Llan Male Voice Choir on lookout for singers

* Llangollen Male Voice Choir's 2015 line-up. 

A CHOIR which has performed in the Royal Albert Hall and around the world is on the lookout for new members.

Llangollen Male Voice Choir -  Côr Meibion Llangollen – was formed 33 years ago and has since gone from strength to strength.

And it has just put out the call for new singers, especially tenors.

With just six men, the choir first tuned up back in 1982 in the home of one of its founder members, Leslie Wilson, who became long-term chairman. Current president is Ian Bluck.

First conductor was Peter Dennis Jones, whose dedication and inspiration made the choir what it is today and whose death in 2006 came as a great loss.

The choir has had several conductors over the years, with David Bird now in his second year at the helm.

There have also been a string of accompanists and currently in the role is Christopher Enston who took over from his mother, the late Alwen Enston, who had occupied it for 11 years.

Deputy conductors and accompanists are Owen Roberts and Ken Grain. 

Over the years the choir has travelled both in the UK, and also to Canada, France, Germany, Malta and especially to Holland, where they have exchanged several visits with their Dutch friends in Deventer and Friesland.

The choir enjoys taking part in joint concerts, and have been several times to the Royal Albert Hall in London with the massed Welsh choirs, and to the MEN Arena in Manchester three years ago.

They have also taken part in the TV programme Dechrae Canu, Dechrae Canmol at the Marble Church at Bodelwyydan , and have appeared on Songs of Praise.

The choir takes seriously its charity role, with the ladies raising money with raffles, CDs and stalls.

As well as appearing in various local venues to sing, the choir performs in churches and chapels, at weddings and birthdays, to raise money for their funds.

As the choir grew, it moved to The Hand Hotel, Llangollen.

Its secretary Lesley Willis said: “Over the years we have lost many members and it is difficult to replace them. But we have some very loyal members who travel long distances to be with the choir from places such as Formby, Tarporley, Congleton and a wide radius of Llangollen.

“In the early days practices were twice a week, but sadly, as numbers decreased, we have just one practice a week on a Friday evening, followed by a sing song in the bar afterwards - thus entertaining many visitors from far and wide who come to this busy little tourist town in the beautiful Vale of Llangollen, the home of The International Eisteddfod, held annually in July.”

Lesley added: “Our repertoire includes not only a wide variety of Welsh and English music, but other languages too.

“Our motto is Cyfeillgarwch drwy Gan - Friendship through Song - which is very apt because we have made friends throughout the world, some returning from afar to hear us, showing music has no barriers.

“We are always looking for new members, especially tenors at the moment, and anyone wishing to join us can come along The Hand Hotel on Fridays at 7.30pm.”