Ffair Gurig Week 2010

 

Saturday 26th June - Concert Memorial Hall - 7.00pm In conjunction with Newport's Music Society we present Côr Meibion De Cymru (The South Wales Male Voice Choir to be accompanied by local musicians - Rhiannon Davies (Soprano) and Catrin Price (Flautist).

 

Monday 28th June - Quiz Night - Newport Boat Club (Quiz Master Mr. Peter Smith)

 

Tuesday 29th June - Newport Walking Treasure Hunt

 

Wednesday 30 June - Ysgol Bro Ingli Sports Day

 

Thursday 1st July - Newport Town Historical Walk (Led by Messrs Reg Davies, Rex Harries and Alun Davies).

 

Friday 2nd July - Mayor's Cricket Match - Llwyngwair Manor (Point of Contact and Organiser - Alderman Barry Onions)

 

Saturday 3rd July - Street Market (Long Street) (Point of Contact: Alderman John Edwards)

 

Other events may be included during that week. Additional details of each event will be made availabk on posters as we approach Ffair Gurig.

 

 

To start Ffair Gurig Week Cor Meibion De Cymru are to perform a concert in Newport on Saturday 26th June 2010 at the Memorial Hall starting at 7.00pm. Entry is by purchasing a programme (£8.00 each) Programmes can be bought at Newport Post Office.

Côr Meibion De Cymru (The South Wales Male Choir) is one of the largest in the principality. The choir is proud of its reputation for harmonic singing from a wide repertoire of Welsh tunes, songs from the shows, selections  from opera and popular songs.

The choir was formed in 1982, to bring together men from a multitude of different choirs, from every valley, and coastal plain, in the East, South and West of Wales. There is also a contingent of ‘exiles’ from Bristol and Wantage. Some Choristers regularly travel from as far as Southampton and Bedford to attend rehearsals in Wales. 

The Choir has already toured on many occasions to the USA, Mexico, Canada, France, the Benelux Countries, Monaco, Australia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Spain and Gibraltar. 

It has sung in many prestigious cathedrals, including St. Davids, Pembrokeshire, Llandaff, Brecon, Hereford, Winchester, Salisbury, York,  Southwark, St Albans, and Romsey Abbey. In Europe, the choir has been privileged to sing in the cathedrals of Chartres, Notre Dame, Amiens, Ypres and Hertogenboschand. Further afield - in Calgary, Brisbane, San Diego and the amazing Crystal Cathedral in Los Angeles. Concerts have been given in the Royal Albert Hall, Sydney Opera House, The Colston Hall in Bristol, The Congress Hall in Ottawa and the Great Hall of Parliament in Canberra.

From its early days the choir’s patron was HRH The Prince of Wales. The first president was Viscount Tonypandy, later to be succeeded by Lord Gordon Parry of Neyland. Our current president is Wyn Calvin MBE, OSt.J.

Wyn says this:-

Since the beginning of time humans have known the value of music. It has been used to encourage friendship, fight enemies, celebrate, congratulate or commiserate. Men have chanted to maintain strength, danced in triumph, wailed in sadness, yet principally to express joy, love and worship”. In the Reformation, when Puritans were against the use of music in worship, the German theologian, Martin Luther - not noted for levity, said ”Music is the gift of God. It can drive away the devil and make people happy”. These gentlemen songsters - together with the wonderful support, guidance and inspiration of their musical director Elaine and her team - join in wishing you many magical musical memories.

Joining the choir in concert are two very talented musicians from West Wales

Catrin Price has just turned 16 and has been studying flute with Catherine Handley at the Junior Department of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama since she was nine years old.  

From a young age Catrin has won innumerable competitions, awards and scholarships, including the South Wales Rotary Young Musician in 2007 and the Junior Concerto Competition at the RWCMD in 2008. 

Catrin was principal flute with the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain and the National Children’s Chamber Orchestra of Great Britain. She is currently a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Wales and the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.  

Catrin has performed as a soloist by invitation with the Cardiff Symphonic Orchestra and also with Symphonica Tywi. She has given private performances for a number of prominent figures, including HRH The Prince of Wales, as well as raising money for a large number of charities. 

Mayor of Newport, Alderman John Edwards:

I am truly thrilled, as we start our Ffair Gurig week of events, to once again, express a warm welcome to Côr Meibion De Cymru. The choir are no strangers to the town as they have previously performed in concert with us in 2004 and 2006. As a member of the choir and perhaps biased - what memorable occasions they were! I wish to express my thanks to all of my fellow choristers and our superbly talented music team of the choir’s Musical Director Elaine Robins and Accompanist Juliet Rossiter our Narberth Group Conductor for supporting me this evening in raising money for our local charities. Many choristers have travelled vast distances to be here tonight, but each one of them would be the first to say that their love of singing will take them to wherever they need to be, throughout Wales and beyond in fact to the far reaches of the globe – diloch I chi gyd!. I also wish to express my sincere gratitude to Newport’s Music Society in assisting and supporting the choir this evening. In particular to Ann George their Chairperson for her major role in arranging for the appearance of soloists Rhiannon Davies – Soprano and Catrin Price – Flautist. Côr Meibion De Cymru has over the years, established a staunch level of formal support for the young musicians of Wales. The choir is truly delighted that these two very talented and local young ladies from West Wales are in concert with them on the 26th June 2010. The evening promises to be a feast of really enjoyable music.