Latest On Song column from the Carmarthen Journal and the Llanelli Star –

WELSH singer-songwriter Cat Llewelyn is bringing her very different treatment of opera to Llanelli next week.

Cat and Bex Hazard are an innovative duo called Zirenz.

They specialise in trance music, pop, and opera, with re-imagined arrangements of well-known opera arias, making “pOpera for the people”.

The concert, at Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli, on Saturday, September 9, is in aid of Neuroendocrine Cancer UK.

Cat is a major supporter of the charity after surviving both Neuroendocrine Cancer of the stomach and Neuroendocrine Cancer of the liver.

The concert is being billed as ‘Neuroendocrine Cancer UK presents pOpera by Candleight – Zirenz In Concert’. Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start.

Cat and Bex kicked off their career together winning an Honourable Mention Award from the world-renowned John Lennon Song writing competition USA in 2003, with their song Underworld Nation.

Then, over the last decade as Trance DJ producers and vocalists, Zirenz chalked up No1 and Top 10 successes in the iTunes, Deezer and Beatport Charts with their vocal trance singles and album releases.

In 2021, their track Edge of Space became part of trance music history when it was included in the official A State Of Trance All Time TOP 1000 list ,which is the holy grail of trance and compiled by the five-time ranked world No1 DJ Armin van Buuren.

Cat was first diagnosed with Neuroendocrine Cancer of the stomach in 2007 and treated in London at Queens hospital in Essex at a time when very little was known about this type of cancer.

It was Christmas 2014 when Cat was then diagnosed with Neuroendocrine Cancer of the liver and was treated at the Heath Hospital in Cardiff.

Shortly after this, she met the specialist nurse from Neuroendocrine Cancer UK organisation who held a meeting at Swansea’s Maggie’s Centre. They gave her vital information and continued support to help understand her Neuroendocrine Cancer.

Today, Cat and Bex are published songwriters signed to the award-winning Bucks Music Group alongside a plethora of international writers.

Over the last four years, they have been working on their “pOpera project”, as they combine their love of trance, pop, and opera with re-imagined arrangements of opera arias.

The concert promises to be a must-see event for many reasons.

The show includes a fascinating and eclectic line-up, with the highly-regarded Cantamus Girls Choir from Nottinghamshire, the ever-popular Rock Choir, the Celtic crossover band The Meadows, the multi-award-winning composer and musician Lisa Mears, all joining the enigmatic, award-winning recording artists Zirenz.

Zirenz will bring you their re-imagined arrangements of well-known opera arias, including – Un Bel Di from Puccini’s Madame Butterfly; The Flower Duet from Delibes’ Lakme (the British Airways theme); Vivaldi’s Gloria, featuring the voice of Welsh Opera Tenor Aled Hall; Pie Jesu and Ave Maria.

These and many other classical songs will be set to dance, electro pop beats and sounds.

All performers taking part have donated their services for free and all ticket sales and proceeds from this performance will all be going to the Neuroendocrine Cancer UK Charity – www.neuroendocrinecancer.org.uk

Meanwhile, there’s a splendid concert lined-up for St Maelog’s Church in Llandyfaelog in the Gwendraeth Valley on Sunday, September 3.

Whitland Male Voice Choir will feature and will share the stage with popular soprano soloist Joy Cornock.

Proceeds from the evening will go towards the St Maelog’s Bell Appeal and maintenance fund.

There will be other guest artists on the evening.

Tickets for the concert are £10. Contact Lynwen on 07792956123 for more information.

Upcoming events at Carmarthenshire Theatres (Theatrau Sir Gar) include –

Edwina Hayes will be performing at the Miners’ Theatre in Ammanford on September 8.

Edwina brings together English folk, Americana and the rich Northern singer-songwriter tradition to create a sound that’s truly her own. She’s toured with Jools Holland, Van Morrison, Nanci Griffith and Loudon Wainwright III and played on some of the country’s biggest stages including Glastonbury and the Royal Albert Hall.

Edwina will be supported by The Eclectic Shed Experience.

Carmarthenshire-based band The Eclectic Shed Experience is made up of a trio of musicians – Ron Savory, Liz Crippin and Alan Thomas. Eclectic is the perfect word to describe the music ESE perform; having three songwriters means that there is a great deal of diversity in the style of their songs, and it would be impossible to limit the description of their material to one genre.

Eclectic Shed initially built a following as a duo, performing at festivals all over the UK and abroad. During this time, they shared the stage with luminaries including The Daoiri Farrell trio, Kieran Halpin, Edwina Hayes and Marla and David Celia.

