Thursday 11 November 2010
BBC NEWSREADER & CHOIR PATRON, HUW EDWARDS, WILL COMPERE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INAUGURAL CONCERT IN 1960.....
In November 1960, Bridgend Male Choir (formerly the Glamorgan Police Male Voice Party “C” Division) gave its first ever public performance at Tabernacle Church, Pontycymer. With a 140 mixed voices from the Tabernacle Augmented Choir and a selection from the Glamorgan Youth Orchestra also on the bill, the Chapel was packed and the Concert was repeated the following evening! It's been a long wait, but Bridgend Male Choir returns to the venue for a 7.00 pm Re-enactment Gala Concert on Friday, 26th November 2010, when hopefully the residents of the Garw Valley will again turn out in their droves.
The Choir will feature music brought to choristers by its Musical Directors and late brothers, Aldwyn and Gwynfor Humphries, as well as the current MD, John Jenkins. The Choir was conducted at the inaugural concert by Alun John who had also organised it and will be in the audience this time. An exciting selection of items appropriate to the individual governance of the Conductors will be included. Accompanying the Bridgend Male Choir will be its regular team of Laura Smith (Piano) and Scott Williams (Organ).
Also appearing are Meirion Davies (Trumpet) and the separate Pontycymer school choirs of Ysgol Gymraeg Cwm Garw and Ffaldau Primary. Current Musical Director, John Jenkins, was the trumpet player at the 1960 Concert and Meirion will entertain using the very same instrument. Original Choir choristers, Colin Matthews (Brynmenyn) and John Wood (Bettws) will again appear. It is very rare for either of these long-standing singers to miss a rehearsal or concert.
The Concert will be compeered by BBC Newsreader and Journalist, Huw Edwards. A Choir Patron, Huw was born at Bridgend and has strong connections with Pontycymer. His mother was born in the village and his father was a school master at the Garw Grammar School, now the site of the schools participating at the Concert. All proceeds from the Concert will go to Cancer Research Wales, the principal adopted charitable cause of the Choir and co-incidentally of which Huw Edwards is also a Patron.
It has been a great year of celebration for Bridgend Male Choir, which commenced with presentation by the Mayor of Bridgend County of a Citizenship Award in recognition of helping to raise in excess of £1 million for charity and as Ambassadors for Bridgend. The Choir went on to perform at Cathedrals in the Cities of Cardiff, Bristol and Liverpool before performing popular concerts at Porthcawl's Grand Pavilion, the first with operatic bass/ baritone Sir Willard White and the latter with iconic Welsh entertainer & Choir Patron, Max Boyce. During the year, the Choir has also entertained during short tours to England's south and north west coasts.
Please help to fill up Tabernacle Church again fifty years on and help to support Cancer Research Wales. Tickets £5 are available at Blaengarw Post Office; Pontycymer Post Office; Tabernacle Chapel, Pontycymer and Choir Secretary, Gareth Reese T. 07773 170373.
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