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
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.
Before that, 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.
Côr Merched Tybie’s next big concert in Llandybie 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Sam Bailey was born in Bexley, East London. Growing up, she enjoyed singing for her friends and family but never believed she was destined for stardom.
When she was younger, Sam entered talent competitions but always wanted to impress people by herself, rather than being talked up by family and friends.
However, her family did have a major influence on her musical career – her grandfather was a singer in a group called ‘The Four Vinos’ and her father was also in a band, so she was often in the company of musicians.
One of her earliest success stories was winning a ‘Search For A Star’ talent competition in Crayford Town Hall, Bexley as a 16-year-old. She went on to attend Bexley Arts College and Dartford’s Miskin Theatre to further develop her talent.
Though singing was a passion, Sam admits that her first love in life was football. She played professionally for a number of clubs including Millwall Lionesses, West Ham, Crystal Palace and London Women.
Before she stole the hearts of the nation by winning the 10th series of The X Factor at Christmas 2013, Sam worked as a prison officer at HM Prison Gartree, as well as performing on cruise ships, in clubs and at music festivals for several years.
Despite her obvious nervousness during her first X Factor audition, she blew the judges away with her rendition of Beyoncé’s ‘Listen’, receiving a standing ovation and leading Gary Barlow to describe her voice as “incredible”.
Under the mentorship of Sharon Osborne, Sam became a clear favourite on the show, dazzling audiences and judges alike with her stunning voice and natural stage presence.
She received more than a million votes over the course of the final weekend and was crowned winner of the show.
Following her triumph, her debut single, ‘Skyscraper’, reached Christmas number one and her debut album, The Power of Love stormed to the top of the UK album charts in 2014.
Sam is one of the most talented performers in the music business and her first headline tour in 2015 received rave reviews.
Sam lives in Leicester with her husband Craig, and their three children – Tommy, Brooke, and Miley.
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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