THE
WELSH
SOCIETY
OF
VANCOUVER Cymdeithas Gymraeg Vancouver

Cambrian News Hydref October 2012 2012

Society Newsletter – Cylchgrawn y Gymdeithas

Jubilee Garden Party

CAMBRIAN
HALL,
215
East
17 th Ave,
Vancouver B.C.
V5V
1A6 VANCOUVER WELSH SOCIETY The Cambrian News Officers: President: From The Editor: Jane
Byrne


















Vice President: Many activities of the Society in the past Nant
Roberts


months should have been recognized but Secretary: alas, I had no material. I am grateful to Eifion
Williams
Gwilym Evams for the photo of the [email protected] Jubilee Garden Party in August and to Treasurer: Lynn Owens -Whalen for recording my Gaynor
Evans














performance at Scranton. I am once Membership
Secretary: again grateful to Eifion Williams for his Alcwyn
Rogers




contribution detailing the biographies of Immediate
Past
President: the participants at the forthcoming John
Morris
Celebr ation. The other events rely on the Directors:







information that Alcwyn and Gillian Heather
Davies

have placed on the website. I am grateful Gwyn
Evans









to Eric Davies for informing us that Joy Mary
Lewis Cornock this summer won the Vocal Antone
Minard Solo over 21 competition at the (Recording
Secretary) Llangollen International Eisteddf od . You Gethin
Owen can hear her singing on the Eisteddfod Contacts site. It’s a beautiful performance. Building
Committee: John
Morris As you will see, the events listed take us Cambrian
Circle
Singers: to the end of 2012 – another year past! Nerys
Haqq So make sure you support the many Church
Service: enriching events that your Executive and John
Pritchard


















Social Committe e have arranged for Rentals: your enjoyment. Do also consider being Richard
Williams


604 340 8545 at the Annual General Meeting to have Social
Events
Committee: some input into the Society’s future. Gillian
Rogers




























Finally, a word about Dafydd Iwan’s (Gilli [email protected] )

















th Welsh
Speaking
Group: 50 Anniversary Tour. He is tour ing John
Pritchard Wales during October but he will be in London o n November 10 th and on the Welsh
Learners
Group: th Antone
Minard 17 the re will be a special concert in Webmaster:
Llandudno together with Elin Fflur and the Rhuthun Choir – whose conductor is Alcwyn
Rogers












the composer, Robat Arwyn. What an (www.welshsociety.com )



