Pembroke and District Male Voice Choir's raison d'être is to support worthy causes, and none more worthy than the support of young Welsh musicians. Thus the choir were in Cardiff to take part in a fund-raising event for the National Youth Brass Band of Wales. The Welsh Association of Male Choirs provided around 340 choristers to support the occasion, with event matching funds to be provided by the Welsh Assembly. It was a profound pleasure to hear the astoundingly high level of musicianship produced by those young men and women. The music produced was to classical orchestral standards, only the strings being absent. As well as being supremely able to execute brilliantly all the demanding pieces, they were also keen to show the audience some of their party pieces, one of these being an especially amusing, witty and entertaining 'Mr Lear's Carnival'. This had the listeners laughing out loud in parts. Robert Childs, the musical director, with an illustrious career as player, teacher and director, has guided and promoted the brass band to previously unheard levels of esteem and regard in their field. His son, David Childs, taught by his father, was guest euphonium player for the event. David is an international soloist of repute, having played with the Royal Philarmonic and the National Orchestra of Wales amongst others during his career to date. If you imagine dark chocolate being poured over some delicious confection in musical terms, you may be able to musically visualise the beauty of tone, tonal range and honeyed sweet perfection this young man is able to produce from the euphonium. Allied to this a bewildering speed of execution in what might be termed 'show off pieces' and you hear a young man of extraordinary gifts at one with his instrument, a young musician of whom the whole of Wales can be justly proud. The multi-talented Alwyn Humphries took time from his very busy schedule to conduct and was in his usual rigorous, vociferously demanding mode in driving the choir on through the choral programme. Naturally enough, the main focus of the event was showcasing the band, but the choristers were able to give the audience a sample of the power and emotion that can be delivered by a Welsh Male Voice Choir Seimon Morris, of Haverfordwest, accompanied. Robin Jones, past senior news presenter at S4C and now freelance broadcaster, was programme presenter. The master of staging, as at the Albert Hall, was once again the Pembroke choir's very own Phil Lloyd. Not everything was to his liking on arrival, it must be said, but his organisational skills were finally able to deliver enough time for a pre-concert rehearsal. The audience were suitably appreciative of a fine mixed musical offering.
