The members of the Hospital Notes Choir, based in Llanelli, have been busy getting ready for their BBC Radio Wales debut.
Producers from the popular Roy Noble radio programme visited rehearsals this week to record a session for the show’s Choir of the Week slot.
And the item is scheduled to be broadcast on the Roy Noble Show on BBC Radio Wales on Sunday, February 3.
The Hospital Notes Choir was founded last year to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the National Health Service.
Choir member Linda Williams explained it has been an eventful and exciting first year for the choristers.
She said: “The choir was founded to bring together colleagues from the hospital and community sectors, past and present, to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the NHS.
“The aim was to perform a concert for patients and staff on the official NHS Anniversary day on July 5 last year.
“The performance was held outside the restaurant in Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli. It was a huge success, with fantastic feedback from patients, visitors and staff.
“Such was its success that members asked that the choir should continue beyond the NHS celebrations. To that end, from the autumn of 2018, the choir was reformed and expanded.”
The choristers set down three aims –
- improve the mental health and wellbeing for our members
- give joy to patients
- give back to the community.
Linda added: “We secured the talented leadership and direction of our musical directors Andrew Harries and Stacey Harris. We rehearsed weekly at Prince Philip Hospital.
“Our first concert performance was at Dafen Church at the Remembrance Service. We also sang at “Their Light Still Shines” service at the National Botanic Gardens in Llanarthne.
“We sang at the Prince Philip Hospital Carol Service and performed Christmas Carols around the wards at both Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen, and Prince Philip Hospital.
“We continue to go from strength to strength, with a busy and diverse performance schedule for 2019. We are excited and proud to have become the only integrated health, care and emergency services choir in the UK.
“We believe that the choir is a way of creating a wonderful community, getting to know people that you may never have come in to contact with and forging new friendships. Being able to sing is not as important as wanting to have fun and be part of the choir.
“The rehearsals and performances and the fundraising activities of the choir all support our well-being and provides us with the opportunity of giving back to our community.
“As a choir, during 2019, we will be raising money for Motor Neurone Disease (MND). We have designed a “7 Peaks Challenge”. This involves walking up the highest mountain of each Health Board in Wales. Once at the summit, we will be singing! Family and friends of the choristers will be joining us on this challenge, giving it a real community spirit.”
Meanwhile, the Llanelli-based Lleisiau Hardd choir will be getting their 2019 programme off to a flying start with an ‘Evening of Music’ at The Hyst in High Street, Swansea.
There will be soloists and items from Lleisiau Hardd members old and new, with curtain up at 7pm on Wednesday, January 30.
The ‘boys’ of Côr Meibion Llanelli Male Voice Choir will be helping the chairman of Llanelli Rural Council raise money for charity when they perform their St David’s Day concert.
The concert will take the form of a Cawl a Chân evening at The Diplomat Hotel in Llanelli on Thursday, February 28 (7pm).
The chairman of Llanelli Rural Council Councillor Sian Caiach has chosen three charities to support during her year of office – Breakthro’ Llanelli, Llanelli Railway Strike Riots 1911 Commemorative Committee and Wales Air Ambulance.
Tickets at £12.00 each are available from Llanelli Rural Council, Vauxhall Buildings, Llanelli
Tel. 01554 774103 Email: enquiries@llanelli-rural.gov.uk
Over in Llandybie, 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.
This Sunday, February 3, will see the annual Llanelli Rotary Club Young Musician of the Year contest, being staged at Ysgol y Strade from 12.30pm.
The competition will feature musicians and singers. The instrumental part of the competition starts at 12.30pm, with the vocalists taking centre stage at 2.30pm.
Competition organiser Rotarian Cerith Owens said: “This year’s competition has proved more popular than ever and we think we have a record number of contestants taking part. Mums and dads and members of the public are welcome to turn up to watch.”
February sees 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.
The busy ladies of Côr Curiad Choir in Llanelli are looking forward to another big year of charity fundraising.
The choir’s main event this year will be on Saturday, April 6, at Ffwrnes Theatre in Llanelli.
Their special guest will be TV star and X Factor winner Sam Bailey and her band.
The evening will also feature Ysgol y Strade pupil Martha Morgan and Angharad Elise Thomas, who runs her own drama company called The Hive in Llanelli.
All proceeds from the Llanelli Côr Curiad concert will go to Marie Curie Wales.
The compere will be TV and radio personality and ‘local hero’ Kev Johns MBE. Tickets are £32 and £28.
Côr Curiad musical director Alex Esney said: “It’s the first time Sam has performed in Llanelli, so we are very excited.
“We are hoping to smash our charity fundraising target of £20,000 by the end of this 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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