Comedian Phil Evans is from Ammanford. He is known as the man who puts the ‘cwtsh’ into comedy. This column appears in the South Wales Evening Post, Carmarthen Journal and Llanelli Star. Website – www.philevans.co.uk

WHAT’S THE POINT OF A CALENDAR WHEN HALLOWEEN ARRIVES IN AUGUST?

Readers who’ve followed my rambling ruminations for years will know that a handful of irritating things in life are a constant source of ‘Driving me up the wall-ness’ that I’ve returned to time and time again.

One that I regularly moan about – and I know from the feedback I get that I’m not alone here – is the pervasive manner in which large shops and supermarkets encourage people, including those with young families, to spend money on goods they probably can’t afford and could easily live without.

This has been going on for decades, but it’s astonishing it continues during a time when many people are struggling to pay their mortgages, rent and heating bills (Winter is already lurking in the wings, waiting to make its unwelcome return) and are relying on foodbanks to feed their family.

Think about that for a moment.

In 21^st Century Britain, thousands of people, including many who work for the NHS, couldn’t manage to get through the week without being given a box of free food.

I genuinely find that an appalling situation.

I’ve set up this preamble to explain (I hope) the reasons why I was so dismayed to see Halloween goods on sale in a Welsh branch of a UK wide chain store – on August the 14^th!

I won’t mention the store’s name, but it rhymes with Dee and Yem.

I’ve complained in the past about seeing Halloween and Christmas goods vying for space on shop shelves in September – but this was mid-August and the store had devoted a large section to cheap and nasty (not to say scary in some cases) plastic masks, costumes and other ghoulish goods.

I know there’s a generation of children now who absolutely love Halloween (encouraged by retailers of course) and I’m quite prepared to be labelled a killjoy.

But if just a few people diverted the money they might spend on a plastic skull or a Pennywise mask to make a contribution to their local food bank, wouldn’t that, in the spirit of All Hallows Eve, be one in the eye for the Devil?

……………….

Politeness and Appreciation: The Lost Arts?

Dear readers,

Call me old fashioned, but I believe in the power of please and thank you.

It’s amazing how something so simple can brighten someone’s day and create a ripple effect of positivity. Yet, it seems that in today’s fast-paced world, acts of kindness often go unnoticed. Let’s take a moment to reflect on this and share some amusing encounters.

Last week, I witnessed an extraordinary act of chivalry. A young man in a bustling Cardiff shop graciously held the door open for a middle-aged lady. However, to his astonishment, his gentlemanly gesture was met with complete indifference. Undeterred, he simply smiled and continued on his way. Kudos to him for maintaining his kindness despite the lack of acknowledgment!

Our roads, too, have become a stage for unappreciated acts of goodwill.

When I find myself stuck in traffic, I often allow fellow drivers to merge into my lane, if it’s safe to do so.

However, it seems that the art of a simple wave or nod of gratitude is dwindling. Are we becoming a nation of self-absorbed individuals, or are we so engrossed in our own little worlds that we forget the importance of acknowledging politeness and courtesy?

Now, dear readers, I turn to you. Have you experienced similar situations where your kind gestures have gone unnoticed? I invite you to share your stories with me. Whether it’s holding a door open, letting someone merge, or any other act of kindness, I want to hear from you!

And here’s the exciting part: the best story will be rewarded with an incredibly popular gift from Evans HQ! So, put your creative hats on and start writing. Let’s spread some laughter and remind ourselves of the power of politeness and appreciation.

Good luck, and may your stories bring a smile to our faces!

Latest On Song column from the Carmarthen Journal and the Llanelli Star –

CARL Orff’s Carmina Burana is coming to Llanelli on September 30.

Under the musical direction of Piet Zorn, Llanelli Chamber Choir are joining forces with organist William Reynolds, pianist Siân Davies, and percussionists Gareth Hamlin, Huw Griffiths, Graham Bradley, Dave Danford and Alun Hathaway.

So, if you remember the famous tune from the Old Spice advert, then you are already in the right zone.

Just imagine this live performance surrounded by the medieval features of St Elli Church, together with the beautiful voices of the soloists Morgan Summers (soprano) and Kieran Rayner (baritone) bringing an atmospheric performance of Carmina Burana, one of the most iconic compositions of the 20th century.

Llanelli Chamber Choir was founded by Piet Zorn in October, 2021.

The aim of the choir is to bring a variety of classical and traditional music to Llanelli and add to the rich musical culture in south Wales.

The Llanelli Chamber Choir is much more than just performance.

Piet hopes that by providing a space, where people are welcome to sing regularly, this will improve wellbeing and the mental health within our community.

He has ensured that joining the choir is accessible to everyone who has the desire to learn and sing, bringing joy to both the participants and the audience members.

