Cue drum roll . . .
The judges have been revealed for the Gethin Hughes Memorial Bursary competition.
The event is part of Cor Meibion Llanelli’s annual concert at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, on Saturday, June 30.
The judges will be – Allan Fewster, Eilir Owen Griffiths and Meinir Richards.
The contestants will be accompanied by Jeffrey Howard.
Biographical information on the judges and accompanist –
Allan Fewster
Allan is a native of Llangennech and was educated at the Llanelli Boys’ Grammar / technical school, Trinity College Carmarthen and the Birmingham Conservatoire.
He has dedicated his life to music in the community through his long-standing direction of the mixed choir Cor Glandulais. His expertise as both accompanist and organist is widely respected and he has appeared often on television as guest accompanist to various well-known singers.
Special mention, however, must be made of his committment to the tradition of choral singing and his work in ensuring an annual performance of a classical oratorio in the village of Llangennech.
His musical ability has been recognised by his elevation to the white robes of the Druidic Circle at the National Eisteddfod and his receiving the honour of the MBE for his services to music in Wales.
***
Eilir Owen Griffiths
Eilir Owen Griffiths is one of Wales’s most dynamic choral directors.
With more than 15 years of experience as a music director and composer, he has conducted CF1 Choir since its formation in 2002. He was also the music director for the Llangollen International Eisteddfod and won ” tlws y cerddor” (musician’s award) at the National Eisteddfod in 2008.
Eilir has conducted many different choirs over the years. Between 2004 and 2014 he was the music director of Cor Godre’r Garth, winning the mixed choir competition five times at the National Eisteddfod. He was one of the first music directors of the Cardiff Blues Choir formed in 2006.
Eilir works as a BA course co-ordinator at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s performance centre and is also the artistic director for the Trinity Saint David Festival. He has visited Ireland, Germany, Poland, France, India, and the United States of America as part of his involvement in musical performance.
***
Meinir Richards
Meinir was born in Whitland and attended the local grammar school before studying music at Bangor University. She commenced her teaching career at Maesteg Comprehensive School before spending 15 years as head of the music department at Gowerton Comprehensive School – Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr.
For the past 20 years she has been the head of music at Ysgol Gyfun Bro Myrddin in Carmarthen. As well as competing successfully in Eisteddfodau and taking part in whole-school musicals and concerts, the school choir loves travelling abroad. Recently, the Bro Myrddin school choirs received an “excellence in music” award from Carmarthenshire County Council.
Under Meinir’s direction, Cor Llanddarog has won the mixed choir competition for ‘over 45 voices’ at the National Eisteddfod five times. Last year, the choir visited Canada and have released a CD of choral works by Eric Jones.
***
Jeffrey Howard
Jeffrey Howard was born in Cardiff and studied at the University of Wales College, Cardiff, and at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he specialised in organ performance and church music. He now pusues a career as organist, pianist, singer, coach, and conductor, and has accompanied leading international singers, including Sir Bryn Terfel, Sir Willard White, Dennis O’Neill, Nuccia Focile, Rebecca Evans, Wynne Evans, Alfie Boe and Jason Howard.
For the last 20 years, Jeff has been a vocal coach at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, the Welsh National Opera and Welsh National Youth Opera. Jeff coaches at the Wales International Academy of Voice and on the music theatre course at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He is also vocal tutor at Bristol University, music director of the 200-voice St David’s Praise Choir and Orchestra, the Cambrensis Choir and Treorchy Male Voice Choir.
Jeff is involved in music theatre and cabaret work and has accompanied artists such as Michael Ball, John Owen Jones, Shan Cothi, Rhydian Roberts, Connie Fisher, Ruth Madoc and Dame Shirley Bassey.
Jeff is a recipient of the Joseph Parry Award, given by the Welsh Music Guild for his services to music in Wales.
***
More details about the concert here –
Côr Meibion Llanelli will remember their former accompanist at their annual concert
Leave a Reply