There’ll be plenty of music to lift the spirit at the Llanelli and District Fairtrade Party, which is being held at the Lliedi Suite of the Selwyn Samuel Centre on Saturday (January 19) from 3 to 5.30pm.
Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir will be the star attraction and will perform two ‘sets’ during the afternoon.
The event will also feature the Llanelli-based ladies choir The Phil Harmonics and three young members of the Loud Applause Rising Stars team – Osian Clarke, Lauren Fisher and Nikkila Thomas.
The event will help promote Llanelli and Carmarthenshire as Fairtrade shopping zones.
On Saturday evening in Llanelli there will be a special ‘Light Up The Night’ concert with the Tenovus Cancer Care charity Sing With Us choir.
It is being held between 6.30pm and 8.30pm at The Athenaeum Room at Llanelli Library.
The event celebrates the fourth anniversary of the formation of the Sing With Us Llanelli choir.
On Saturday, January 26, Welsh folk legend Dafydd Iwan will be in Llanelli.
Dafydd Iwan and his band will be the star attraction at an evening to celebrate St Dwynwen’s Day (7pm start at The Diplomat Hotel, Llanelli).
The evening will also feature a new band from the Gwendraeth Valley, Cahwt.
Meanwhile, the members of Côr Merched Tybie Ladies Choir are looking for a new musical director.
The hard-working Elen Millns has stepped down as MD of the choir because of an increasing number of commitments.
Côr Merched Tybie Ladies Choir was formed in 1989. The choristers have a well-established, varied repertoire, embracing a wide range of songs, both classical and contemporary. They uphold a strong Welsh tradition and also perform in Welsh as well as other languages.
The choir currently has 32 members who enjoy being involved in performances within the local community and beyond. The choristers are available for both public, charity and private events, such as weddings.
The weekly rehearsal sessions are held every Wednesday 7 – 9pm at Llandybie RFC.
The popular annual concerts are held at the Public Memorial Hall in Llandybie.
A spokesman for the choir said:
“We are keen to work with an enthusiastic and committed individual with excellent communication skills, who is able to build a good relationship and work amicably with the members, in order to get the best out of our choir and make singing an enjoyable experience for us and our audiences, with the potential to help attract new members.
“The musical director will be supported by committed choir members and a very supportive, pro-active choir committee.
“We would expect the MD/Accompanist to be able to play the piano to a high standard, preferably with previous experience as an accompanist and/or conductor.”
Those wishing to apply will need to send a letter of application and a CV to the following email address:
cmtybie@yahoo.co.uk
Côr Merched Tybie’s next big concert is one being arranged in memory of Elyth Morris, who sadly died last year.
Elyth lived in Llandybie for more than 60 years after marrying Idris Morris (Morris Bakers).
She was very active in the community, being a member of the WI and the Mothers’ Union.
She was the organist at Llandybie Church for 60 years and was also a member of Côr Merched Tybie.
Dorothy Singh came up with the idea of a concert for Elyth, knowing her love of music and her musical contribution to the community over many years.
Dorothy’s amazingly talented pupils will be playing at the concert. Côr Meibion Dyffryn Tywi will also perform.
The concert will raise funds to set up a programme that will run from St Tybie Church in Llandybie.
The idea is to reach out and make music accessible to all – “making music – changing lives”.
The new venture will be run by a local musician and music teacher Dorothy Singh. The idea is to give local children the opportunity to learn and enjoy music.
The concert will be held on Friday, February 1, 7pm.
February will see The Opera Boys back at The Lyric Theatre in Carmarthen.
The boys are back with a brand new show, full of opera, classical, West End and crossover music, as well as their unique on-stage banter.
Combining four big voices with four big personalities, The Opera Boys promise a fabulous show full of music and laughter!
Operatic arias and classical favourites from ‘Nessun Dorma’ to ‘Time to say goodbye’ are mixed with showstoppers from ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘Phantom of the Opera’ right through to ‘Jersey Boys’.
The show also features brand new classical arrangements of modern day pop hits, all performed in The Opera Boys’ inimitable style.
The Opera Boys have been delighting audiences all over the world with their unique show combining beautiful, powerful and emotional music with funny, engaging and light-hearted entertainment.
They are at The Lyric at 7.30pm on Friday, February 8.
Mid Wales Opera return to Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli at 7.30pm on Wednesday, February 27.
They will sing Puccini’s Tosca.
Power and passion collide in this breathtaking masterpiece.
Trapped in a life and death struggle against the corrupt police chief Scarpia, the diva Tosca and her artist lover face the ultimate sacrifice.
Puccini’s lavish score takes audiences on an emotional rollercoaster ride from tender love story through powerful brutality to ultimate tragedy. The opera will be performed in English.
The Miners’ Theatre in Ammanford will be staging a St David’s Day Concert on Friday, March 1 (7pm).
The popular Cor Meibion Dyffryn Amman will share the stage with three highly-talented young musicians from the Ammanford area – clarinettist Catrin Soons and the beautiful voices of Neve Summers and Osian Clarke. The guest accompanist will be Joseph Cavalli-Price.
Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli always stages a hugely-popular St David’s Day concert. This year it will be held on Saturday, March 2.
The concert will feature the world-famous Morriston Orpheus Choir, conducted by Joy Amman Davies, and Côr Lleisiau’r Cwm, under the baton of Llanelli’s Catrin Hughes.
Sharing the spotlight will be two highly-talented young singers from the Loud Applause Rising Stars stable – mezzo soprano Nikkila Thomas, from Llanelli, and tenor Osian Clarke, from Tycroes.
Wednesday, March 6 (7.30pm) will see the appearance of Gruffydd Wyn at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli.
Gruffydd is a talented Classical crossover artist who hails from Anglesey, North Wales.
A singer from an early age, he has dedicated his life to following his dream of becoming a world class vocal performer.
Gruffydd has recently seen success as a finalist on the talent show ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, where he received Amanda Holden’s Golden Buzzer.
During the series, he received widespread acclaim for his big voice and professional performances under pressure, with judges’ comments such as ‘Epic, phenomenal and outrageously good’ and Simon Cowell calling him ‘The musical version of Rocky’.
If your taste veers to pop and folk, then you’ll enjoy Barbara Dickson in concert at The Lyric Theatre, Carmarthen, on Friday, March 8 (7.30pm).
Barbara will perform a wonderful range of material, drawing on her folk roots as well as performing globally known hits such as The Caravan Song, Another Suitcase in Another Hall plus lots more.
The Lyric will also be the venue for one of the UK’s longest-running musical theatre concert tours – Beyond the Barricade (Saturday, March 23, 7.30pm).
The show features past principal performers from Les Miserables.
It will deliver more than two hours of the best of Broadway and the West End and, of course, end with a stunning finale from Les Mis.
The concert features David Fawcett (Valjean) Andy Reiss (Enjolras and Resident Director for the National Tour of Les Miserables) Katie Leeming (Eponine) and Poppy Tierney (Cosette), together with a live band who capture the feel of the original orchestrations of the chosen musicals.
To this day every musical note is still played and sung live – very rare indeed.
Beyond the Barricade gives musical theatre songs a bold concert format treatment – but with the conviction and intention to deliver the material as if the audience are watching the original performance. This incredible concert is now in its 19th successive year.
Robert Lloyd works as a media consultant – www.rlloydpr.co.uk
If you have any news about the choral scene in Llanelli, then please contact him on 07777 683637 or email rlloydpr@btinternet.com
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