What People Say
By Susan Spano |
Blaenavon Male Voice Choir
I strolled the streets of Blaenavon, where workmen where hanging Christmas lights and most of the shops were shut tight by 4 o'clock. I sat for a long time over a plate of fish and chips, then waited on the steps of the elementary school for choir practice to start.
Eventually a janitor arrived to switch on the lights and about 40 choir members ambled in, carrying battered music satchels under their arms, grinning like schoolboys when they found they had a female guest.
I took a special shine to the Blaenavon Male Voice Choir, a group of average Hughs and Williams, with light shining in their eyes. They clearly liked one another and had a great time harmonizing, led by Musical Director Gareth Whitcombe.
Choir membership is a substantial commitment, Whitcombe said. But it gives the men a chance to travel inexpensively to such exotic places as Southern California, where they sang earlier this year.
They did "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "Alexander's Ragtime Band" for me, followed by a show-stopping Nigerian number, accompanied by bongos and maracas, as the choir shuffled through a line dance that looked like something out of "The Full Monty."
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Just a note to thank you for your welcome to us when we visited The Choir last year. The CD I purchased has been played many times and 'All in the April Evening' brought my 90 year old Mother to tears. Thanks again for the opportunity to sing with a "Welsh Male Voice Choir", a highlight of my life and the envy of some of my male singing companions.
Jon Richards.
Uraidla South Australia
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14th Aug' 2008
I recently bought a double cd of your choir called "Songs from the the Valleys of Wales".it is absolutley beautiful music. my husband is Welsh - born in Tongwynlais & we both have a great love of the Welsh music & happy to find it here in South Africa
Dianne Kendal
Johnnesburg South Africa
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