There was some wonderful singing at Tabernacle Chapel, Whitland, last Thursday evening, when Tenby Male Choir joined members of choirs from Whitland, Cwmann and Haverfordwest in a regional rehearsal for their projected concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London in early October.
There were over 100 choristers at the rehearsal, which was conducted by John Samuels in a very lively and energetic manner. Mr. Samuels will be the conductor at the concert in October, when 800-plus male voices will be singing a wide range of music, secular and religious, classical and 'pop.'
The concert is being organised by the Welsh Association of Male Choirs, and the secretary of the association, Layton Watkins, was present at the rehearsal.
He informed the choristers that the concert was a virtual sell-out with only a handful of limited-vision seats left.
Tenby Male Choir will travel to London by coach, taking wives and friends with them. They will be staying for the weekend of the Kensington Palace Hotel, which is within walking distance of the Royal Albert Hall.
On Thursday evening last, the accompanist was Mrs. Hefina Wyn-Jones, accompanist for Whitland choir. Juliet Rossiter, Whitland MD, was present, as was the MD for Cwmann choir.
The rehearsal was a very successful one, even though the evening went too quickly and Mr. Samuels did not go through all of the pieces he would have liked to. Of particular note were 'Tydi a Roddaist,' 'Cavatina' and the Lord's Prayer, which Mr. Samuels directed beautifully.
Local rehearsals for Tenby Male Choir will continue under the baton of their MD and further regional rehearsals will be arranged. This is a particularly demanding time for Mr. Samuels, who is touring the whole of Wales and beyond, leading regional rehearsals. There is also a choir from Ireland joining the event in London.