Latest News

Welcome to Our Latest Choristers:

Raymond Johnson - 1st Bass
Dr. David Williams - 2nd Bass

Welcome to Our Latest Appreciation Society Members:

Mr. A. Smith - Worthing
Mrs. O. Berry - Worthing
Mrs. G. King - Worthing

New Honorary Lady Member

Heather James, who comes from Neath, held the position of Associate Accompanist to the Choir from 1995 to 1998. A close friend of our third conductor, John Jenkins, she joined the Choir to assist inboth rehearsals and concerts. She accompanied the Choir in a total of 14 concerts, including its memorable weekend tour of the North of England, and also conducted several rehearsals.

When John Jenkins became ill and finally relinquished his position withthe Choir, she remained faithful to the organisation and assisted in any way possible during the difficult transition period until Andrew Badham was appointed as the new Musical Director.

Heather, a lecturer and examiner, certainly endeared herself to theTreorchy family despite only being with us for a few short years. Choristers enjoyed their time with her, not only discussing music, but also the cricketing prowess of her famous brother Tony Lewis.

We are indeed grateful to Heather for her dedication to the Choir.

New Honorary Lady Members

On becoming the Choirs third Accompanist in January 1989, Marion Williams came home in more ways than one.

A native of Treorchy, she first came into contact with the Choir during the late 1960s while a student. She accompanied the Choir under the baton of John Cynan Jones at the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales in Bala in 1967 where they were awarded the First Prize in the Chief Competition for Male Choirs, and she received the accolade of a special commendation from the adjudicators for her brilliant performance at the piano.

In 1970 she became the Choirs Assistant Accompanist, a position she held for a year before leaving the Rhondda to take up a teaching post in Kent.

Nineteen years later and she returned to the Treorchy family. Over the next nine years she accompanied the Choir in 215 concerts, including three overseas tours to the United States of America, numerous EMI recordings, radio and television broadcasts and 353 rehearsals. She also gave an unforgettable performance of the piano solo from Beethovens Choral Fantastia with the Choir and orchestra at St Davids Hall where a very young Katherine Jenkins was playing the violin at the time.

Marion accompanied the Choir during some of its most traumatic years and without her dependability and total dedication to the organisation, it is unlikely the Choir would have continued to flourish.

It was Marion who provided the rock of foundation for the Choir during the upheaval of John Cynan Joness untimely resignation in 1991 and again when John Jenkins left us in 1997. But despite the uncertainties and difficulties, there remained one constant, and that was Marions sheer professionalism and support at all times.

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At the concert held in The Assembly Hall, Worthing on the 10th May 2008, a surprise presentation of Honorary Lady Membership of the choir was conferred upon Kate Woolveridge, soloist with the choir. Kate has been the choir's main soloist for many years.

KATE WOOLVERIDGE (Mezzo-soprano) was born in Cardiff and obtained a B.Mus degree at Sheffield University before going on to post-graduate study at the Royal Academy of Music. Her copius awards include the Osborne Roberts Blue Riband at the National Eisteddfod, and the Alfreda Hodgson Memorial Bursary given by the National Federation of Music Societies.

Kate has performed with the majority of this countries opera companies including Welsh National Opera, English National Opera, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Wexford Festival Opera, Opera factory, Traveling Opera and Pocket Opera. Her roles include Rosina, Carmen, Dorabella Hansel, Suzuki, Flora, Marcellina, Dinah and Varvara in a newly commissioned work for Welsh National Opera entitled Katerina.

As an Oratorio artist she has sung at the Wigmore Hall and with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, toured Hungary and Germany and has performed the majority of the Mezzo/Contralto repertoire.

Kate is equally at home on the recital platform as she is on the operatic stage and has given recitals across the country, specializing in American and English song.

Last year saw Kate performing at the Cathedrals of Gloucester, St David and Llandaff and join the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra at the Cheltenham Festival.

She is currently touring with Swansea City as Rosina in The Barber of Seville and has just completed a nationwide tour of a new commission for Welsh National Opera called Dolffin with a libretto by Gwyneth Lewis. In it Kate took the lead role of a pregnant dolphin!

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