Excelsior for 2009:Excelsior for 2005 (Mac).qxd 2/8/10 15:37 Page 1 TREORCHY MALE CHOIR 2009 ——— Conductor Emeritus: JOHN CYNAN JONES, M.Mus., B.A., A.T.C.L. President: BRIAN BATES, Esq. Vice Presidents: HAYDN ERASMUS BEM, NORMAN MARTIN, ISLWYN MORGAN ROBERT GRIFFITHS MUSIC STAFF Conductor: JANICE BALL, B.Mus., A.R.C.O. Accompanist: HELEN ROBERTS, B.Mus. ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Chairman: GARETH EVANS Secretary: Treasurer: FREDERICK O’BRIEN STUART HILL Vice-Chairman: Assistant Secretary: DAVID BEBB GWYN MORGAN Publicity Officer & Hon. Archivist: Registrar: DEAN POWELL TONY DAVIES Librarian: Assistant Librarian: IVOR LOCK PHILIP TUCKER Honorary Members—Sir Tom Jones, Jon Schoffield, John Tucker, Brian Bates, Harold Woody, Douglas Firstbrook, John Reid, James Kelso, Brian Anstee, Edward Fraser, John Jenkins, Mel Absalom, Andrew Kay, Lester McGrath, Edgar Taylor, Nigel Chivers, Adrian Dix, Max Boyce, Andrew Badham, Dr Malcolm Williams, Dr Alwyn Humphreys, Dr Haydn James, Bryan Davies, Stuart Burrows, Richard Dinnen, David Lang Honorary Lady Members—Janice Ball, Helen Roberts, Jeanetta Lawrence, Jennifer Jones, Val Dix, Judy Chivers, Marion Williams, Helen May, Heather James, Ros Evans, Iris Williams, Kate Woolveridge, Mair Roberts, Rhiannon Williams, Toni Rudov, Sue Gannon, Pia di Paolo. Excelsior for 2009:Excelsior for 2005 (Mac).qxd 2/8/10 15:37 Page 2 2EXCELSIOR First Tenor Second Tenor First Bass Second Bass Arthur Miles Derek Langley Paul Evans David Williams John Bowen Andrew Costin William Thomas Alun Davies ABOVE—Committee members of each section Cyril Bevan Jack Bean David Bebb David Birch Ernald Brooks Keith Bevan Tom Belmont Gareth Davies Graham Cox Wayne Dury Alan Bower Keith Davies Richard Danahar David Foulkes Norman Cox Tony Davies Wyn Davies Cyril Goodfield Ray Daniels David Evans Kieron Hill Paul Griffiths Phillip Edmunds Gareth Evans Stuart Hill Joe Harris Gerald Emanuel Terry George Keith Hopkins Gary Horgan Huw Evans Robert Griffiths Bryn Howells Nick Jenkins Ron Evans David Holley John Jenkins Lee Lanciotti John Fletcher Alan Iles Gareth Lawrence Norman Martin Len Gale George Jacob Stephen Lawrence Mark Milsom Ray Johnson Bryn Jones Dennis Lethbridge Frederick O’Brien John Jones Mark Jones Alwyn Lewis David Powell Selwyn Jones Peter Jones Dilwyn Llewellyn Haydn Powell Alan Lewis Idris Morgan Ivor Lock Jeff Priday Derek Moore Alun Morris Gwyn Morgan Ian Reynolds Keith Newman Peter Morris Islwyn Morgan Ken Simcox Keith Owens Jeff Powell Roger Morse Glyn Thomas Rennie Phillips John Radford Adrian Owen Michael Wood Daryl Stacey Mike Russ Dean Powell Derek Thomas David Stanton Ceri Rees Phillip Warren John Strabel Gareth Rees William Watkin Llew Summerhill Reg Stephens Roger Watkins Ken Waldin Gareth Thomas Brian Williams Dennis Young Philip Tucker Ivor Williams Robert Turner Tony Vaughan John Weaver LIFE MEMBERS Michael Gale, Ben Jackson, Islwyn Morgan, Norman Martin, Haydn Erasmus, Sam Griffiths, Robert Griffiths, John Mallin, John Cynan Jones, Dean Powell, Reg Stephens, William Watkins, Peter Morris, Len Gale, David Powell, Frederick O’Brien, Peter Jones, Bryn Jones, Bryn Howells, Roger Morse Excelsior for 2009:Excelsior for 2005 (Mac).qxd 2/8/10 15:37 Page 3 EXCELSIOR 3 FOREWORD by RUTH MADOC It is with great pride that I write to the Treorchy Male Choir’s Excelsior magazine at the culmination of what has clearly been an exciting year for you all. I remember the Choir reforming after the Second World War and your performances having given so much pleasure not only to us here in Wales but to audiences the world over. Whenever there is a major event in our homeland, you can be assured that the Choir will be there to perform as a “voice” of Welsh culture at its very best. I know that you have been incredibly busy throughout the past year, partic- ularly on your exciting tour of Australia and New Zealand where undoubtedly you raised the spirits and broke the hearts of every member of the audience with your beautiful sound. It was a real delight for me to attend the 2009 Junior Musician of the Year Competition and I applaud you as an organisation for ensuring that this important event has become such a successful entity. You are ensuring that a future generation of fine musicians comes from the Rhondda Valleys by encouraging them to enjoy the opportunity of public per- formance. The incredibly high standard of entrants, and the high-profile list of adjudi- cators illustrated just how important the evening has become. The young people were magical and it took me back to my own childhood when performing in the eisteddfod or at the local chapel. This is the starting point for them to enjoy a future in music, either as a career or a pastime. Thanks again to Treorchy