On Friday last, a Silcox coach carrying 50 happy people, left Pembrokeshire for London. Tenby Male Choir choristers, their MD Christine, accompanist Jill, friends and wives were making the weekend trip to the Royal Albert Hall massed choirs concert. Staying at the Kensington Palace Hotel, along with coachloads from Whitland and Haverfordwest amongst others, it was an easy five-minute walk to the Royal Albert Hall. Arriving at the hotel in early afternoon, many of the party went up to the West End to enjoy a visit to the theatre or have a meal in an interesting London restaurant Saturday morning was set aside for rehearsals for the choristers, but their friends and wives were free to indulge in sight-seeing, visiting art galleries and museums, shopping etc. or simply walking in Kensington gardens. Several visited the memorial to Princess Diana, but found it sadly disappointing. The fabulous galleries, museums, shops and markets did not disappoint. On Saturday evening, the streets of Kensington were thronged with the Welsh. In choir uniform or evening dress, in 'posh frocks' or smart suits, thousands of people gathered for the one purpose to hear and see this two-yearly concert. The concert was a complete sell-out, meaning that the audience was 5,000 souls. The opening number, 'Panty Fedwen', sung by audience and choir, was a truly wonderful start. This year saw a new collaboration between the choirs of North and South Wales, as a new committee of Welsh Association of Male Choirs was formed. Included in the evening's entertainment were 24 choirs, though one was the Oxford Welsh, and one the Queens Island Victoria Male Choir from Belfast. Interestingly, this choir was formed from two choirs which originated in the Harland and Wolf Shipyards, Belfast, in the second decade of the 20th century. As a result of 'The Troubles' in the 1970s, both choirs were in sad decline, so rather than disband, they decided to amalgamate. Since 1974 they have gone from strength to strength. The Oxford Welsh Choir began 75 years ago when men from the Valleys went to Oxford to seek work in the Cowley car factories, and they are justly proud of their Welsh roots and associations. The programme for the evening was a combination of massed choral singing and other items by individual young people, 'Band Jas Ieuenctid, Gwynedd' and 'Côr Glanaethwg' Bangor, which is formed by students at the Performing Arts School there. Daniel De Gruchy-Lambert, who lives in Machen, began playing cornet at the age of eight, but switched to trumpet at age 10 and became principal trumpet at age 11 with the National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain. His CV continues with a most impressive list of successes, studies, awards and scholarships. He won the Texaco Young Musician of the Year at 15. His playing, naturally, was superb. Huw Daniel, a young violinist, also captivated the audience with his wonderful playing. The Band Jas Ieuenctid were formed only seven years ago. Its members are aged from 12-20 and they created a frisson amongst the huge audience with their exciting interpretations of 'Ar Lan y Mor,' 'Latin Fantasy' and a 'Celtic Cocktail' of music. The concert finale by the choirs included four numbers in Welsh and 'American Trilogy,' and by the time everyone returned to the hotel, it was nearly midnight. That didn't stop some hardy souls continuing to enjoy themselves into the early hours! Sunday morning was a free morning for all, and there were many who dashed off to Covent Garden or Kensington High Street or the galleries and museums again. By 2 pm everyone was on the coach for home, however, and it was agreed that the weekend had been hugely successful. The next Royal Albert Hall massed choir concert arranged by this committee won't be until March 2007, so it's an awfully long time to wait to repeat this great highlight of Welsh choir singing. However, tapes and CDs of the evening will be available in about a month's time, and CDs will cost less than £10. These will be available from Mr. Stan Phillips at 'Rhondare', Velfrey Road, Whitland, 'phone 01994 240053. Stan will be able to give more exact information in a few weeks time. This week, the choir will have sung with the band of the Welsh Guards, but their next concert will be on Thursday, October 14, at St. Mary's Church, when they will be in concert with an Australian Male Voice Choir.
