At the Tenby Male Choir concert last Thursday, at St. Mary's, the audience filled the nave from the front to the back, as they came in large numbers to hear the choir and, support the Harriet Davis Trust.

Beginning at 8 pm, and introduced by John Davis, the Rt. Rev. Dewi Bridges spoke to the audience about the Trust, explaining its origins. Dewi, as patron of the Trust, told how he met Harriet when he was asked to confirm her, at 11-years-old.

Harriet suffered from a rare degenerative metabolic disease, and when she died at the age of 11, the Trust was established in 1992, as a tribute to her. Its objective is the provision of properties in seaside locations adapted and equipped to enable disabled children and their families and carers to enjoy seaside holidays, as Harriet herself had once done.

In the absence of Dave Blackmore, the choir's chairman, Terry Evans, introduced the choir and compèred the concert.

The first five items ended with the lovely song 'What would I do without my music', which led nicely into the introduction of the youngest member of a family, three of whom were performing that evening. It is always pleasing to see how, in musical families, the younger members are encouraged and supported in their performance experience.

Corey Morris at only 14, is a trumpet player, and already working for his grade seven. A pupil of Greenhill School, Corey is already an experienced player and the sound of his playing firstly the theme tune from 'Groundforce' and then 'Mexican Hat Dance' soaring up to the roof of St. Mary's, was much enjoyed and applauded.

Following Corey's trumpet playing, his older sister Lucy next 'took the stage' to sing. A Year 12 pupil at Greenhill, taking A-levels in Music and Drama, Geography and English, Lucy is a member of several musical groups. A grade eight flute player, Lucy plays in the Three Counties Orchestra and sings with the National Youth Orchestra. On Thursday, she sang 'I have dreamed' and 'Pie Iesu'. Her young, sweet voice easily reached those top notes and her presentation was excellent.

The choir returned to sing six more pieces, beginning with the passionate 'O Gymru' and ending with MD Ian Williams's arrangement of 'Bring him home' from 'Les Miserables', as a tribute to former chorister David Flanaghan.

When Corey returned for his second slot, he played 'La Cucaracha' and then his personal favourite, 'Tequila Sunrise'. Judging by the amount of applause, that was lots of people's favourite! Corey has been playing the trumpet for five years and is a member of the Pembrokeshire Youth Orchestra. Just recently, he won a prize for brass instrumentalists, and will be going on a school tour to Lake Garda very soon.

Both Corey and Lucy were accompanied for the evening by Jill Williams, choir accompanist.

Lucy's second set included 'Somewhere' from 'West Side Story' and 'Bill' from 'Showboat', and once again, her presentation was excellent.

The father of Lucy and Corey is Paul Morris, who sings in the second tenors section of the choir.

In the final section of the concert, the choir sang four items ending in 'American Trilogy' and it was good to see seven visiting choristers join the choir for this final piece. How lovely it is to know that choristers from other parts of the UK (and these seven were from a widely diverse area) enjoy coming along to Tenby Male Choir concerts, and how choristers support each other.

During the singing of this final song, and during the singing of the National Anthems, there was some very dramatic lighting in the church. This was due to the massive thunder storm that raged overhead. Loud rumbles of thunder and white flashes of lightning accompanied the singing and as the electric lighting in the church flickered on and off, with only the emergency lighting on for minutes at a time, it was evocative of a 'son et luminère' show, which rather added to the finalé.

The audience were so delighted with the evening that there was a spontaneous standing ovation at the end of 'American Trilogy' which, I must say, was enhanced by the seven visitors.

John and Kit Davis, with the help of a friend who had helped them care for Harriet, then presented Ian with 'a bottle' and a single red rose, Jill with a beautiful bouquet, Corey with a red nose and Lucy with a beautiful bouquet.

Tenby Male Choir now enters its busiest month, as they sing their second July concert (the first was for Ty Hafan last evening) on Sunday, July 5 at St. Mary's, Pembroke, as part of the Pembroke Music Festival. On Tuesday, July 7, they are singing at the Giltar Hotel at 9 pm and on Thursday, July 9, at St. Mary's, Tenby, once again. On Thursday, July 16, they sing for Macmillan Nurses at St. Mary's, Tenby, and on Tuesday, July 28, at St. Johns for church funds.

M.N.