Cwmbach Male Choir

Cwmbach Male Choir is very sad to announce the recent death of its Musical Director, Mr Norman Harris.

The choir extends its deepest sympathy to Norman's family and close friends. The news has been greeted with great shock and sadness by us all, and in the knowledge that the world of music has lost such a talented, committed and enthusiastic man.

The choir made its own tribute in song to Norman, in celebration of the time he spent with us, time he gave so generously and loyally.

We began December 2011 with another possible threat of the Winter storms of last year, with its disruption to life in the Cynon Valley.

At this time the Choir were delighted by the news that Cwmdare Primary School pupils would be contributing to our third concert of the year at the Coliseum Theatre, Trecynon. During these weeks, the staff at the school were already getting the children ready to perform at their own concerts held later in December in the school hall. In the meantime, stormy weather also made getting to our own practises quite difficult. Fortunately the weather improved dramatically as the month progressed and our concert at the Coliseum went ahead!
Christmas Programme

The Choir sang not only some of their well-loved repertoire, but also some very new and different seasonal items to reflect the approaching festive season, including:-

Joy to the World - Handel
Quem Pastores - 14th Century Carol
Benedictus - Robat Arwyn
Deck the Hall - Welsh Carol
Hwiangerdd Mair - Morris

school 1

The children from Cwmdare Primary School performed songs from their Christmas Musical

"The Magical Christmas Box"

school 2

and as has become the custom over recent years,they joined the Choir for the Finale

O Holy Night

Both audience and Choir were impressed by the enthusiasm of the children as they sang with gusto and eagerness at every opportunity with actions to match. Cwmdare's snowman Lewys also sang a very confident solo in the penultimate song from the school!

We were delighted that Cwmdare Primary School were able to join us for this concert at such short notice, and I felt extremely privileged to have been given the opportunity to conduct the children on stage on the night!

I would like to thank Mr Paul Davies, the headteacher, and his staff for the warm welcome and support offered to me over the past month in order to make the children's attendance at the concert possible. Also many thanks to Mr Davies for providing the photographs for this report.

Many thanks also to the parents who assisted with the colourful costumes that we all had the opportunity to see and the transporting of the children to and from the theatre.