Our latest CD, "NICE 'n EASY", would make an ideal gift if you forgot someone at Christmas, or even a New Year present for yourself! 

Go to our "RECORDS" page to hear extracts.

For further information or mail order please contact 

Jeff Ripton on 01792 521010, or any Choir member.

Sunday 20th December 2009

Swansea City Civic Carol Services

The Sunday before Christmas Day has become the traditional date for these services at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea, organised by the Salvation Army, Swansea Citadel, and we have been honoured to be invited to participate for several years now. There are two Services - one in the afternoon and one in the evening, and although the roads had been covered in light snow and ice overnight we were pleasantly surprised to see two practically full houses. The Services raise funds for the Lord Mayor of Swansea's Charity Appeal, which this year is the St David's Medical Foundation, who support the School of Medicine at Swansea University in medical research. The collections during the services raised just a few pounds short of £2,000. The Deputy Lord Mayor, Richard Lewis, was present in the afternoon, and the Lord Mayor, Alan Lloyd in the evening.

Under the command of Major Alan Green the Salvation Army put on their usual polished performances, bringing a new meaning to the current buzz-word "multitasking" as so many members showed their talents and versatility by taking part in band, choir, timbrells, etc. It is always good to see young people enjoying making music and drama, and we have seen many of these participants grow each year and move from junior to senior roles, as well as welcoming several new youngsters. The nativity scene is always a moving experience as young and not-so-old members recreate it on stage. The Band played as we all sang the carols.

The Choir's music staff (D.Huw Rees, Helen Wyn, and Hywel Evans) also had a busy day as they swapped the conductor's rostrum for the piano, piano for organ, organ for piano, and so forth. We performed six pieces, with Huw Roberts as soloist in "Haleliwia" and "O Holy Night", which has apparently been voted Britain's favourite carol. We've certainly done our bit to popularise it as we have sung it several times in concerts and services this year! 

We must thank the Salvation Army for providing an excellent buffet for us between the afternoon and evening services. This is our last engagement of the year, and it is always a long day but a rewarding one, so we look forward to being invited to attend the Services in 2010.

Morriston Festival of Carols - Tabernacle Chapel

This year's Festival was in aid of Maggie's Cancer Care Centre at Singleton Hospital, Swansea, and before delivering her reading, Dr Patricia Steane OBE DL, Chair of the Campaign Board, told us something of the work being done to raise the £3million required to build the new Centre and to run it for the first two years. Please click on their name above to find out how the centre is helping the many cancer sufferers, and their families, in south west Wales.

Organised by Tabernacle Choir, the event included our Choir led by D. Huw Rees, Tabernacle Choir led by Kerry Rogers, Morriston Ladies' Choir conducted by Anthony Williams, and Ysgol Gynradd Lônlas conducted by Rhian Morrissi. The evening was compèred by the Rev. Eirian Wyn.

All the choirs had been working hard on their rehearsals, and this resulted in a successful and enjoyable evening. The children's choir had several promising soloists who sang out strongly and confidently, and it is to be hoped that they continue with music as they pass through the schools system. They also sang two pieces composed by their Headmaster, Dyfrig Ellis, one of which is their competition piece for the Wedi 3 Christmas Carol competition to be screened on S4C on Thursday 17th December. We wish them luck.

Tuesday 8th December 2009

The Meningitis Trust - Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff

When Jocob Epstein's aluminium statue "Christ In Majesty" was erected in Llandaff Cathedral in the 1950s it caused much controversy, but with time it has become accepted and appreciated. It made a stunning backdrop for this concert organised by The Meningitis Trust, and in spite of the atrocious weather there was a capacity audience. As an introduction to the concert we were left in no doubt of the devastating implications Meningitis can have for sufferers, when Sue Davie, Chief Executive of the Trust, told us how her life changed after she contracted the disease six years ago. Hearing her experiences reminded us that it is not only children who can contract it, and emphasised the worthiness of this cause.

The Choir was conducted by our MD, D. Huw Rees and accompanied by Hywel Evans on the Cathedral's Steinway piano in a selection of suitably seasonal pieces. Our Bass soloist Huw Roberts was back to sing his part in "O Holy Night" after "lending" it to Céline Forrest in last week's concert.

The Katherine Miller Quartet's appearance in the Concert was poignant because Katherine and her husband lost their three-month old son to meningitis in 2005. The quartet was made up of members of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and their performance of Ravel's "Bolero" and Debussy's "Cake Walk" was one way of acknowledging the help and support they have had from the Trust.

Cardiff schoolboy 16-year old Richard Cartlidge has performed all over Britain, and his mastery of the xylophone and marimba belied his years. As the photograph shows, his hands flew across the keys at great speed and accuracy to produce an enthralling sound.

No Christmas concert is complete without a children's choir, and in Creigiau Primary School Choir we had a good one. Their performance showed us why they have had successes in competitions, including the Eisteddfod, as they sang a couple of suitably festive arrangements.

Friday 4th December 2009

DOORWAYS Christmas Concert, Sacred Heart Centre, Morriston

 We are delighted to say that being invited to perform at this concert has become a regular annual event for the Choir, and as it is always on the first Friday in December it gets everyone in the mood to start Christmas preparations. This year we were pleased to see the return from illness of our regular Compère, Hywel Lewis, who always involves the children's choir with little riddles and puzzles, and who always finds new jokes for the audience!

Apart from the Choir, the other performers were Cwmrhydyceirw Primary School Choir and soprano, Céline Forrest. The Choir's usual soloist, Huw Roberts, was unable to attend the concert and his role was taken at short notice by our top tenor, Norman James, who did an excellent job of the solo part in "Haleliwia". We sang an assortment of music and included some seasonal favourites, such as "In The Bleak Midwinter".