experience! Worth a trip? Newsletter
Editor: David
Llewelyn
Williams



737 03 05 David Llewelyn Williams ([email protected] ) Forthcoming Events Gary Griffiths is an emerging artist in the operatic world, having studies at the Monday, October 22nd , 10:00 am till Guildhall School of Music and Drama, 3:00. Work Party Day A delicious where he won the prestigious Gold home made lunch will be provided. Medal Competition. Often referred to as Looking forward to seeing you there! “the next Bryn Terfel”. Gary is currently an Associate Artist at Welsh National Monday, October 29 th at 7.30 pm Ope ra, wherein 2011 he made his Welsh Lesson professional debut as Guglielmo in a new production of Cosi fan Tutte. He was the winner of the Welsh Singers Vancouver Celebrates Competition in 2012 and will represent Wales Wales at the Cardiff Singer of the World Friday, November 2 nd 6pm for 7pm competition in 2013. He also enjoys a Anniversary Dinner at the Cambrian busy schedule of concert recitals throughout the UK and abroad. Gary will Saturday, November 3 rd perform at the November 3 Evening of Vancouver Welsh Society and West Entertainment and will also sing at the Point Grey United Church will Gymanfa Ganu on Sunday November 4. present Vancouver Celebrates Wales; an Evening of Entertainment with Also performing will be Nerys Jones , a guest artists directly from Wales. popular mezzo -soprano from Seattle. Nerys was born in Llanfair Caereinion in Sunday, Novemb er 4 th at 11 :00 am Mid -Wales and studied at the Royal Bilingual Church Service followed by Scottish Academy of Music and Art and a Tê Bach. At 2pm we will hold our the Guildhall School of Music. She has traditional Gymanfa Ganu, also performed with the world’s leading followed by a Tê Bach opera companies and has also hosted her own television show Yng Nghwmni Plans are moving ahead for the Nerys Jones on the Welsh television Vancouver Celebrates Wales weekend of station S4C. Nerys has performed with events , November 2 -4. the Puget Sound Opera and the Seattle Opera. Last fall she performed at the The Welsh Society’s Social Committee West Coast Eisteddfod in Los Angeles received a setback last week when and conducted the Seattle Welsh Llanelli Male Voice Choir’s Musical Society’s annual Gymanfa Ganu. Nerys Director Eifion Thomas was forced to will sing at the Concert and the Gymanfa cancel his appearance due to the illness of a close family member. However, on Another visiting performer from Wales Eifion’s recommendation, another is Huw Evans , an accomplished Llanelli native, baritone Gary Griffiths, musician from Neath, South Wales. Huw has agreed to perform at the Point Grey attended Trinity College of Music in United Church concert on November 3. London where he studied voi ce, flute At the Evening of Entertainment in the and viola. A passionate devotee of Church, audiences will enjoy the talents Welsh folk music, he has performed at of an impressive list of performers: folk festivals and clubs around the UK as well as in Ontario, Quebec and She holds a Bachelor of Music and a Newfoundland. Huw is a lawyer by Bachelor of Education from th e profession but still maintains that his University of British Columbia. Her first love is music. As wel l as singing in post -secondary music studies were in the Concert, Huw will be the featured oboe, piano, and voice. Natasha also performer at the Anniversary Dinner on studied voice in Toronto and at the November 2 and will also sing at the Voice Pedagogy Program at the Sunday morning bilingual service on Mozarteum University in Salzburg. November 4. During her studies she sang with the Katie Procter , who was born in UBC Ch amber Singers, with Opera in Newport, Gwent , studied Biological Concert in Toronto, with the Bach Choir chemistry at Leicester University before in Salzburg and in the church choir of moving to Vancouver in 2010. She one of the largest Austrian cathedrals. began singing at an early age and has She is a soprano with the Vancouver sung with a number of well -known Chamber Choir, directs the Richmond choirs. Prior to moving to Vancouver, Singers, an all women 55 voice choir , Katie performed as a soloist with one of and teaches singing and piano in South Wales’ most prestigious choirs, the Delta. Richmond and Vancouver. award wi nning Caldicot Male Voice Choir. She says the highlight of her The accompanist at the Gy manfa Ganu career was singing in England/s beautiful on Sunday will be Barry Yamanouchi , Canterbury Cathedral. Katie will be the regular accompanist for the performing at the Concert. Vancouver Orpheus Choir since 1994. A graduate of UBC School of music and Jonathan Quick , Musical Director of McGill Un iversity, Barry is much in the Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir, demand as a n accompanist for a number needs no introduct ion to Vancouver of theatre companies and Lower audiences. A UBC graduate in voice, Mainland choirs. Barry has won high composition and conducting, his musical praise in recent years as the accompanist talents have led him to work in at the Welsh Socirty’s regular Gymanfa conducting, composing, arranging, Ganu at the Cambrian Hall sound recording, editing and singing. Jonathan ahs worked with many choirs On Saturday, November 3, from 10.30 and has been a soloist with the to 4.00 pm the Dylan Thomas Circle Vancouver Chamber Choir, the will hold its AGM in the lower floor of Vancouver Cantata Singers, Chor Leoni the Cambria n hall. A mini poetry and the West Coast Mennonite Chamber festival featuring four invited poets Choir. As part of the November 3 will follow and a Mummer’s play may Evening of Entertainment, Jonathan will also be featured as well as a conduct a representative choir of performer on an acous tic guitar. members from the Vancouver Welsh Me n’s Choir and the Vancouver Orpheus Tickets for the November 3 Evening Choir, which will also feature soloist of Entertainment at West Point Grey Natasha Neufeld. He will also conduct United Church at $10 are available the Gymanfa Ganu on Sunday afternoon. fro m Nevill e Thomas (604 -294 -4332) Natasha Neufeld is a Vancouver native. and from Gaynor Evans (271 -3134) Tickets for the Anniversary Dinner, Please forward your children’s or catered by Jordan’s International grandchildren’s names and ages to Food designs, are available from Gay nor Evans (604 -271 -3134) Gaynor Evans (604 -271 -31 34) Those [email protected] by November 15. wishing to attend should book early as tickets for both events are limited. Monday, December 10 th at &.30 pm ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Later events: This is of great importance to the future of the Society; please attend, offer your Wednesday, November 7 th at 7.30 pm services and vote for next year’s Executive Meeting. Executive. Wednesday, Dec. 12 th at 12 noon The Monday, November 12 th at 7.30 pm Cambrian Bookworms will discuss GENERAL MEETING “The Nine Lives of Charlotte Taylor” by Sally Armstrong. Wednesday, Nov. 14 th at 12 noon The Cambrian Bookworms will discuss Saturday, December 15 th at 7 pm “Arctic Chill” by Amaldur Indridason CHRISTMAS DINNER Catered by Jordan’s International Food Monday, November 19th at 10:30 am Designs, we will enjoy a traditional Welsh speaking - Siarad Cymraeg Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings. Tickets will be available from Gaynor Monday, November 19 th at 7.30 pm Evans (604 -271 -3134) Welsh Lesson Monday, December 17th at 10:30 am Monday, November 26rd , 10:00 am till Welsh speaking - Siarad Cymraeg 3:00. Work Party Day A delicious home made lunch will be provided. Monday, December 17 th at 7.30 pm Welsh Lesson Saturday, December 1 st at 7.30 pm Traditional Mulled Wine Evening Mulled Wine (or Cranberry Cocktail) The North American Festival of Wales and Carol Singing Evening Scranton, Pennsylvania August 30 to September 2, 2012 Monday, December 3 rd at 7.30 pm Welsh Lesson Lynn and Wilf Owens -Whalen and I attended the Festival and it turned out an Wednesday, December 5 th at 7.30 pm unforgettable experience. Of course Executive Meeting. much was a result of the presence of Dafydd Iwan but there wer e very many Sunday, December 9 th at 11 am additional bonuses. Cinema Wales Bilingual Christmas Carol Service showed 30 minute films on Megan followed by a Tê Bach. Lloyd George, Philli p Jones Griffiths and Iris Williams. I attended two talks, Sunday, December 9 th at 2 pm one on the Welsh in Scranton and also Children’s Christmas Party one on the Avondale Mine Disaster reminiscent of Nat King Cole. Late r in (69 Welsh miners are buri ed in a local the evening at the Open Mic event cemetery ). M.C.’d by Dafydd Iwan, I had the privilege to perform Cynan’s poem Locally I visited the Steamtown Aberdaron with audience participation in Museum , a National Historic site which the chorus in Welsh and in my English chronicles in great detail the rise and fall translation. It went well. of the Steam Engine and the local railroad to New York. We were also welcomed by the Mayor at a ceremony which incl uded the raising of the Welsh Flag. Lynn and Wilf lived in the Lackwanna Inn, a beautifully restored former railroad station. A local church, which served as the venue for both the Grand Concert and the two Gymanfas was impressive with a magnificent organ but no air conditioning!