Singing together is a fantastic experience – it can elevate, free up headspace, boost confidence, and keep the mind active.

Piet Zorn is a professional opera singer, vocal teacher, pianist, and composer.

He currently teaches music at a comprehensive school and has many of his private students go on to study singing, theatre and some who have become professional singers themselves.

He graduated with a master’s degree in music education from the Hamburg College of Music and Drama and went on to teach music teachers in Germany before moving to Wales eight years ago.

He has performed in many operas and oratorios both in Germany and Wales. Regular recitals and choral concerts round up his professional career.

Piet’s desire to start a chamber choir in Llanelli filled a gap within the community for this style of music.

You can find out more about the Llanelli Chamber Choir on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090227216918

Meanwhile, Welsh National Opera is delighted to announce a new WNO Cradle Choir in Llanelli, partnering with Carmarthenshire Theatres and Ffwrnes Theatre, where the choir will be based.

Expanding on existing choirs in Milford Haven and Llandeilo, the new branch in Llanelli will broaden the reach of the Cradle Project into more communities across Wales.

WNO Cradle Choirs are choirs for people living with dementia, their friends and families, Cradle Choirs aim to provide fun, inclusive sessions where daily challenges and cares can be left at the door and connections made and enabled through the joy of community singing.

Cradle Choirs have proved to be significant hubs for social connection within the community and encourages participants to step out of their typical daily routine with a dose of singing. Cradle Choir is part of the wider WNO Cradle Project, which seeks to raise awareness of the disease within school children through a variety of workshops.

The new WNO Cradle Choir in Llanelli starts on Tuesday, September 19, initially running for eight weeks.

Sessions are led by David Fortey (Cradle Choir Vocal Leader) and pianist Mark Jones, who will incorporate a wide range of music from stage and screen to folk songs and popular music.

After the session, there are refreshments and an opportunity to socialise with other members of the choir.

On the announcement, WNO Producer Jennifer Hill, said: “We’re delighted to be able to pilot a new Cradle Choir in Llanelli. Members of our existing choirs in Milford Haven and Llandeilo tell us how much they value the companionship and fun they have singing together on a weekly basis and so being able to further extend the reach to another area and a more urban setting is very exciting.

“We’ve been very lucky to have support on the ground from fantastic people and organisations who are embedded in their communities and hope to be able to add to their amazing work.”

Reflecting on previous success with the Llandeilo Cradle Choir, Sue Smith, Community Project Manager for Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “The response from the community with the development of a Cradle Choir in Llandeilo has been very positive. The reason it worked so well is not only the ability of a small rural town to access the great partnership with Welsh National Opera but also the dynamic Llandeilo Dementia Friendly Community Group and their ability to draw on community skills to make this sustainable.”

If you would like to find out more about our Cradle Project or are interested in joining one of the choirs, please contact Jennifer Hill at jennifer.hill@wno.org.uk

Upcoming events at Carmarthenshire Theatres (Theatrau Sir Gar) include –

Edwina Hayes will be performing at the Miners’ Theatre in Ammanford on September 8.

Edwina brings together English folk, Americana and the rich Northern singer-songwriter tradition to create a sound that’s truly her own. She’s toured with Jools Holland, Van Morrison, Nanci Griffith and Loudon Wainwright III and played on some of the country’s biggest stages including Glastonbury and the Royal Albert Hall.

Edwina will be supported by The Eclectic Shed Experience.

Carmarthenshire-based band The Eclectic Shed Experience is made up of a trio of musicians – Ron Savory, Liz Crippin and Alan Thomas. Eclectic is the perfect word to describe the music ESE perform; having three songwriters means that there is a great deal of diversity in the style of their songs, and it would be impossible to limit the description of their material to one genre.

Eclectic Shed initially built a following as a duo, performing at festivals all over the UK and abroad. During this time, they shared the stage with luminaries including The Daoiri Farrell trio, Kieran Halpin, Edwina Hayes and Marla and David Celia.

This is the text of the petition to stop the Home Office using the Stradey Park Hotel for asylum seekers –

Accepted an invitation to contribute to the Jason Mohammad radio phone-in on BBC Radio Wales this morning to discuss the Grand National.

You can hear my bit from about 16.25, but the whole show is here should you want to listen.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001l1q1

My South Wales Evening Post column – http://rlloydpr.co.uk/2023/04/14/south-wales-evening-post-column-april-14-2023/

Looking forward to being the guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Men’s Fellowship at Greenfield Chapel, Llanelli, this. evening (7pm start).

The topic is being decided later – have to  work out which of my talks the guys have heard before!

Photo is a Russ Myers watercolour.

Greenfield website – https://greenfieldchurch.net/gfwp/