Cor Godre’r Aran: Celebrated
Welsh Choir to Visit Vancouver
 COR Godre’r Aran, one of Wales’ most celebrated male voice choirs. |
 THE CHOIR’S musical director is Eirian Owen, who is well known in Wales as a conductor and accompanist. |
By EIFION WILLIAMS
Cor Godre’r Aran, one of Wales’ most celebrated male voice choirs, will perform at Shaughnessy Heights United Church on September 10.
The choir was formed in 1949 in Llanuwchllyn, a village nestling between the shores of Bala Lake (Llyn Tegid) and the Aran Mountain, which stands majestically above the village. It is a location proud of its history and its literary and musical heritage. Choir members all come from farming or other rural backgrounds and are all natural Welsh speakers.
Cor Godre’r Aran is one of the most widely travelled Welsh choirs, having in recent years toured North America, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Portugal. It has also performed extensively in the UK and Ireland, including singing with the Band of the Royal Marines, the Grenadier Guards and the Royal Scots Pipes and Drums.
In 2005 and 2006 the choir sang at the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Macroom, County Cork. A few days before their appearance in Vancouver the choir will sing at the North American Festival of Wales in Portland, Oregon, and in Victoria, B.C.
The choir’s achievements in choral competitions are impressive, winning five times at the National Eisteddfod of Wales and four times at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod. The choir was also BBC Radio Cymru’s Male Choir of the Year in 2005.
Cor Godre’r Aran’s Musical Director is Llanuwchllyn born Eirian Owen, who is well known in Wales as a conductor and accompanist. She has a first class honours degree in music from the University of Wales, together with a postgraduate diploma from the University of Manchester.
Eirian Owen has for many years been an official accompanist at the National Eisteddfod of Wales and the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen. She has also presented two series of programmes of classical music on BBC Radio Cymru and is an Honorary Druid in the National Eisteddfod’s Gorsedd of Bards.
The soloist at the concert will be soprano Heulen Cynfal, who began her vocal studies with Eirian Owen at the age of eight. She has competed at local and national level in both singing and recitation and in 2009 won first prize at the National Eisteddfod in the youth solo class. She has spent the last two years studying singing at the prestigious Chetham’s School of Music, which provides tuition for musically gifted students.
An added attraction at the concert will be The Three Basses, choir members who have won much acclaim in their own right.
The trio consists of Tom Evans, who has won the open baritone solo at the National Eisteddfod nine times and the National’s Blue Riband twice; Trebor Lloyd Evans, a banker who also has numerous National Eisteddfod successes to his credit and was the winner of the Blue Riband in 2009; and Sion Goronwy, who has appeared with Glyndebourne Opera, English Touring Opera and Opera North.
These popular singers will complement the choir’s repertoire, which consists of an eclectic mix of folk songs, opera choruses, show tunes and sacred music. Anyone who loves and appreciates choral singing will not want to miss this opportunity to enjoy one of the best current male voice choirs from Wales.
Cor Godre’r Aran will be appearing at Shaughnessy Heights United Church on September 10 at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $25/$20 for seniors and students. For more information, see: www.welshsociety.com.
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