The opening concert featured Welsh folk singer and former Plaid Cymru President, Dafydd Iwan who kept us royally entertained for close to two hours. This concert was part of his tour Earlier on Friday I had won the open celebrating 50 years as a singer. I was rec itation; the set piece was a poem I fortuna te too after the concert to meet first learnt at age 15 – Y Llwynog by Gwenno Dafydd, a Facebook friend for Robert Williams Parry – my favourite many years. She has produced two new poet! – so sixty years later! Saturday I Apps; one singing the National Anthem was able to present the poem again at the and one singing her St. David’s song, Eisteddfod Winners Concert. This time, I “Cenwch y Clychau i Dewi“. was able to first pr ovide my English translation and then recite the Welsh; The Gala Awards Banquet honoured both were received with enthusiasm. Beth Landme sser who was instrumental in planning and organizing this year’s The Grand Concert this year featured the NAFOW and has served as Program mixed choir, Côr Godre’r Garth from Chair in successive years since 2007. Pontypridd, under the direction of their The entertainment following the dinner conductor Eilir Owen Griffiths. The was brilliantly and amusingly performed accompani st was Branwen Evans and by Iris Williams, brought up in an several pieces featured soloist Hannah orphan age in Wales,. but whose musical Owen Griffiths. The first half consisted talent shone through and allowed her to of a selection of Welsh and other pieces, triumph. She was awarded an OBE by whereas the second half featured the the Queen for her charitable works. She North American première of his work sang two songs in Welsh, two in French Coro Angelicus . Unfortunately the he at and several in English in a style in the church caused several to leave for health concerns at the intermission but those who stayed enjoyed a remarkable I made a number of new friends. I also performance, which included organist can't emphasize enough the significance Stephen Williams and a percussionist. of Dafydd Iwan’s presence. I returned home in a m uch more positive frame of The evening continued with Pub Night, mind and look forward to next year’s hosted by Dafydd Iwan who responded Festival which will be held in Toronto. to all requests. To give him a couple of breaks, I was able to present some poetry David Llewelyn Williams with translation; some by Harri Webb and later one by Jason Walford Davies The
first
woman
to
become
about the Cynheidre Pit disaster, which I Archdruid
will
lead
the
2013
thought might be appropriate given National
Eisteddfod
ceremonies. Sc ranton’s history. I think they went well. We concluded the evening with a On
June
23 rd ,
2012,
a
t
the
rousing rendition of Yma o Hyd . Proclamation
Ceremony
for
the
2013
National
Eisteddfod
in
Denbigh,
it
was On the Sunday morning there was a announced
that
Christine
James
will
Church Service , which included a be
the
new
Archdruid
who
will
take
memorial to those members who had up
her
duties
in
2013.

