Laura Winstanley was the talented soloist who supported Tenby Male Choir in their concert at St. Johns Church, Tenby, on Thursday, July 5. An 18-year-old, who has just completed A-levels at Greenhill School, Laura enchanted the audience with her violin solos.

The concert opened, in traditional style, with the Tenby Male Choir singing 'Gwahoddiad' in Welsh, followed by 'Timeless Moment' sensitively conducted by the choir's MD, Christine Shewry.

These pieces were followed by two relatively new pieces, the new music being funded by last year's summer visitors, who contributed to the collections at the open-air harbour concerts. The items were 'A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square' and 'I Believe,' which begins in unison, but continues with impressive harmony. This, surely, is set to become a favourite with regular choir followers.

Laura's first selection began with the 1st and 2nd movement of Corelli's Sonata in E, with its very lively second movement. Her second piece was the 2nd movement of Tchaikovsky's violin concerto in D major. There was a highly Jewish/Russian flavour to this movement, which was dramatically accompanied by Mr. Paul Rapi.

In the centre section of their performance, the choir sang 'Softly, as I leave you', with the pivotal role of the bass sections being so much enjoyed by choir followers. 'Ave Maria,' with soloist Eric Mullins, followed, sung partly in Latin and partly in English. These two songs were followed by 'She', beautifully, enunciated and finely conducted, and 'Rhythm of Life,' very tightly controlled by Christine and Jill, the accompanist.

When Laura returned, it was to provide a great contrast to Eric's solo performance of 'If I were a rich man' from 'Fiddler on the Roof.' She firstly played the 2nd movement of Mozart's concerto in G, a delicate and moving piece which Laura played in a calm and collected performance. There were some golden moments here.

Mozart was followed by Wieniawski's 'Chanson Polonaise', which gave us another Eastern European mood. Paul Rapi's very skilful accompaniment added to the enjoyment of the audience.

Laura and Mr. Rapi are now in San Francisco with the School Chamber Orchestra, where Laura will be the viola soloist.

The choir's final section began with the lively 'When the Saints go marching in', followed by 'Eli Jenkins Prayer', unaccompanied.

It was lovely to hear the unaccompanied 'Myfanwy' in Welsh, and finally 'An American Trilogy', wonderfully nostalgic for those of us who loved Elvis Presley, as a fitting conclusion.

The concert was in aid of the Pembrokeshire branch of the Alzheimer's Society. It concluded with the Welsh National Anthem.

The choir's next charity concert will be for the Cancer Research Society at St. John's Church on Thursday, July 19.