Musical Team
The Blaenavon Male Voice Choir Music Team
Gareth was born in Tredegar, Gwent. He was educated at Bedwellty Grammar School and Gwent College of Higher Education, Caerleon, where he studied piano with Rosalie Myers and voice production with Kelvin Thomas.
After leaving Caerleon, Gareth was appointed Head of Music at Trevethin Secondary School, Pontypool. It was at this time, aged 21, that he became Conductor of the Abertillery Ladies' Choir. This was a position he held for a few months before being appointed Musical Director of the Cwmbrân Male Choir.
Progress in his professional career took Gareth back to Tredegar, where following his appointment as Director of Music at the Comprehensive School, he then became a Head of Year and Assistant Headteacher.
Gareth is currently Deputy Headteacher at Caldicot Comprehensive School in Monmouthshire.
Since being appointed Musical Director of Blaenavon Male Voice Choir in 1988, he has continued to demonstrate that enthusiasm, coupled with flair and empathy, can make rehearsals a pleasure. This is evident from the way Blaenavon Male Voice Choir continues to increase in numbers at a time when many choirs in Wales are struggling to keep their numbers. Gareth arranges music for male choirs and often performs solos (with choir backing) and duets with other artists in the choir concerts.
In partnership with the choir's very talented accompanist, Paul Cook and Ozzie Arnold (Deputy Conductor), Gareth has now established Blaenavon as one of the leading male choirs in Wales.
Apart from a busy life at school, Gareth and his wife Kathryn are responsible for music performed at Horeb Baptist Church, Blaenavon, where Kathryn is the Church Organist.
Arranging Music for Male Choirs, conducting them on various tours (see our history page), as well as being invited to direct music festivals at home and abroad is a sure indication of Gareth's committment to the world of music. He also arranges concerts in the UK for American musical groups who tour every year.
"Ozzie" Arnold
Deputy Musical Director
Before moving to Abergavenny in April 2000 and joining Blaenavon Male Voice Choir, Ozzie sang with several choirs in London performing in all the major London concert halls (and a lot of minor ones). He toured France (3 times) and Turkey with the Pro Musica Chorus of London before taking up the baton with the Croydon Male Voice Choir, where he conducted for 7 years. During that time he took them on their first ever tour (OK, so it was only a long weekend in Cornwall, but you have to start somewhere!), and in 1998 conducted a massed male voice concert of 350 voices in the Fairfield Halls, Croydon, before an audience of 1700. He also gained a reputation as a fine arranger of male voice music.
Ozzie is now a valued member of our musical team, and has acted as guest conductor with a number of other choirs in the area. In 2003, while touring Australia with Côr Meibion Gwent, he had the privilege to conduct on live national television. He is currently President of Croydon
Male Voice Choir and exchange concerts are being organised, which started with our visit to
them in June 2005.
FRAN MUNGOVIN
Accompanist
Fran is the newest member of the musical team having only been appointed last month. Fran is still getting to grips with the chorister 's sense of humour and is working hard with Gareth.
Fran studied at the Royal Manchester College of Music. Her principal studies were Voice and Piano second study Violin.
Fran also gained her Diploma in Education at Southampton University.
She enjoyed working as a nursing auxiliary during college holidays and eventually shared musical and nursing careers.
Fran accompanied male voice choirs from the age of 15. The York Philharmonic was followed by various Gloucester and Welsh choirs.
Fran sang with the Glyndebourne and D'Oyly Carte Opera Companies and has performed oratorios from Canterbury to Durham and Aberdeen to Aberystwyth.
Three grown up children and three grandchildren keep her busy when she's not playing the piano or teaching. Despite being camera shy we managed to get a picture.