The culmination of two years practice came to a conclusion on Saturday, April 25, at the Albert Hall.

Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir, along with another local choir, (whose name just escapes me for the moment!), and dozens of choirs from all over Wales and beyond, gathered for the 49th Gwyl Corau Meibion Cymru.

The concert will be on CD, and possibly on video in due course. We would encourage anyone with an interest in music to approach the organisers with a view to purchasing a CD. This will assist the Welsh Association of Male Choirs financially over the provision of future concerts especially the 50th anniversary concert in 2012. These notes therefore, are not intended to be a concert report per sé, but a reflective look back at events leading to the big day. Please do buy the CD when available!

Before an event of this kind can take place, organisers must consider the myriad detail necessary for success.

In order to get P&DMVC there for example, meetings, rehearsals, communications, tickets, buses, accommodation, stewardship, (the list is endless) needed to be implemented.

For this, P&DMVC have to thank all their musical team, officers and helpers for a smooth trouble-free operation. This was a major, major task and it went without a hitch. They are to be congratulated. As well as this detail, Albert Hall presenter and stage manager, (P&DMVC's Phil Lloyd), was intimately involved in the concert arrangements necessitating a deal of extra travel.

Three full buses of choristers, families and supporters travelled as the P&DMVC contingent.

Before arrival due warning was given that 400-plus people were all trying to book into the Copthorne Tara Hotel, Kensington, simultaneously! Steward's advice was that a little light retail therapy might be in order before attempting to book in. Most ladies took this advice with alacrity!

Later, Phil was seen to have everything under control and rooms were duly allocated. Friday evening was an opportunity to please one's self, do whatever one wanted, see a show, meet and socialise with old friends from other choirs etc.

Hotel staff were hard pressed coping with hundreds of breakfast demands the next morning, but on the whole no serious problems were encountered. Choristers went to morning rehearsal with Alwyn Humphreys, ladies and families were left to their own devices.

Phil Lloyd and the committee had instituted an excellent method of staging choristers via ticket allocating seat and row. This went as smoothly as it could whilst trying to seat 700-plus choristers in half-an-hour.

Alwyn Humphreys (conductor) was his usual demanding self, rattling through the rehearsal at speed, but leaving no doubt as to musical interpretation and the desire for perfection if at all possible.

Rehearsal completed, mid-afternoon meals appeared essential, provision of food by the hotel following the concert looking improbable because of returning crowds.

The concert itself was hugely enjoyable both for choristers and audience, but special mention must be made of the contribution of the guest artists.

All from Wales, possessing an abundance of brilliant talent, nurtured by tutors, but developed further by self-discipline and dedication, they were a revelation.

Were people to incline towards despair at a continuous stream of bad news concerning the young, attendance here would have been most instructive.

These young people quite simply stunned the audience with the quality of their performances. To say it was uplifting does not come near it. They were quite simply sensational!

Lucy Kelly soprano, a mere 11-years-old, Steffan Morris cellist, 18-years-old, Eirlys Myfanwy Davies soprano, 21-years-old, and Côr Ysgol Gerdd Ceredigion demonstrated that there is another side to youth, too often not considered newsworthy enough.

All were simply fantastic within their disciplines. For this scribbler, it was an exhilarating, enthralling, declaration of the possible by those young people.

Following a return to the hotel, it was finally possible for choristers to unwind, relax and breathe a hefty sigh of relief that it had gone so well. It is possible a celebratory strong drink or two passed some lips we cannot say. We merely note that the atmosphere was convivial to a degree.

Central London was a lock out Sunday morning due to the marathon so it was decided a short stay in Windsor before the trip home would be the best alternative.

Regrettably, HRH was not at home to welcome us in for a cuppa in exchange for a song or two. We speculate that she would come to regret that absence after being informed P&DMVC had been 'in town'. A golden opportunity missed, we think she would think.

So passed a thoroughly enjoyable weekend for all concerned.

Once again, gratitude is due to those responsible for the superb organisation so ably demonstrated.

A.S.