THE name of Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir is being kept alive through a new Young Musician of the Year competition.
The choir finished active performing last year after struggling to recruit new members and officials.
But a choir spokesman said this week: “We remain determined to keep the famous name of Côr Meibion Llanelli alive in west Wales – and what better way to do it than to organise a competition to encourage the musicians and singers of the future.
“Down the years, the choir has raised thousands for local charities. We want to continue to play an active part in the local community to keep the name of our historic choir alive.”
The Young Musician of the Year competition will take place at Ysgol y Strade, Llanelli, at 7pm on Friday, June 21.
The competition is open to all pupils from Llanelli secondary schools.
The winner will receive the Trevor Lewis Shield, presented in memory of one of the choir’s most stalwart members.
There is a cash prize of £750 for the winner; £200 for second and £100 for third.
Adjudicators for the event will be Angharad Brinn, Cerith Owens and Meinir Jones Parry.
Pupils are being advised to register for the competition through their schools. If anyone needs further competition information, then they should contact Chris Davies at Ysgol y Strade, email christopher.davies@ysgolystrade.org
Tickets for the competition will be £5 and will be available through the ticketsource websie – www.ticketsource.co.uk/cormeibionllanelli
Some archive photos from Cor Meibion Llanelli
Stalwart Cor Meibion Llanelli Mr Trevor Lewis, who died last year.
It would take a fairly hefty book to summarise the achievements of the choir over a history spanning nearly 60 years.
But here are some keynote events –
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 was D Eifion Thomas, who helped the choir grow in stature and strength to become one of the leading male choirs in Britain.
The choir was successful at all the major choral competitions in Wales.
The honours list included 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 recorded 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 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 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 travelled extensively throughout the world – Germany, Canada, USA. France, Ireland, Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand.
The choristers raised 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.
In other news, members of Llanelli Youth Theatre are getting warmed up for what is going to be a busy 40th anniversary year.
LYT will be staging a special 40th anniversary concert at Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli on Saturday, June 1.
Then, in September, LYT will be staging Stephen Sondheim’s Tony award-winning musical Sweeney Todd.
If country music is your scene, then Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanell is the place to be this Saturday.
Direct from The Royal Albert Hall, A Country Night In Nashville recreates the scene of a buzzing Honky Tonk in downtown Nashville, perfectly capturing the energy and atmosphere of an evening in the home of country music.
Prepare to be transported on a musical journey through the history of Country, featuring songs from its biggest stars both past and present.
Hits from Johnny Cash to Alan Jackson, Dolly to the Dixie Chicks, Willie Nelson to Little Big Town, are showcased by the amazing Dominic Halpin and the Hurricanes.
With songs including Ring Of Fire, Crazy, Follow Your Arrow, It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere, Need You Now, 9-5, and The Gambler to name just a few, this incredible celebration of country music is a night not to be missed!
Tickets are £25.50 and it starts at 7.30pm.
More information about Theatrau Sir Gar shows can be found on their website at – https://www.theatrausirgar.co.uk
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