Céline, accompanied by Hywel Evans on the piano, sang several pieces ranging from Mozart to Léhar, and we were most impressed by her range and tone. She is still very young and in 2008 was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music. She has now added us to the list of choirs with whom she has sung. Céline joined us for our final piece - "O Holy Night", which was a great success. We usually sing it with our Bass soloist, so this was something of a treat for the choristers.

The School Choir was on top form as usual, conducted this year by Mrs Ruth Llewelyn and accompanied by Mr Craig Rees. They sang some pieces from a musical show they are performing, and when they were joined in one of the pieces by Mrs Llewelyn and Miss Rebecca Taylor (Year 5 Class teacher) we all enjoyed it so much that they were asked to sing it a second time.

We thank Doorways (part of the Gwalia Housing Trust) for inviting us to help their fund raising effort again this year. They provide support for people with learning difficulties to help them lead more independent lives in their own homes. To find out more about their work click HERE.

Wednesday 25th November 2009

Dan y Bryn Residential Care Home, Pontardawe, Swansea

We had been invited to return to Dan y Bryn this year after our first appearance there in 2008, and the residents and staff were given a short concert with a pre-Christmas theme. Compèred by Robert Harwood, we sang a varied selection of Welsh, English, Latin, and Afrikaans pieces, and bass soloist Huw Roberts wowed the audience with "Bless This House". D.Huw Rees conducted, and Hywel Evans was at the piano. 

We would like to thank Dan y Bryn for the refreshments, and wish you all a Happy Christmas. We look forward to being asked back again next year.

Friday 20th November 2009

All Souls' Church, Tycoch, Swansea

The night Morriston came to Tycoch, as we and the band of Morriston Citadel of the Salvation Army gave a concert to raise funds for the Church. It is some years since we last sang there, and the audience who braved the stormy weather thoroughly enjoyed the programme, which was entitled "A Hint Of Christmas". The Choir was conducted by MD D.Huw Rees, with Hywel Evans accompanying on piano.

The modern, yet elegant Church has excellent accoustics, and the Choir and Band filled it with sound. The soloist was the Choir's Huw Roberts who, apart from his own solo spots, also sang the solo parts in "Haleliwia" and "O Holy Night". For the finale the Choir was accompanied by the band as we sang "Morte Christe".

Saturday 31st October 2009

Wales Festival of Remembrance, St David's Hall, Cardiff

We were privileged to be invited to join the massed choirs at the Festival again this year, and it turned out to be one of the best.

It was conducted by Dr Alwyn Humphrys MBE, with the Regimental Band of the Royal Welsh conducted by Major Denis Burton, compères Owen Money and Roy Noble,  harpist Catrin Finch CBE, baritone Gary Griffiths, Steve Sims (winner of the "Can You Sing" competition), and young chorister Geraint Llyr Owen, who led the audience in singing the hymn. Accompanists were David Geoffrey Thomas (organ) and David Last (piano). 

A special Welsh welcome was given to Rolf Harris who sang "Two Little Boys", accompanied by the choir. He told us how the song, although written some time ago, mirrored the history of his father and uncle, who's fate in WW1 he had recently discovered; his father was wounded, and his uncle lost his life on the same battlefield in Flanders. Rolf also gave a passable impromtu rendition of "Calon Lân", and was obviously happy to be back in the land of his forefathers.

At the end of the first half the massed choir joined a youth choir from Cardiff High School and Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive in the haunting "Mansion of the Lord", which was the theme tune in the film "We Were Soldiers". The children sang the first two verses as they walked to the front of the auditorium in darkness, holding (electric) candles, and the choir joined in the last verse with them.

The first-half concert, in which Owen Money kept the audience in stitches, was followed by the Muster and Parade of standards, and the service of remembrance.

See our page for more photos.

Unfortunately the evening was marred by an accident on an escalator while people were leaving the Hall. Among those injured was our chorister, Roy Seaborne, who was taken to the Heath Hospital with both arms strapped and his head bandaged. He is now home, but sore, and we wish him and the other casualities a speedy recovery.

Friday 16th October 2009, St. Catherine's Church, Gorseinon

Proceeds shared by Church Funds and Ty Olwen, Morriston.

This was a joint concert with the ladies of Swansea Excelsior Ladies' Choir under the leadership of their Musical Directors, Dorothy Chaplin and Lynda Richards, with Accompanist Veronika Hasson-Palo, who hails from Belarus. The ladies were resplendent in their brand-new outfits, and among the pieces they sang was "Adiemus" by Karl Jenkins from Penclawdd. We were impressed by the clarity of their diction in the rapid "Rhythm of Life" from the show "Sweet Charity", and by the range of the material they had chosen for their programme. We last sang with the ladies in 1991 in St Mary's Church, so a joint venture was long overdue .

Our Choir was conducted, with her usual vitality, by Deputy MD, Helen Wyn, with Hywel Evans at the piano. Bass soloist Huw Roberts claimed to be suffering from a cold and a sore throat, but his performance showed no sign of this as he delighted the audience (and the Ladies' Choir) with his programme. Audience and choirs alike enjoyed the opportunity of hearing Veronika Hasson-Palo playing on her own in a couple of pieces, and we would have liked to have heard more from her. 

The concert was again most competently compèred by Robert Harwood, who had obviously thoroughly researched all the pieces sung by both us and the ladies. This made the evening even more enjoyable, as the audience were able to understand the meaning and background of the songs.