Her
first
duty
passed during the year. A rose was will
be
the
Proclamation
of
the
2014
select ed for each member , which on this Eisteddfod
in
June
after
which
she
will
occasion included both Phyllis Owens preside
at
the
Eisteddfod
in
Denbigh
and Uta Williams. Wilf, Lynn and I sat in
August.
The
Archdruid
serves for
a
together at this moving service. term
of
three
years.

Sunday afternoon and Sunday evening, Mrs.
James
is
the
first
woman
to
two Gymanfa Ganu sessions were held become
Archdruid;
even
more
in the Elm Street Church. The conductor remarkably,
she
is
the
first
Welsh
was Gareth Hughes Jones, a former learner
to
fulfill
this
role.
Originally
conductor of the Côr Meibion from
Tonypandy
in
the
Rhondda
Caernarfon. The organist was David Valley,
she
was
brought
up
in
an
Enlow, the Organist and Choir Master of English speaking
household
and
the Church of the Resurrection in New learnt
Welsh
at
school
in
Porth
and
at
York City. Côr Godre’r Garth and the Aberystwyth
University.
David G. Morris Memorial Award Winner, sop rano Elizabeth Shoemaker Her
command
of
the
language
is
also sang at these sessions. evident,
since
she
won
the
Crown
at
Upon our return to the hotel, informal the
Eryri
and
District
National

singing in the lobby, led by Edward Eisteddfod
in
2005
for
her
collection
Morus Jones, continued into the night. of
poems
entitled
Lluniau
Lliw ,
inspired
by
famou s
works
of
art
at
For me, the Festival was an enriching National
Museum
Cardiff.
She
was
experience. I renewed acquaintances admitted
into
the
Gorsedd
of
Bards
in
from the Por tland Festival two years 2002.
She
is
a
Senior
Lecturer
at
the
ago; I met several Facebook friends and Hywel
Teifi
Academy,
Swansea
University
and
lives
in
Cardiff. The Vancouver Welsh Society and West Point Grey United Church present Vancouver Celebrates Wales an evening of entertainment featuring artists from Wales and Vancouver

West Point Grey United Church , 4595 West 8th Vancouver Saturday , November 3rd at 7:00 pm Tickets $10 .00 Phone : 604 294 -4332 or 604 271 -3134 Email : nkthomas@shaw .ca

WelshSociety.com www.wpguc.com Vancouver Celebrates Wales

Friday November 2nd at 7:00 pm ANNIVERSARY DINNER .

Saturday November 3rd The DYLAN THOMAS CIRCLE will meet between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm .

Saturday November 3rd at 7:00 pm An EVENING of ENTERTAINMENT featuring artists from Wales and Vancouver at WEST POINT GREY UNITED CHURCH .

Sunday November 4th . at 11 :00 am BILINGUAL CHURCH SERVICE followed by Tê Bach . (Light Refreshments ).

Sunday November 4th . at 2:00 pm A traditional GYMANFA GANU (Hymn Singing Festival ). This will be followed by Tê Bach (Light Refreshments ).

All events other than the Evening of Entertainment will be held at The Cambrian Hall , 215 East 17 th . Ave ., Vancouver . We extend a cordial welcome to all .

For more information go to , www .WelshSociety .com or Phone : 604 876 -2815