Famous Welsh Conductor to Perform at Centenary Events
By EIFION WILLIAMS
VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Welsh Society's Centenary Celebrations, November 1-4, will feature Eifion Thomas, Musical Director of the Llanelli Male Choir (Cor Meibion Llanelli), as guest soloist at the Grand Concert and conductor of the Gymanfa Ganu.
Eifion Thomas is well-known to Welsh North Americans, having in recent years conducted the North American Gymanfa Ganu in Victoria, Vancouver, Seattle and New York. He is also a renowned soloist who has sung with his choir throughout North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand He is much in demand in England and Wales as an oratorio soloist.
Under Eifion's direction, the Llanelli Male Choir has gained most of the honours available in competitive choral singing, including several prizes at the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales.
He has also been responsible for preparing and conducting the choir on its many record releases as well as recording several solo albums of his favourite hymns on the Sain recording label.
The Llanelli Male Choir has made countless appearances on television and radio in the UK and has sung with artists as diverse as Bryn Terfel and the Pet Shop Boys.
Eifion trained in music and education at Trinity College Carmarthen and the Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. In 1996 he was received into the prestigious Gorsedd of Bards at the National Eisteddfod in recognition of his contribution to Welsh culture.
Eifion Thomas's tenor voice will be an added attraction at the Grand Concert given by the combined Vancouver Orpheus and Vancouver Welsh Men's Choirs on November 2 at the Michael J. Fox Theatre in Burnaby.
And on the afternoon of November 4, participants will be able to enjoy a traditional gymanfa ganu under the baton of one of the finest musical conductors in Wales.
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