictions and can’t wait to get back into an environment where we can all sing together once again,” Mr Thomas said.
Prior to lockdown, the choir was meeting every Thursday from 7.15pm to 8.15pm in the Athenaeum Hall, upstairs in Llanelli Library.
“Lockdown has, of course, presented many problems for choirs,” said Mr Thomas.
“But the choristers have coped with it well and they have had a ‘lockdown collection’ of songs to learn while they have been unable to meet up in person.
“The songs include Island in the Sun, The Rivers of Babylon, Guantanemera, You’re My best Friend, Make you Feel my Love, Ballymena, You Raise Me Up, Nos Dros y Mor, Ty a dy Ddoniau, Pam Fod Eira’n Wyn, The Last Farewell, Lara’s Theme and Dros Gymru’n Gwlad.”
Mr Thomas added: “We will be publicising our return to full rehearsals as soon as we are allowed to resume.
“In the meantime, there is a general invitation to anyone who loves singing to come and join the choir.
“Come and experience the joy of singing perennial favourites with the men of Côr Meibion Elli as they prepare to record them for their first album release later this year.
“Also, the choir will be preparing to fulfil an invitation to take part in Shan Cothi’s daily radio programme on Radio Cymru, Bore Cothi.”
Mr Thomas is one of the most respected musical directors in Wales. He completed 44 years conducting the internationally-renowned choir Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir.
Under Mr Thomas, Côr Meibion Llanelli were successful at all the major choral competitions that Wales has to offer.
The honours list includes five National Eisteddfod first prizes – at Lampeter in 1984, Fishguard in 1986, Llandeilo in 1996, Bridgend in 1998 and Llanelli in 2000.
Mr Thomas initially served as accompanist to the choir from 1965 until 1974, under the direction of founder-conductor Denver Phillips.
Mr Thomas helped spread the name of Llanelli across the world, with successful tours and visits to
Canada, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Scotland, and England.
Mr Thomas has had the honour of conducting the North American Welsh Societies National Gymanfa Ganu on four occasions – Vancouver (1980), Victoria, Canada (1990), Seattle (1994), and San Jose (2001).
As a result of his work in the sphere of music in the community, Mr Thomas was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship by Rotary International and was inducted into the highest level of Wales’s Bardic Circle in 2007.
In 2000, Mr Thomas was the conductor of the National Eisteddfod Choir when the Festival was held in Llanelli. The Eisteddfod Choir’s singing, under his direction at the Gymanfa Ganu, of the anthem “Dyn A Aned O Wraig” still remains as one of the most memorable occasions in the Eisteddfod’s history.
Mr Thomas is also a fine tenor soloist and has appeared as soloist in performances of Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Creation, and Mass in Time of War, Stainer’s Crucifixion, Maunder’s Olivet to Calvary, ColeridgeTaylor’s Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Lobegesang.
Perhaps one of the most memorable choral experiences was Côr Meibion Llanelli’s appearance at The Brit Awards in 1993 – sharing the stage with such musical giants as Take That, Elton John, Meatloaf and The Pet Shop Boys.
Mr Thomas is an honorary member of Côr Meibion Llanelli’s twin choir in Germany, the 1870 Singverein of Laudenbach.
The accompanist for Côr Meibion Elli is Aled Maddock, who previously fulfilled that role with Côr Meibion Llanelli.
Mr Maddock attended Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera before graduating in Music at Bangor University.
He is a former pupil of Madame Eileen Gethin-Jones and the Czech pianist Jana Frenklova.
After graduating in 1990, Mr Maddock was appointed as Musical Director of Craig y Nos Castle where he was responsible for arranging numerous musical events held at the famous Patti Theatre. During this time, he also began his association as accompanist with Neath and District Ladies Choir, Côr Meibion Onllwyn, who performed with Côr Meibion Llanelli at the Brit Awards at Alexandra Palace, and Bryncoch Male Voice Choir.
He was appointed musical director of Tonna Male Voice Choir in 1998 a post he held until 2002 forming his own mixed choir Côr Al in the Swansea Valley.
He has conducted the popular S4C religious programme Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol on several occasions from Ystradgynlais, Resolven, Ystalyfera and the
Christmas service broadcast from St David’s Church Neath in 2015.
After obtaining his PGCE in 1994, Mr Maddock was appointed to his current post as head of music at his former school Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera. He is particularly proud of the musical achievements of many past pupils, some of which grace our TV screens and concert halls throughout the world. He has toured extensively with the performing arts faculty visiting Canada, South Africa, Malaysia and Singapore and has been Musical Director for two Urdd National Youth Productions, the most memorable being the revival of the rock opera Jiwdas which was performed in the open air in the ruins of the former Gnoll estate in Neath.
You can find out more about Côr Meibion Elli on the following internet links
■ www.clai.wales/meibionelli
■ www.facebook.com/MeibionElli
■ During the coronavirus crisis, this column is putting the spotlight on West Wales singers and choirs and any online internet recordings. Please email if you are already planning an event post-lockdown in 2021. If you have news of cancelled and postponed events, email robert. lloyd01@ walesonline. co.uk