Some videos . . .

Cor Meibion Llanelli on song for 2013

Cor Meibion Llanelli members are on song and ready for a busy 2013.
Weekly rehearsals started back on Monday after the choir staged a hugely successful Christmas concert at Tabernacle Chapel, Llanelli.
Billed as 'Sing Christmas', the evening saw three of Llanelli's major choirs take the stage.
Cor Meibion Llanelli were joined by Cor Curiad and Cor Baroc.
"It was a wonderful evening, full of passionate singing and with a very traditional theme," said Cor Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas.
"The large congregation at Tabernacle enjoyed singing 10 traditional carols in Welsh and English.
"There was a wonderful festive spirit in the air. It was a change to our usual Christmas concert, but it was greatly appreciated by one and all."
Cor Meibion Llanelli and Cor Baroc were conducted by Mr Thomas with Sarah Thomas as accompanist.
Cor Curiad were conducted by Alex Esney and accompanied by Jayne Jewell.
The guest organist was Allan Fewster MBE.
Special guests to accompany the carols were the Queen Elizabeth Brass Quintet under the direction of Gareth Kirby.
The three choirs sang individual items during the Gymanfa , which culminated in a climactic finale which saw the choirs performing together for Adolph Adams's O Holy Night and the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah.
The evening was planned and conducted by Mr Thomas, with the aim of getting plenty of audience participation in the singing of the carols.
The quality of the singing enhanced Llanelli's reputation as a hot-bed of choral performance.
If you are interested in joining Cor Meibion Llanelli, then call in to one of their rehearsal sessions at Furnace Community Hall, 7pm on Mondays and Thursdays.
Website -
http://llanellimalechoir.co.uk/

Côr Meibion Llanelli staging Christmas special

Côr Meibion Llanelli (Llanelli Male Choir) are staging a Christmas concert with a difference this year.
The choir's annual festive concerts at Theatr Elli have been pulling in the crowds for years.
This year, Theatr Elli is unavailable as work is completed on the new Ffwrnes theatre complex in East Gate, Llanelli.
"It's a bit of a blow not to have Theatr Elli available," admitted Côr Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas.
"But in order not to disappoint our many fans, we have a Christmas concert with a difference planned for Tabernacle Chapel, Llanelli, on Saturday, 7pm."
The concert is being billed as 'Sing Christmas!', with audience participation encouraged so that everyone gets into the Christmas spirit.
Mr Thomas added: "We are also very fortunate in that we have some very special guests with us for the Tabernacle concert - Côr Curiad, Côr Baroc and the Queen Elizabeth Brass Quintet.
"It promises to be a memorable evening highlighting the very best in Welsh choral traditions, with the spotlight on festive tunes guaranteed to get you into the Christmas spirit."
The accompanist will be Sarah Thomas. The organist will be Allan Fewster MBE.
Admission is £5 by programme. Programmes are available from choir members.

News from The Netherlands

Just received this news from one of the choir's friends, Vince Scanlon, who helps to organise the annual remembrance services in s'Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands (Cor Meibion Llanelli were featured in last year's services) -
'Just come back from Holland for this year's Liberation Concert.
'For the first time I took a ladies choir, it was a great success.
'For the first half of the concert they were all dressed in their Welsh outfits and I also dressed up in a full Welsh kilt outfit.
'The choir I took was Cor Merched Cwm Llynfi and they really enjoyed it.
'I was given this photo by the man with the bike, it shows some of your choristers at the Welsh Memorial.
'Perhaps they would like copies if they have not got them already.
'As things are at the moment I have the next three years covered by male choirs.
'Hope that the choir enjoys its continued success.
'Please give my best wishes to all.'
Vince Scanlon

BBC's The One Show drops in on Cor Meibion Llanelli

Reporter Lucy Siegle from BBC's The One Show attended a rehearsal session for Cor Meibion Llanelli (Llanelli Male Voice Choir) to enlist their help for the Seaside, Llanelli, fireworks party. The story will be broadcast on Monday night, 7pm.

Rehearsals tonight

Rehearsals for Cor Meibion Llanelli tonight - 7pm at Furnace Community Hall. New members and visitors welcome.

