Narberth and Whitland Rotary Club held their second autumn concert at The Follies Theatre, Folly Farm, on Saturday.

The club would like to thank Gravells Kia Narberth for once again supporting the club by generously sponsoring the concert, the management of Folly Farm for once again allowing them to use their fabulous auditorium, Lloyds Jewellers who sponsored the cost of hiring the piano and Rotarians John Hughes and Liz Burns for the cordination and organisation of the event and ticket sales.

The concert was extremely successful and the club was lucky to have two wonderful tenors at the concert, Rhys Meirion and local star Trystan Llyr Griffiths.

Rhys Meiron is a Welsh national treasure and has enjoyed international success in opera concerts and recording and national success in broadcasting.

He is always busy performing in concerts across the country, together with TV appearances including the BBC’s Songs of Praise.

He is a regular presenter on Dechrau Canu Canmol for S4C and has his own radio show on Sunday mornings on BBC Radio Cymru. He is an ambassador for the Wales Air Ambulance and the club was delighted to present him with a cheque for the charity on the night from the proceeds of the concert.

Welsh tenor Trystan Llyr Griffiths studied initially at Trinity University College, Carmarthen, for a degree in theatre, music and media.

He subsequently completed a master of arts vocal degree at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and most recently, a postgraduate course in opera performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff where he was taught by Adrian Thompson and Ingrid Surgenor.

Trystan recently completed his training at the National Opera Studio in London, where his studies were generously supported by Welsh National Opera.

This season, Trystan joined the International Opera Studio in Zurich where his roles include Beppe in I Pagliacci.

Also in attendance was Whitland Male Voice Choir who sang a lovely selection, including Ti a dy Ddoniau, Bring him Home, Yr Anthem Geltaidd, Blue Moon, O Gymru and Y Tangnefeddwyr.

MC for the evening was multi-tasking Rotarian and Chorister Huw Jones who kept the evening on track.

The club was also very lucky to have Rotary young musicians Sioned Llewellyn, Esyllt Thomas and Aaron Kendall entertaining on the night.

They have all come through the Rotary young musician ranks and the club is proud of their successes.

Welsh soprano, Sioned is 20-years-old and comes from Efailwen. She is currently in her fourth year as an undergraduate at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama studying with Suzanne Murphy and is thoroughly enjoying her experiences there.

Esyllt Thomas is 16 and is a Year 12 student at Ysgol y Preseli. She competed for the first time in the Rotary young musicians competition this year and got through to the South Wales regional final at Cowbridge.

Aaron Kendal is 19-years-old and is in his first year at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Aaron has been offered a musical scholarship and has been singing in choirs since he was 13.

The audience enjoyed the marvellous musical extravaganza and once again the club has raised £8,000 for Welsh and Rotary charities. The sum of £1,000 has recently been sent to Shelterbox for the disaster in Haiti.

The Rotary Club presented cheques to the following charities: Paul Sartori, Kidney Wales Foundation, Wales Air Ambulance, Prostate Cymru, Shelterbox and Rotary Charities. All the proceeds of the concert for these charities contribute significantly to help people in need within our communities.

President Mary Adams commented: “It is our pleasure to help raise the much-needed funds to help these charities survive and progress with research, development and practical help.

“Our thanks to the audience for showing us support. It was a wonderful musical extravaganza which will leave lasting memories for many years to come.”