Choir News

Please let the secretary have any items of choir-related news for publication on this page.

May 2009

Ken Brown

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of another of our patrons, Ken Brown. Ken was another loyal and generous supporter of Mountain Ash and District Choral Society. We extend our sympathies to his widow Blodwen and to all his family.

The mixed media project regarding the first Welsh settlers in Patagonia and their integration with the indigenous peoples (the Tehuelches) for which the choir was filmed in February 2008, has been nominated for a BAFTA (Cymru) in the Short Films category. The awards ceremony was held last Sunday 17th May and although 'Bread, Feathers and 'Maté'' didn't win, it's quite something to be nominated. (I have a copy of the DVD and will pass around choir members so that you can see the finished article. Sec.)

April 2009

Vera Silcock

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of one of our patrons, Vera Silcock, who has died after a sudden illness. Vera was a long-serving patron and staunch supporter of Mountain Ash and District Choral Society. We extend our sympathies to her family.

December 2008

Back in February, we were recorded singing the Welsh words to the tune of "God Save the Queen" as sung by the first emigrants to Patagonia as they sailed from Liverpool in 1865 - this as part of a mixed-media project regarding these early settlers in a collaboration between Argentinian artist Carlos Pinatti, film maker Gerald Conn and Welsh-speaking artist Christine Mills. The project is now complete and will go on exhibition in Argentina, hopefully coming to UK during 2009.

September 2008

A crisis! We find ourselves without a conductor as Andrew succumbs to the surgeon's knife and Phyllis is struck-down by a dreaded lurgy. Unfortunately, this means an end to our Mozartian ambitions for 2008 and instead we look forward to a Christmas concert probably on December 6th at St Margaret's Church (TBC). The choir wishes both Andrew and Phyllis speedy recoveries. We need them both back soon!

August 2008

Congratulations to Only Men Aloud on their Last Choir Standing success. We have problems standing for just the one rehearsal so I'm not sure it's for us!

February 2008

On Wednesday 27th Feb we plan to record a song sung on the tea-clipper Mimosa by the first Welsh emigrants heading to Patagonia where they landed at New Bay (now Porth Madrun) in July 1865 after a 2 month voyage:

The recording is to support a project by Argentinian artist Carlos Pinatti, in collaboration with Gerald Conn and Christine Mills. The following from Carlos...

"This project deals with a little know aspect of the history of the Welsh settlers in Patagonia who made contacts with the indigenous people of the region, the Tehuelches. It explores how these people, who both belonged to an endangered culture, interacted with one another. The Welsh had left their homeland to find a place where they could preserve their language and customs while the Tehuelches culture was threatened by neighbouring tribes and the “sedentarizacion de los aborigines” by the Argentine government. The intention is to create a piece of work that will use sound and image to explore the link between landscape and language of these two very different peoples.

The project is a collaboration between Argentinean artist Carlos Pinatti and filmmaker Gerald Conn of Cinetig. They will work with artist Christine Mills, a Welsh speaker. The project involves an exploratory visit to Argentina to gather video and archive material. The final piece is likely to take the form of a mixed media installation work digitally combining video, archive material, performance and sculpture.

The intention is to tour the installation to a number of venues in Argentina and Wales including The Natural History Museum of La Plata, The National Museum of Wales and The National Library of Wales."

Further reading : The Mimosa and the First Settlers

It is with regret that we announce the postponement of our Annual Concert from its planned date of 19th April 2008 until 18th October 2008. The postponement is as a result of much-needed internal restoration works at St Margaret's Church. The programme will remain the same as that planned for April but we will need to find new tenor and bass/baritone soloists as Michael Bracegirdle and Wyn Pencarreg are unfortunately not available for the new date.

A programme of miscellaneous works will replace the planned Annual Concert and will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes (RC) Church - date TBA.

It's with great pleasure that we announce the appointment of our new accompanist Mr Stuart Ghezzi. Stuart will join us from Wednesday 20 February. We are delighted also that Eirlys has agreed to be our Deputy Accompanist, a post that has remained unfilled for some considerable time.

Our annual AGM went smoothly with the most important decision being the agreement to increase choir subs to £30 with concessions for retired members set at £20. This increase in the subs puts us on a much more secure financial footing and brings us more in line with other societies.

We welcome Cynthia Craig to the post of Deputy Chairman and Anwen Burridge to the post of Soprano Rep. We wish them both well for their terms of office.

January 2008

Watch this space for news regarding our appointment of a new accompanist. He/she will have the unenviable task of stepping into the role occupied for so long by our own, inimitable Eirlys Jones who has decided that it's now time to step-down from her place at our keyboard.

Our plans to return to Montélimar are well advanced and we have 47 people signed-up for the trip.

November 2007

Plans are coming together nicely for our return visit to Montélimar during 2008 and we need choir members and family/friends to sign-up within the next two weeks to secure their places. The practical limit is 50 due to the need for coach travel at each end of the journey. Could those who are interested please make contact with their part reps - we need (for each person) your name as it appears in your passport, your passport number and a £50 deposit - by Wednesday 28 November would be our preference please.

After more years than she cares to remember, Eirlys has decided that it's time to step-back from the keyboard. The choir is thus on the look-out for a new accompanist. If you're interested in the position or know of somebody who might be then please contact the Secretary.

Our best wishes to Madeleine and Martha both of whom aren't able to come and sing at the moment. We wish them both a speedy recovery.

June 2007

Happy Birthday!

March 2007

A very warm welcome to two new members, Joanne who joins the sopranos and Dorothy who joins the alto section.

February 2007

January 2007

Choir annual dinner to be held on Friday 19th January at Aberdare Golf Club - price £10.50 for 3 course dinner. Committee members please remember to bring raffle prizes! Incriminating photos to appear on this website soon...

Welcome back to some members we haven't seen for a while and a warm welcome to Barbara - new member in the alto section.

December 2006

The choir's Christmas Concert held at St Margaret's Church on Saturday 9th December was enjoyed by all those who attended. The choir wishes to thank it's guests Cynon Brass and Elizabeth Major for their musical contributions to our Christmas Celebration.

October 2006

Meirion Williams

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of one of the choir's founder members, Meirion Williams who had been in ill health for some time. The choir extends it's deepest sympathy to his wife Margaret who has nursed Meirion devotedly through recent years. Both Meirion and his wife were stalwart members of Mountain Ash & District Choral, Meirion a member of the bass section and Margaret, also a founder member, a member of the sopranos. Meirion's funeral will be held at 11:20 a.m. on Thursday 2 November at Llwydcoed Crematorium

The proceeds from our Christmas concert on Saturday 9th December will be donated to the Mayor's Appeal 2006/2007. RCT Mayor Joyce Cass's Appeal will support Ty Hafan, Cancer Research Wales and Diabetes UK. Please make every effort to boost our ticket sales so as to help these worthy causes.

Well done to Anwen on completion of her studies and on achieving a Post Graduate Diploma in Music Therapy.

September 2006

Congratulations to Sharon and Jeff on the occasion of their marriage on 23 September.

August 2006

July 2006

Tŷ Cerdd-Music Centre Wales Newsletter

The first edition of the new Tŷ Cerdd-Music Centre Wales Newsletter is available on-line (click link). This contains information and news about the various aspects of Tŷ Cerdd activity, including Welsh Amateur Music Federation, Welsh Music information Centre, National Youth Arts Wales, the Tŷ Cerdd Recording Studio, and the concerts and workshops organised by Tŷ Cerdd, not only at the Wales Millennium Centre, but increasingly throughout Wales.

Congratulations to Rachel and Colin who became proud parents of Tomos Edward on 27th July.