Côr Meibion Llanelli ready for Bro Morgannwg Eisteddfod

Côr Meibion Llanelli are geared up their biggest test of the year – the main male voice choir competition at the Royal National Eisteddfod.
The choir roll of honour includes five previous wins in the National Eisteddfod.
This year’s event, the Bro Morgannwg Eisteddfod, takes place at Llandow, near Cowbridge, and will see the choir take the stage on Saturday evening (August 11).
“There is a huge amount of work that goes into preparing a choir for the annual National Eisteddfod,” said Côr Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas.
“The choir members look forward to the competition for months and we spend hours and hours rehearsing the different test pieces which are there to ensure the winning choir can perform to the highest standards.
“Competition is always fierce, with a healthy rivalry between the Welsh choirs to take the main male voice title.
“In the end, the verdict is given by the adjudicators and there is always a hush as you have to pay attention to every word of their decision.”
Côr Meibion Llanelli facts -
Côr Meibion Llanelli was formed in the village of Bynea under the baton of the late Denver Phillips BA. in 1964.
The choir’s longest-serving music director is the present holder of the baton, D Eifion Thomas, who has helped the choir grow in stature and strength to become one of the leading male choirs in Britain.
They have been 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.
The roll-call of wins also records seven firsts at the Miners Eisteddfod at Porthcawl, six firsts at Cardigan and three Pontrhydfendigaid "Eisteddfodau".
The choir was successful in winning the Corwen Choral Competition at its first attempt in 1987.
The Llanelli Male Choir has graced many leading auditoriums and concert halls in the land - London's Royal Albert Hall and Festival Hall, Birmingham's Town and Symphony Halls, Oxford Town Hall, Plymouth's Guild Hall, The MacRoberts Centre at Stirling, as well as Cardiff's St David's Hall and Swansea's Brangwyn Hall.
Cathedrals have also featured high on the choir’s touring list - Coventry, Bury St Edmunds, Wells, Brecon, Gloucester, St David's and Llandaff cathedrals have been concert venues, as well as Westminster Abbey.
The choir has travelled extensively throughout the world – Germany, Canada, USA. France, Ireland, Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand.
The choristers have thousands of pounds for charities such as Cancer and Leukaemia Research, The Red Cross, Heart Foundation and Tenovus as well as local charities and school groups.
The choir’s future is secure and their motto of "Ymlaen Llanelli" will surely hold the choristers in good stead for another 40 years!
The choir rehearses twice weekly on Monday and Thursday evenings at Furnace Community Hall, 7pm start. Visitors and new members are welcome.

'Poster boys' on a tickets sales drive!

Cor Meibion Llanelli choristers were busy this morning selling tickets outside the Jenkins Bakery shop for the forthcoming annual concert.

Check out the latest news on the Pontarddulais concert

Check out the latest news on the Pontarddulais Town Band annual concert on their website - http://www.pontardulaistownband.com/

Nice story in the Llanelli Star today

Smashing preview story in the Llanelli Star today about Pontarddulais Town Band's annual concert, featuring Cor Meibion Llanelli.

Big concert for Pontarddulais this weekend

Big concert this Saturday at Pontarddulais Leisure Centre. Pontarddulais Town Band with Cor Meibion Llanelli. Garry Owen the compere.

Welcome mat out for Welsh Society at choir rehearsals

Cor Meibion Llanelli were in fine voice this week to welcome visitors from Berkhamsted and District Welsh Society in Hertfordshire.
The visit was organised by Dr Roscoe Howells and Marie Duro.
The society members were staying at the Stradey Park Hotel and made the short trip over to Furnace Community Hall to sit in on the choir's rehearsals.

Cor Meibion Llanelli - back in the 1980s

 

Cor Meibion Llanelli pictured before a performance at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea, in the early 19890s. Musical director D Eifion Thomas is centre in the white jacket. Pontarddulais Male Voice Choir musical director Clive Phillips is to the right in the bow tie. If you recognise anyone else, then email the choir's publicity officer, Robert Lloyd, onrlloydpr@btinternet.com

Rhydian Roberts shines in concert

Rhydian Roberts, Côr Curiad and Côr Meibion Llanelli, Selwyn Samuel Centre, Llanelli.

