Builth Male Voice Choir – Côr Meibion Llanfair-ym-Muallt

Wye Voice Newsletter February 2019

Click to download Wye Voice Newsletter Feb 2019

Saturday 30 December : Concert at Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells

Exactly a year later and we are at the Metropole Hotel again for our last engagement of 2018 – our fiftieth anniversary year. The Metropole has welcomed us eight times this year and approximately 120 enthusiastic guests gave us a standing ovation at the end. Maybe it was the Welsh National Anthem that got them on their feet?  David Power again relaxed the audience with his inimitable compering.  Luned Jones and Adrian Morgan conducted with Ann Bufton accompanying two sets including some favourites that were much appreciated.

Monday 19 December : AGM & Entertaining Visitors

The Choir held its AGM at the Greyhound Hotel on Wednesday 19 December. For details of the officers and committee members see Choir People page .

Following the AGM the Choir sang a selection of songs in the dining room to a group of friends who were visiting Mid Wales for country sporting events organised by William Baxter from Buckinghamshire. The visitors thoroughly enjoyed the Choir’s performance and called for an encore.

The Choir concluded with “We wish you a Merry Christmas” before retiring to the bar for drinks and impromptu singing.

Saturday 1 December : Builth Male Voice Choir 50^th Anniversary Celebration Dinner

The Choir’s 50^th Anniversary Celebration Dinner was held at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells on Saturday 1 December. Dame Shân Legge-Bourke, recently retired Lord-Lieutenant of Powys, was the guest of honour at the celebrations attended by nearly 100 guests comprising choir members, vice-presidents and friends of the choir.

Derek Hope, Chairman of the Choir, welcomed guests to the dinner to celebrate fifty years of singing together and supporting local charities.  Guests enjoyed a varied menu in a three course dinner which was followed by David Power, master of ceremonies, introducing the choir’s musical director, Luned Jones, who gave a detailed and captivating speech. Luned traced the history of the Choir from its beginning in the Autumn of 1968 to the current day. She noted the choir was formed when a group of enthusiasts led by Jack Francis met at the Builth Wells Cricket and Rugby Club.  She welcomed Ceinwen Bufton, from Hundred House, who was the Choir’s first accompanist until she left the area on getting married in 1973. Luned took over as the Choir’s accompanist at that date and then became Musical Director in 1984 following the retirement of Jack Francis and has now completed forty five years of devoted service to the Choir. In 1984 Ann Bufton became the new accompanist a role which Ann continues to serve today.

Dame Shân Legge-Bourke then spoke of the national and international trips made by the choir in an entertaining presentation. Adorned in the national headgear from each of the countries toured – France, Germany, Czech Republic, Holland, Belgium and Ireland – she led the guests in songs and music representing each nation. As a mark of appreciation and to commemorate her contribution to the celebrations Derek Hope (Chairman) presented Dame Shân Legge-Bourke with a shield depicting the Choir’s badge.

Luned Jones and Ann Bufton were given the honour to cut the celebration cake for distribution to the guests. Derek Hope confirmed that Luned Jones will be retiring in March 2019 and thanked her for forty five years of unstinting loyal service to the Choir which was met with a rousing ovation from the guests. He announced that the current Deputy Director of Music Adrian Morgan will be taking over the role of Musical Director in March and looked forward to many more successful years for the Choir under his leadership.

Click to download Luned Jones’s Anniversary Dinner Speech

Click to download 50th Anniversary Dinner Photographs

Friday 9 November : Remembrance Concert Strand Hall

The Choir was pleased to be invited to be part of Builth Wells Royal British Legion Remembrance Concert at the Strand Hall to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of WW1. The Choir performed two sets of songs under the direction of Luned Jones and Adrian Morgan with accompaniment by Ann Bufton.

3 – 7 October : 50th Anniversary Tour to North Yorkshire & Cheshire

For full report click : 50th Anniversary Tour to North Yorkshire & Cheshire

Sunday 30 September : Concert for The Bracken Trust

The Choir was pleased to take part in a fundraising concert for The Bracken Trust in a marquee near Llangunllo on Sunday 30 September. A full audience was entertained by a number of young local artists as well as four sets sung by Builth Male Voice Choir. Proceeds from the event amounted to £900 which were presented to the Bracken Trust who passed an a huge thank you to the Choir.

