Newsletter

2006

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Rhos Male Voice Choir can look back on a very successful and eventful 2005. Their success can be measured in the high praise they have received from audiences and concert organisers with many booking the choir for future dates and a very healthy engagements diary for 2006 - and some even for 2007.

John Daniel took over as Director of Music in January, 2005, and made an immediate impact. His musical expertise was evident from the beginning and, coupled with an increase in membership, the choir certainly provided concert-goers with a feast of entertainment. The Director of Music's repartee with audiences was a novel feature of concerts and obviously much enjoyed.

Rhos Male Voice Choir can claim the distinction of sharing a stage with two superstars during the past year, namely Bryn Terfel and Katherine Jenkins. Their appearance with Bryn Terfel was at a Tsunami Appeal Concert at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Pavilion and Katherine Jenkins was the choir's guest soloist at their Annual Concert in Wrexham in October, tickets for which were sold out five months in advance.

The choir made such an impression on the audience at both concerts that bookings have already been taken for their next Annual Concert on Saturday, November 18, 2006.

A team effort has been responsible for the choir's success. Ably led by Director of Music, John Daniel, there is also the Deputy Director of Music, Aled Phillips and the accompanist, Kevin Whitley. These three, coupled with a hard working committee and a dedicated membership, have ensured that the choir has made its mark on audiences and reached a high standard. John Daniel has paid tribute to the work of Aled Phillips and Kevin Whitley.

What of 2006? The choir will certainly be busy with many concerts booked, including taking part in the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod's 60th Anniversary Concert. A tour of Spain with three concerts will be taken in October and the Annual Concert on November 18 will feature the brilliant Welsh tenor Rhys Meirion and the accomplished local-born pianist Llyr Williams, who has also made his mark internationally and who is a former accompanist to the choir.

During the past year Rhos Male Voice Choir has built on an already famous reputation. The challenge set by its Director of Music is to forge even further ahead with its unique vocal sound and to charm audiences both far and wide.

The first two concerts of the year, at the Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight, and at The Stiwt, Rhos, were before capacity audiences with many people unable to obtain tickets. At the end of both concerts a demand was made for an encore and many were loud in their praise of the choir performances.

At both venues Rhos Male Voice Choir was conducted by its Director of Music, John A. Daniel, and the accompanist at Port Sunlight was Rona Jones in the absence of Kevin Whitley, who returned for the concert in Rhos. Soloists were Jim Davies, Gareth Erlandson, Ian Pritchard Jones and David Scott and the compere at Port Sunlight was Harold Richards with Alun Roberts deputising at Rhos.

The choir Annual Meeting was held at the end of February and a very busy and successful year was reported. This was the first year for Director of Music, John A. Daniel, and he was warmly thanked by the chairman and vice-chairman for his outstanding contribution. The feed-back from concerts has been overwhelming with many taking up the option of further concerts in the future.

John A. Daniel, thanked the choir members for their support and the officers for their co-operation.

Further successes are foreseen under the guidance of Director of Music, John A. Daniel, and the Deputy Director of Music and accompanist, Kevin Whitley. The top administrative posts in the choir are unchanged with J. Norman Davies continuing as chairman and Harold Richards vice-chairman. The secretary is John Raymond Jones with David Scott the treasurer.

A special thanks was given to one of the choir vice-presidents, Mr Huw Davies, of Stone, Staffordshire, for his encouragement and support over the years.

On April 1 the choir sang before another capacity audience at Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury, where they were enthusiastically received. Many had travelled some distance to hear the choir and, impressed by the performance, they have set in motion arrangements for the choir to sing in their local areas.

Here again an encore was demanded and after the concert members of the audience were quick to praise the varied programme and the standard of singing under the Director of Music, John Daniel and accompanied by Kevin Whitley. The guest soloist was Kevin Sudlow and Gareth Erlandson, Ian Pritchard Jones and David Scott were soloists during choir items. The compere was Harold Richards.

In July, the choir took part in a concert to mark the 60th birthday of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod before an audience of nearly 4,000. Also taking part were three other Welsh male voice choirs who had been successful at the Eisteddfod - Froncysyllte, Godre'r Aran and Pontarddulais - and the Scottish group Blazin' Fiddles.

Following this the choir sang items at a farewell concert for its Director of Music, John Daniel, on the occasion of his retirement after 35 years as Head of the Faculty of Expressive Arts at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd in Wrexham. This was at the Stiwt Theatre in Rhos and was organised by the school. Also taking part were some of John's former pupils, many of whom have made names for themselves in the world of music.

Before the choir took a break in August they were on stage at the Pavilion Theatre in Rhyl with the Yorkshire Building Society Band. Following # all concerts the choir's performances received high praise from the audiences.

Rhos Male Voice Choir's first concert after the break was before a packed Stiwt in Rhos on the occasion of the 80th birthday celebration of the building. Also taking part were the Anglesey tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones, pianist Annette Bryn Parri also from Anglesey and the harpist from Colwyn Bay, Dylan Cernyw. Those fortunate enough to be present were treated to an evening of top class music and the favourable comments following the concert was evidence that the audience had had a night to remember. The Stiwt committee received numerous telephone calls and letters all remarking on the polished performance of the choir. Director of Music, John Daniel, was the conductor and the accompanist was Kevin Whitley, who also conducted the choir for two items.

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Newsletter 2005
Newsletter 2002
Christmas 2000