The choir were very privileged to have been asked to sing with the excellent Monmouth Male Voice Choir and the Karl Johan Koret from Norway, who treated us to a feast of Welsh and Norwegian songs, and also to foot tapping favourites. The power and strength of the choirs singing together was really remarkable and an example of what male choirs should be about. They were also an excellent audience, really encouraging the children's choir, who also had many cheers during the evening. The fare was simple as we had just come from two weekends on half term, but the choir responded magnificently.
Christian Jenkins MA, Dip Mus ABRSM conducted the choir in the warm and beautiful surroundings of the Monmouth Priory. The first half quieter, more reflective with Rutter, Amanda McBroom, Mancini and the folksong 'The Water of Tyne' where Rhys Nicholson's baritone solo roused an enthusiastic cheer from the audience - full of singers! One Norwegian chorister said it was the best version of Moon River he had ever heard! The second half was livelier, with The Happy Wanderer and Hail Holy Queen although Mae hen wlad fy nhadau (since it was being sung at the end) was replaced with Franck's Panis Angelicus, the pure, beautiful tone of Amelia Hughes (16) as leader of the Sopranos leading the A section, and Georgia Nicholson-Tottle leading the B section to a beautiful end to the Nidus Choir's contribution.
At the end everyone sang the Welsh National Anthem, the tired children going out to the lavish praise bestowed on them by the audience and the musical teams, including Michael Steer (MD) and David Carr (pianoforte) for MMVC and the beautiful Victoria Jakhelin (MD) and Natalia Rybak (pianoforte) who praised and encouraged the choir. It was a feast of music, compered powerfully by the popular Welsh actor, Aberystwyth graduate and star of Hinterland and Keeping Faith (Bafta Award Winning)the handsome ANEIRIN HUGHES. He was in Di Patrick Graham, Spooks, Take me (with Robson Green) and Eastenders, Chameleon, Judge John Deed and in many Welsh language TV programmes. Aneirin was also the man who established the Monmouth Male Voice Choir and was its first Musical Director!
It was indeed a star studded evening in which it was a privilege to have taken part! As trainer of the choir I was more than satisfied at the standard reached by the younger choir. Heidi Nicholson co-founder of the choir and admin, on whom a great deal of work falls was present to enjoy the success of the choir. Many thanks are owed to Tim Walker, Jo Courtney, Lisa Millard, Katie Davies and all the team work of parents acting as transport and chaperones who were all sitting in the audience enjoying the excellence of the singing.
The choir have one more appearance at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff on Monday 15 July together with the Nidus Performing Arts school. Choir practices are continuing on Saturdays at 1.15-2.30 and we will now be recruiting as we have no more concerts this academic year and will be learning the new repertoire.
Christian Jenkins MA, Dip Mus ABRSM conducted the choir in the warm and beautiful surroundings of the Monmouth Priory. The first half quieter, more reflective with Rutter, Amanda McBroom, Mancini and the folksong 'The Water of Tyne' where Rhys Nicholson's baritone solo roused an enthusiastic cheer from the audience - full of singers! One Norwegian chorister said it was the best version of Moon River he had ever heard! The second half was livelier, with The Happy Wanderer and Hail Holy Queen although Mae hen wlad fy nhadau (since it was being sung at the end) was replaced with Franck's Panis Angelicus, the pure, beautiful tone of Amelia Hughes (16) as leader of the Sopranos leading the A section, and Georgia Nicholson-Tottle leading the B section to a beautiful end to the Nidus Choir's contribution.
At the end everyone sang the Welsh National Anthem, the tired children going out to the lavish praise bestowed on them by the audience and the musical teams, including Michael Steer (MD) and David Carr (pianoforte) for MMVC and the beautiful Victoria Jakhelin (MD) and Natalia Rybak (pianoforte) who praised and encouraged the choir. It was a feast of music, compered powerfully by the popular Welsh actor, Aberystwyth graduate and star of Hinterland and Keeping Faith (Bafta Award Winning)the handsome ANEIRIN HUGHES. He was in Di Patrick Graham, Spooks, Take me (with Robson Green) and Eastenders, Chameleon, Judge John Deed and in many Welsh language TV programmes. Aneirin was also the man who established the Monmouth Male Voice Choir and was its first Musical Director!
It was indeed a star studded evening in which it was a privilege to have taken part! As trainer of the choir I was more than satisfied at the standard reached by the younger choir. Heidi Nicholson co-founder of the choir and admin, on whom a great deal of work falls was present to enjoy the success of the choir. Many thanks are owed to Tim Walker, Jo Courtney, Lisa Millard, Katie Davies and all the team work of parents acting as transport and chaperones who were all sitting in the audience enjoying the excellence of the singing.
The choir have one more appearance at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff on Monday 15 July together with the Nidus Performing Arts school. Choir practices are continuing on Saturdays at 1.15-2.30 and we will now be recruiting as we have no more concerts this academic year and will be learning the new repertoire.
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