Male Choir and may you go on with your joyous tunes for many generations to come. Excelsior for 2009:Excelsior for 2005 (Mac).qxd 2/8/10 15:37 Page 4 4EXCELSIOR EDITORIAL by DEAN POWELL “What would I do without my music?” “What would I do without my song?” “What would I do with my music?” “To make things right when everything seems wrong.” These lines from one of our latest musical items encapsulates the passion we collectively feel every time we perform as members of the Treorchy Male Choir. Looking back on 2009, it comes as no surprise that such emotions run deep for this was another year of immense success, delight and deep satisfaction. So much was achieved in this twelve-month period that it is often difficult to comprehend how we ever managed it. The Treorchy Male Choir travelled tens of thousands of miles, entertained a live audience of more than 136,000 peo- ple and performed in concert halls and theatre venues that remain unattainable to many a professional (let alone “amateur”) musical ensemble. The ongoing success of the Choir was clearly exemplified in the prestigious list of venues and events in which we performed. Undoubtedly the tour of Australia and New Zealand proved the climatic point of a very successful year, but do not underestimate the many achievements reached closer to home. In an effort to continue our pledge to encourage even more schoolchildren to enjoy the benefits of musical performance, the fourth annual Junior Musician of the Year Competition was heralded another triumph. Wales’s Cardiff City Stadium, July 2009 Excelsior for 2009:Excelsior for 2005 (Mac).qxd 2/8/10 15:37 Page 5 EXCELSIOR 5 great bass-baritone Bryn Terfel remains a firm supporter and patron of the competition. Due to its popularity two semi-final competitions were held before a Grand Final where 20 talented youngsters took to the stage. Welsh actress Ruth Madoc made a guest appearance at the event to congratulate all those who participated and the Choir was assured that the musical tradition of the Rhondda is in safe hands for generations to come. Although we consider “our” Choir to be the one that was reformed in October 1946, there still remains a vast male voice choir heritage dating from 1883 and it was these two distinct periods of music making that were hon- oured this year. The presentation of a Blue Plaque to recognise the enormous contribution made by the Treorchy Male Choir to the cultural heritage of Wales was an honour indeed – particularly as we are the first Choir in the world to receive such an honour. The first plaque has been dedicated to the Choir’s origins at the Red Cow public house – a landmark building which actually came close to being in the possession of the Choir at one point in the year as plans were afoot to create a centre of music there provided financial support could be attained. Sadly it was not to be, but the opportunities this could have provided us, and the community at large were immense. In recognition of its post-war success the Choir purchased a second Blue Plaque that was proudly unveiled on our spiritual home at the Treorchy Primary School in Glyncoli Road where our founding fathers reformed the present-day chorus. Coupled with the national Welsh love of singing must surely be that of sport and of course rugby in particular. Therefore it came as little surprise when the Choir was invited to perform once again before 65,000 people on the hal- lowed turf of the Millennium Stadium prior to the Autumn International of Wales vs Western Samoa. Learning the Samoan National Anthem was quite an achievement too! However, rugby wasn’t the only sport that drew in the crowds and provided a world stage for the Choir during the year. The opening of the new £100 mil- lion Cardiff City Football Stadium was a massive showcase event for the whole of the country. It was with honour that the Choir was invited to per- form on the pitch prior to kick-off on the opening night as the Bluebirds prepared to do battle (in the friendliest of terms!) against Celtic Rangers. This was another large stadium venue where the Choir enhanced its image as an icon of the Land of Song. As a registered charity, we continually raise funds for worthwhile causes Excelsior for 2009:Excelsior for 2005 (Mac).qxd 2/8/10 15:37 Page 6 6EXCELSIOR St. James’ Church, Ludgershall, July 2009 Excelsior for 2009:Excelsior for 2005 (Mac).qxd 2/8/10 15:37 Page 7 EXCELSIOR 7 around the globe. This year was no exception as the Choir was invited to release a new CD single, “The Liberation Hymn”, the proceeds and royalties of which are being donated to the Help for Heroes campaign. To help such a cause that supports our brave soldiers who have been wounded in Afghanistan, has been an absolute privilege for each and every one of us.