Brel Theatre, 19 Leuvensesteenweg, 3080 Tervuren
Tickets: 02/766.04.30. €10 adults, €5 students/seniors.
The City of Bangor Male Voice Choir was founded in January 1988 by James Griffiths (then Assistant Organist of Bangor Cathedral), who has conducted it ever since. This year the Choir celebrates its twentieth anniversary, hence this visit to Belgium as part of the celebrations. Apart from singing in churches and chapels in North Wales, the Choir have travelled abroad a number of times. They have visited the United States, Canada, Austria, Germany, Malta and Cyprus, and have represented Wales at the annual Celtic Festival in Lorient, Brittany. They have taken part in the “thousand voices” concerts held at London’s Royal Albert Hall, and intend to take part in the next concert there in April 2009. Their successful CD has recently been reissued and met with further acclaim.
James Griffiths was Assistant Organist of Bangor Cathedral for 43 years (1964-2007). As a music examiner for Trinity Guildhall, London, he has travelled all over the world, especially in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Last year, for example, he was examining for six weeks in Malaysia and several weeks in Singapore. He is an Honorary Member of Trinity College of Music, London, and holds Fellowship and Licentiateship Diplomas of the London College of Music as an organ and piano performer.The accompanist on this occasion is Gwilym Lewis, the deputy conductor, who comes from Holyhead. He holds B.Mus and M.Mus degrees from Cardiff University and diplomas from the Royal Academy and the Royal College of Music. His versatile musical career has included work as teacher, pianist, conductor, accompanist and arranger. He has published many arrangements for male voice choirs, some especially for the Bangor Choir and for the Holyhead Male Voice Choir which he also conducts.
The mezzosoprano soloist, Eleri Owen, has won competitions at the National Eisteddfod on seven occasions. The National Eisteddfod is an annual event at which the best talents in Welsh music and Welsh literature come to the fore in a week of competitions. Eleri comes from the village of Llangernyw in Gwynedd. She performs regularly throughout Wales and has recently released her first CD.
