Bridgend Male Choir Musical Professionals

John Jenkins BA, FTLC, ARCM, LTCL, MTC was born in Neath, South Wales, read music at University College Cardiff and London University; and gained performance and teaching diplomas on trumpet, studying at the Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Royal College of Music.

As a conductor, John has worked with the Bristol Sinfonia, the Phillip Jones Brass Ensemble, members of the BBC National Orchestra for Wales and the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra.  He founded both the Swansea Sinfonia and the Neath Symphony Orchestra and has conducted all over the country as well as in Germany, Denmark, Austria, Australia and the USA.  He has appeared with many famous artists including Campoli, Sir Geraint Evans, Max Boyce, Nigel Kennedy and Julian Lloyd Webber.

Since his appointment as conductor of the Bridgend Male Choir in 2002, John is delighted to have seen the Choir grow by over 25%.  He regards the Choir’s performance at Worcester Cathedral and the winning performance at the Newport National Eisteddfod as two of the highlights of his entire musical career, and is proud to be part of the development of this outstanding group of men.

Laura Smith BMus (Hons) DipABRSM

Being born and bred in the Rhondda Valley, Laura was immersed in music from an early age. She started studying piano at the age of 7, and was soon playing competitively at local and national level. Laura studied with highly accomplished tutor and accompanist, Rosalie Evans LTCL LWCMD, who had a major influence on her musical development.

Laura's professional accompaniment career began in 2004 when she became accompanist to Pontypridd Choral Society. In October 2006 she was appointed accompanist to Ynysybwl Ladies Choir and later that month joined the music staff at Bridgend Male Choir.

Laura graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in 2007 after 4 years of extensive piano studies with Michael Young BA MMus ARCM. She is currently in the final year of the MA Music Therapy course at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama.

As well as being a proficient pianist, Laura is also a brass band enthusiast. During her school years she was a prominent member of the Treorchy Comprehensive School  Band, where she was taught by the famous Ieuan Morgan. She maintains this interest to this day, recently having competed with the BTM Band at the Championship Section National Finals in the Royal Albert Hall.

Born and educated in Lampeter, Cheryl Jones BA(Hons) now lives in Cardiff and works as a freelance sound recordist and private tutor.  Despite her busy schedule she continues to fulfil her role as accompanist of the Choir.

She attended the Welsh College of Music and Drama (WCMD) and gained a BA(Hons) studying under Simon Shewring and Julian Jacobson.  At the College, Cheryl gained many awards and performed regularly as a soloist and accompanist for the critically acclaimed Cardiff Bay Chamber Orchestra.  She was also a member of the WCMD Piano Trio, working closely with the Brodsky Quartet.

Cheryl first performed with the Bridgend Male Choir whilst at the WCMD, and she has since accompanied them on their tours to Southern France, Canada, Jersey and Germany.

Born in 1980 at Neath, Scott studied at the University of Bath where he attained a Master of Mathematics Degree - MMath (Hons). His musical career started as a chorister at St Mary's, Nolton in Bridgend, where he now continues with the parish as a relief organist for both Nolton and Coity Churches. Scott's father, Dennis, is a very popular member of the tenor section of the Choir.

Scott first performed with Bridgend Male Choir at a concert in Leatherhead, Surrey in October 2008. Since then he has given a number of concert performances with the Choir, culminating in May 2009 being involved with the recording of its 50th Anniversary CD, "Classic Male". His performance on the magnificent St David's Hall, Cardiff organ added greatly to the 2009 Cancer Research Wales concert with the Choir, BTM Band, Denis O'Neill and Laura Parfitt.

A recent press review included that "the Choir is nurturing Scott Williams, a young organist from Bridgend who extended and swelled the sound in the well known hymn, Morte Criste, adding that needed depth to the verse, "Were the whole realm of nature mine". Choristers look forward to a long and happy relationship with this talented young musician.