Luned conducted : Benedictus  –   Still as the Night   –   Calon Lan   –   Pokarekare Ana   –   Let it be me   –   Yfory and Adrian conducted : Pan fo’r nos  –   Away from roll of the sea    –   Unchained Melody   –    Stout Hearted Men   –    Homeward Bound     –   Hallelujah

Saturday 15 September : Wedding Sugar Loaf Barn, Abergavenny

The Choir was privileged to be invited to take part in Hannah and Gareth’s wedding at Sugar Loaf Barn Abergavenny. The choir had an exciting ride to the barn in a tractor drawn carriage and sang a mixed variety of songs for guests prior to the wedding. During signing the register the Choir sang “The Prayer” and concluded the ceremony with Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”

Saturday 8 September : Gala Concert Mid Wales Pavilion Llandrindod Well

For full report click A Gala Concert : Pavilion Llandrindod Wells – 8 September 2018

Monday 3 September : Concert at The Metropole Hotel Llandrindod Wells

The Choir’s performance at the after dinner concert in the Metropole Hotel Llandrindod Wells was enthusiastically received by members of the Probus Club of Sandbach  .  The Choir sang two sets of songs conducted by the Musical Director Luned Jones and Assistant Director Adrian Morgan. Ann Bufton was the accompanist.

Saturday 1 September : Wedding at St Edmund’s Crickhowell

It was a pleasure for the Choir to be invited to sing at Elizabeth and Gregory’s wedding at St Edmund’s Church Crickhowell. The Choir sang to entertain guests prior to the wedding ceremony and during the signing of the register.

Monday 27 August : Presentation by Supporters Group

In preparation for celebrations to commemorate the Choir’s 50th Anniversary the Supporters Group made a presentation of a new banner to the Choir’s Chairman Derek Hope at a recent practice night. Megan Jones and Tricia Davies from the Supporters Group are seen with Jim Evans (President), Derek Hope, Luned Jones (Musical Director) and Ann Bufton (Accompanist). The banner will be seen on stage at the Gala Concert at Mid Wales Pavilion on 8 September

Saturday 11 August : Concert at The Metropole Hotel Llandrindod Wells

The Choir once again performed for guests from The Great Rail Tours  who were staying at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells on their visit to Wales. David Power was MC with both Luned Jones and Adrian Morgan conducting the Choir and Ann Bufton being accompanist. The audience, which included a potential new conductor, thoroughly enjoyed the Choir’s performance and many bought CDs as momentos after the concert.

Support for Brecon Mountain Rescue Team

Builth Male Voice Choir is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year with a very busy programme of activities. Earlier in the year the Choir supported the Brecon Mountain Rescue Team at its annual charity St David’s Day Concert when the raffle, which was match funded by Barclays Bank, raised £1,000.

The raffle was organised by the Choir’s Supporters Group and recently Joyce Hope, on behalf of the Group, presented a cheque to Kevin Harding and Robin Bidgood representatives of the Brecon Mountain Rescue Team. This emergency service is staffed entirely by volunteers and funded by donation and operates throughout mid Wales, working from the Brecon Beacons National Park north to Plynlimon and from the Welsh borderland westward to the Ceredigion coast.

Builth Male Voice Choir will be hosting a Fiftieth Anniversary Gala Concert with guests Mousehole Male Voice Choir (Cornwall), Shân Cothi and Martha Powell (Harp) at The Pavilion, Llandrindod Wells on Saturday 8 September 7.30pm (doors open 7.00pm). This festival of music will also raise funds for charity, this time Amser Justin Time Pancreatic Cancer Charity Wales, to further the essential research needed to support pancreatic cancer patients in Wales.

Derek Hope, Chairman of Builth Male Voice Choir, said it was an honour to represent the Choir in this its fiftieth anniversary year. He said the Choir has a proud reputation for supporting local charity groups and has raised many thousands of pounds in the past fifty years and invited new singers to join the choir and continue this support. Information about the Choir can be found on its website www.builthmalechoir.org.uk.

Wednesday 4 July : Strand Hall Builth

Builth Male Voice Choir & Builth Ladies Choir joined together to sing Calon Lân to welcome Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at The Strand Hall during their visit to reopen the building. On leaving the Hall the two choirs joined together to sing Unchained Melody.

Saturday 16 June : Wedding Reception at The Bleddfa Centre

The Choir sang for guests at a wedding reception in Bleddfa on 16 June. At the beginning of their performance the choir accompanied the bride who sang a solo in the traditional New Zealand love song Pokare Ana.

The Choir sang a wide variety of songs including Welsh favourites O Gymru, Calon Lan and Rachie and their performance was thoroughly enjoyed by the guests who had travelled from all parts of the UK.

