Monday, April 21, 2008
New Life Member
In Memoriam
Adrian Dix | ||
'Jesu, Lover of My Soul
Along with his love of gardening, the choir was Adrian’s life and he made many friends within the choir, as well as the many friends he made at various concerts. He and Val have spent thousands of pounds supporting the choir by means of travelling to concerts, purchasing tickets and indeed paying for their accommodation when the choir was staying overnight at a concert venue. This is in addition to the many monetary donations they have given the choir over the years and by supporting the choirs Appreciation Society since it was formed in 2000. As a thank you for their dedication and support of the choir, Adrian was awarded Honorary Membership in 2005 and recently the newly introduced Honorary Lady Membership was awarded to Val. Unfortunately due to Adrian’s quick and sudden turn in health it could not be arranged for Val to be presented with her award which is normally kept as a surprise for the recipient. However, on this occasion it was felt that Val should be told of her award so that she could inform Adrian. This she did a day or two before he passed away and whilst looking at her he gave her the most wonderful smile. Unfortunately this was his last, but the fact that he knew of her Honorary Lady Membership meant it was very special. To Val and all the family we offer our deepest condolences on the loss of Adrian who was very much respected by all in the choir and by everyone who has been honoured to have known him. 'Safe into the haven guide |
The choir was very saddened to hear of the passing of Adrian who was a staunch supporter of Treorchy Male Choir along with his dear wife Val. They attended their first concert in Bourton-on-the-Water in 1988 and since then have attended in excess of 280 concertsJunior Musician & Singer of the Year Competition.
TALENTED schoolchildren throughout the Rhondda gave the performance of their young lives at the Grand Final of the Treorchy Male Choir and Coca Cola Junior Musician of the Year Competition.A total of 27 children took to the stage at Treorchy Comprehensive School hall, which had been magically transformed into an atmospheric theatre, before a packed audience of 500 parents, teachers and supporters for the major event.
In a special announcement by Coun Jane Ward, Mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, sponsorship was made available by the local authority for the third year running. It meant that the two winners would be able to enjoy an all-expenses paid holiday to EuroDisney in Paris.
The winner of the Singing Category was Treorchy Primary School pupil Ffion Wilde who performed “My Favourite Things” from The Sound of Music.
The winner of the Instrumentalist Category was Charlotte White of Maerdy Junior School who performed “Moon River” on the piano.
Now celebrating its third year, a total of 15 primary and junior schools in the two valleys entered the competition which is sponsored by Coca Cola Enterprises. The patron for the competition is Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel MBE.
Rhondda Assembly Member Leighton Andrews opened the evening’s proceedings and BBC broadcaster Roy Noble presented the prizes.
A performance of items by the Tre¬orchy Male Choir was also given, resulting in rapturous applause.
Over the past six weeks hundreds of schoolchildren have auditioned in a series of preliminary heats, judged by members of Treorchy Male Choir. The finalists received a certificate, trophy and tickets for themselves and an adult, to a day out in london to see The Lion King in the West End.
The two winning finalists of one singer and one instrumentalist each received £200 prize money, a trophy and the Treorchy Male Choir and Coca Cola Trophy to be retained by their school for one year. They also shared the stage with Treorchy Male Choir and the Parc & Dare Band at their Annual Good Friday Concert.
The Grand Final had an impressive list of adjudicators, including BBC Radio Wales broadcaster Beverley Humphreys, Cory Band Conductor Dr. Robert Childs, Mezzo Soprano Kate Woolveridge, Conductor of the Four Counties Youth Choir Derek Holvey and Janice Ball, the Conductor of Treorchy Male Choir.
Rhondda Assembly Member Leighton Andrews opened the evening’s proceedings and BBC broadcaster Roy Noble presented the prizes.
Mr Andrews said: “This event has become an important evening in the Rhondda calendar and once again I applaud the incredible hard work which has been undertaken to ensure this competition takes place.
“The incredibly high standard of entrants, and the high-profile list of adjudicators illustrates just how important this evening has become and I thank Treorchy Male Choir for making it another outstanding success.”
The photograph shows BBC Presenters Roy Noble and Beverley Humphreys presenting the winners with their trophies.
New Honorary Members
TREORCHY Male Choir has awarded Honorary Lady Membership to well known Rhondda harpist and pianist Jennifer JonesMs Jones was the accom¬panist of the choir for 17 years and in recent years has assisted the choir as guest conductor in several concerts around the UK.
The well-known musician from Ferndale, joined the choir in 1971 following the death of their first accom¬panist Tom Jones and per¬formed as the accompanist in over 450 engagements.
With her colleague John Cynan Jones as conductor the pair made the ideal musical team and took the choir on pioneering tours of Canada and Australia.
Ms Jones has performed at such magnificent venues as Strasbourg Cathedral, Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall and the Sydney Opera House. She also appeared on 12 of the choir’s successful EMI albums before her retirement in 1988 and later becoming the Musical Director of the Ynysowen Male Voice Choir.
In 2003, she returned to Treorchy as guest conductor and during the past five years has conducted the choir in a number of concert engagements.
Her presentation of Honorary Lady Membership was made on stage at the choir’s Annual Good Friday Concert in the Park & Dare Theatre, Treorchy before a packed audience of 800 people.
Choir Chairman Gareth Evans said “We all appreciate her faithful support of the choir and all she has done to ensure our continued success”.
WELSH broadcaster Roy Noble OBE has been given Honorary Membership of the Treorchy Male Choir.
The BBC Radio Wales presenter attended the Choir’s Junior Musician of the Year Competition at Treorchy Comprehensive School to present prizes to the winners and was astonished to be the first person to receive an award on the night from the Choir Chairman Gareth Evans.
Honorary Membership is the highest award Treorchy Male Choir can present to non-members of the organisation and past recipients have included Sir Tom Jones, Ronnie Cass and Max Boyce.
The presentation to Roy Noble OBE was in recognition of his outstanding support for the Treorchy Male Choir throughout his broadcasting career.
Gareth Evans said: “Roy has been a great supporter of the Choir and we have worked together on stage, on radio and on television. He has regularly interviewed members on his popular radio show and sent us many a goodwill message on air while we’ve been touring abroad. In recent years Roy Noble has supported our successful Junior Musician Competition by presenting prizes to each of the finalists and is certainly no stranger to the Choir as he’s compered a number of our high-profile engagements.”
Receiving the award before an audience of more than 500 people at Treorchy Comprehensive School, Mr. Noble said he was “overwhelmed”.
Latest News
Dennis Young - 2nd Bass
John Radford - 2nd Bass
Geoffrey Wilkins - 2nd Tenor
Welcome to Our Latest Appreciation Society Members:
Mrs. R. Jones - Bridgend
Mrs. A. Jones - Bridgend
Mr. W. Fink - Chicago USA
Mrs. P. Williamson - Anglesey
And We're Sad to Loose from the Choir:
Carwyn Davies - 1st Bass
Good Luck Carwyn