They came from as far away as Scotland. Some came from North Lincolnshire, Southampton and Brighton. There were even a couple of hundred from Felinfoel!
The Rhydian Roberts Fan Club must be as well travelled as the Llanelli’s Scarlets rugby team.
They certainly made sure that visiting Munster rugby fans had their work cut out trying to find a spare hotel room in Llanelli on Saturday night.
For the first time, the ‘Full House’ notices went up at the Selwyn Samuel Centre in Llanelli, with 1,200 packed into the bowls hall.
The gala concert had been arranged by the ladies of Côr Curiad to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust, with a cheque for an amazing £14,000 being handed over on the night.
The classically-trained Rhydian, hero of X Factor and much more besides, made a grand entrance with a dramatic rendition of the Tom Jones classic Thunderball, from the James Bond film of the same name.
Rhydian sang two 20-minute spots in each half, with an ambitious selection which included Somewhere from West Side Story and Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera.
Mixed in was The Impossible Dream, Go West (which brought back memories for Côr Meibion Llanelli of the time they sang it with the Pet Shop Boys in the 1993 Brit Awards in the Alexandra Palace in London), and Pan Fyddo'r Nos yn Hir and Hafan Gobaith.
The concert finale saw Rhydian rally his army of fans with Dafydd Iwan’s Yma O Hyd, with both Côr Curiad and Côr Meibion Llanelli joining him in the chorus.
Côr Curiad’s set included - The Battle of Jericho, Over the Rainbow, Your Song, Adiemus, Ti a dy Ddoniau, I'll Stand By You, Autumn Leaves, Gweddi'r Arglwydd, Sosban Fach, Don’t Rain On My Parade and Gwenllian.
Côr Meibion Llanelli sang Superstar, Anthem (from Chess), Moon River, Blue Moon, Swing Low, Ride The Chariot, You'll Never Walk Alone and A-men.
Both choirs were happy to play supporting roles to Rhydian Roberts, but their performances alone were well worth the price of the ticket.
Special praise should go to accompanists Jayne Jewell and Sarah Thomas and music directors Alex Esney and Eifion Thomas.
The evening was compered in some style by Swansea Sound broadcaster and personality Kevin Johns.
Weblinks:
You Tube video - http://youtu.be/sJR8-QXrTWY
http://www.rhydianroberts.com/
http://corcuriad.co.uk/

Choir accepts two invitations . . .

Cor Meibion Llanelli have accepted an invitation to sing at the Wales v Barbarians rugby match at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Saturday, June 2.
The choir has also accepted an invitation to sing on the steps of The Senedd building in Cardiff Bay as part of a demonstration against health cuts in Llanelli organised by SOSSPAN, the Save Our Services Action Network for Prince Philip Hospital. The demonstration will take place on Wednesday, May 23.

Best wishes . . .

Happy birthday to chorister Peter Griffiths. Also, best wishes for a speedy recovery to retired chorister former Welsh rugby international Ray Williams.

Sounding good . . .

Cor Meibion Llanelli choristers on song in rehearsal last night. Sounding good for gig with Cor Curiad and Rhydian Roberts on Saturday.

Rhydian Roberts to join choirs on stage on Saturday

 

Rhydian Roberts, of TV's X Factor, will be taking the stage with two of Llanelli's leading choirs this weekend.
The concert has been arranged by Côr Curiad as a fund-raiser for the Teenage Cancer Trust Cardiff Unit.
It takes place at the Selwyn Samuel Centre, Llanelli, on Saturday, April 21.
The evening will be compered by Swansea Sound personality Kevin Johns MBE and will also feature Côr Meibion Llanelli.
Tickets are available at Llanelli Library and from George Lewis, Market Precinct Llanelli.
There are only a few £17 tickets left.
Côr Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas said he was looking forward to a great evening's entertainment.
He added: "All the Côr Meibion Llanelli choristers have been looking forward to this event and it is for a very worthy cause."
Côr Curiad is a ladies choir based in Llanelli.
The aim of the choir is to promote the Welsh language and the culture of choral singing.
Côr Curiad’s youngest member is just 15. It would be impolite to record the age of the oldest member!
Since its beginings in 1995, the choir has raised tens of thousands of pounds for local and national charities.
The choir has performed in Bath, St. David's and Wells Cathedrals, the Millennium Theatre in Cardiff and the new Welsh Assembly Government Building in Cardiff Bay.
More information on the Cor Curiad website -
http://corcuriad.co.uk/cor-curiad-events-fundraising-for-teenage-cancer-trust-cardiff-unit/

Cor Meibion Llanelli website - http://llanellimalechoir.co.uk/

Rhydian Roberts website -http://www.rhydianroberts.com/

Kevin Johns website -http://www.kevinjohns.co.uk/

Rehearsals tonight for Cor Meibion Llanelli

Rehearsals tonight for Cor Meibion Llanelli - 7pm at Furnace Community Hall. New members and visitors welcome.

Check out latest on Saturday's Gala Concert with Cor Curiad

Check out the latest on Saturday's Gala Concert with Cor Curiad and Rhydian Roberts - http://corcuriad.co.uk/cor-curiad-events-fundraising-for-teenage-cancer-trust-cardiff-unit/