Thursday 7 June : Concert at The Metropole Hotel Llandrindod Wells

The Choir once again was called upon to entertain guests staying at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells – this time visitors from the Great Rail Tours visit to Wales. David Power was MC and entertained the audience with his dry wit – Adrian Morgan conducted and Ann Bufton was the accompanist.

Songs included When the Saints, Speed Your Journey, Away from the roll of the sea, Homeward Bound, Hallelujah plus other favourite songs from the repertoire. The concert finished with an encore – Stout Hearted Men

Saturday 19 May : Concert at Rorke’s Drift Rally Brecon

In May 2018 the Choir was once again asked to take part in the Rorke’s Drift Rally at Brecon. Adrian Morgan was the conductor and Ann Bufton was the accompanist for a programme of stirring songs which was enjoyed by a very noisy and appreciative audience. Starting with Stout Hearted Men the Choir sang ten songs.

A highlight of the event was a recitation by Top Tenor Bruce Watkins who brought a hush to the marquee with his rendition of a poem about the Battle of Rorke’s Drift which culminated in a standing ovation. Another highlight for the enthusiastic audience were two leading organisers of the Rally – The Zulu Chief and the Zulu Witch Doctor – who were called to the front of the stage where the Chief proposed marriage to the Witch Doctor! This was followed by the Choir finishing with Men of Harlech when members of the  audience, some dressed in Red Coats and Pith Helmets and others dressed as Zulus, joined in the singing and celebration.

 

Friday 11 May : Concert at The Metropole Hotel Llandrindod Wells

The Choir performed its second concert in two weeks at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells – this time to entertain members of the MX-5 Owners Club International Meet. Viv Jones was the compere and the concert was conducted by Adrian Morgan with the choir performing a wide range of songs including With a Voice of Singing, Yfory, Bring him home, Hallelujah, Gwahoddiad, The Water is Wide, Homeward Bound, American Trilogy.

At the end of the concert there was a standing ovation and call for an encore which was  followed by the Welsh National Anthem.  The appreciative audience came from Wales, England and across Europe. After the concert one couple from Arnem, Holland, who had sung in choirs all their lives, said that the concert was excellent and that the control and quality on the quiet sections was superb.  Afterwards a number of the audience started their own singing session in bar having been inspired by the Choir.

Monday 1 May : Concert at The Metropole Hotel Llandrindod Wells

The Choir was asked to entertain members of the Historical Vehicle Club of Belgium who were touring Wales and staying at the Metropole Hotel Llandrindod Wells. David Power was the compere with Luned Jones conducting and Ann Bufton the accompanist. The programme of ten songs was greatly appreciated by the Belgium audience who gave a standing ovation prompting an encore of “American Trilogy” from the Choir. The Chairman of the Vehicle Club thanked the Choir for showcasing traditional Welsh Male Voice Choral music and presented a Rally Sign to the Choir as a memento of the event.

Friday 23 February 7.30pm : St David’s Day Concert Strand Hall Builth Wells

The young choristers from Builth Wells Primary School also charmed the audience with their lively and entertaining performance of three songs – Sing Hosanna, Calon Lân and Song for Every Season – and received a standing ovation. Builth Male Voice Choir showcased two new items – the traditional Welsh hymn Prysgol by William Owen and Sanctus by Cherubini – as well as a number of traditional favourites including The Creation by Willy Ritcher.

The Concert concluded with SORELA, Builth Male Voice Choir and the audience singing Calon Lân. Proceeds from the well supported raffle were match funded by Barclays Bank resulting in £1,000 being raised for the Brecon Mountain Rescue Team, the emergency service staffed entirely by volunteers and funded by donations.

Saturday 30 December : Concert at Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells

The Choir completed its engagements for 2017 singing for guests staying on a New Year’s Break at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells. David Power was the compere with Luned Jones and Adrian Morgan conducting two sets. Ann Bufton was the accompanist. Mike Labette played a cameo role entertaining the packed audience to his amusing rendition of “The Auld Axe” in the break between each set of songs.

Wednesday 27 December : Concert at Lake Country House Hotel, Llangammarch Wells

The Choir entertained guests at the Lake Country House Hotel in Llangammarch Wells at Christmas. The concert was compered by David Power and sang a variety of pieces ranging from “Benedictus” to “Calon Lan”.  The large number of guests showed their appreciation of an evening’s entertainment which concluded their Festive celebrations. The programme was jointly conducted by Luned Jones and Adrian Morgan with Ann Bufton as accompanist.