Aberbargoed Ladies Choir
Aberbargoed Ladies Choir are preparing for a very busy season ahead
CHOIR ON SONG
The members of Aberbargoed Ladies' Choir were delighted to return to St Peter's Church Commercial Street Aberbargoed on the first Monday evening of September for their first rehearsal of the new season.
It was really enjoyable to meet up with familiar faces, after the summer break, but equally pleasing to welcome new choristers to their first rehearsal.
The Choristers were excited to hear that they have been invited to return to The Cardiff Millennium Centre to sing on the Glanfa Stage, formerly the Tesco Stage on Sunday 4th October and, on the following evening, the ladies travel to Maesycwmmer to perform for the local senior citizens.
A date has already been fixed for the Christmas Concert, which will be held on Monday 14th December 2009 in St Peter’s Church.
The last six months were very successful and enjoyable in providing evening entertainment at a new venue at St Julian's in Newport and on more familiar territory in Stocktonville, Tredegar. On both these occasions, individual members of the Choir read poems and provided instrumental solos. It has always been the aim of the Choir to promote and encourage young talented musicians to perform at their concerts. When Eleri and Ffion Parfitt recently became members, their expertise as a flautist and trumpeter was soon recognised and appreciated by the Choir and audiences alike. Bethan Watson was the guest harpist when the Choir provided entertainment at St Mary's Church, Penllwyn, for a delicious 'scones and cream' evening. In June the Choir were delighted to perform musical items for the Cymanfa Ganu in Tredegar, on the final evening of the town's Festival Week.
The climax of the summer season was the annual concert in St Peter's Church in July. A wide selection of music ranging from classical items by Purcell and Handel to songs by Henry Mancini and Lloyd Webber were included in the programme, as well as two pieces of music specially written and arranged for the Choir by local musician, Brian Russell. Everyone enjoyed the spectacular flute playing by Ashleigh Powell - a young music student currently studying at Cardiff University. As a result of sales of raffle tickets, refreshments, flower arrangements and admission charges the choir were able to present a donation of £800 to 'The 151 Club'. This Club was formed in July 2008 to raise funds to support 'CLIC Sargent' (Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood) and BOBATH Therapy Centre supporting children with Cerebral Palsy. These two local charities will each receive £400 to continue their valuable work.
Thanks must go to all the people who have worked so hard to support the Choir during the past year, but the work goes on! Under the musical direction of Hetty Watkins and with their accompanist Beth Dean, preparations have started for the autumn performances.
The Choir meets at St Peter's Church, Aberbargoed on Monday evenings at 7 o'clock and are always eager to welcome new members if you enjoy singing then go along and give it a try.