Pendyrus Male Choir are now delighted to announce they have secured the services of Ieuan Jones as their New Musical Director, only their 6th such appointment in 96 years.

Ieuan will take up his appointment with Pendyrus in January 2020 and all 90+ members eagerly await a new and exciting era of music that he brings.

Ieuan Jones BMus (Hons) Batchelor of Music, Cardiff University.

Originally from Anglesey, Ieuan moved to Cardiff to study music at the University of Cardiff, where he received an Honours Degree. During his studies, he became an organ scholar at Dewi Sant church and is now Musical Director and choirmaster there. He is also the Musical Director of the Cardiff Arms Park Male Choir (Côr Meibion Parc yr Arfau Caerdyd). Ieuan is also a busy accompanist for many soloist and choirs, including Côr Heol-y- March, and the Morriston Orpheus Choir. He has enjoyed considerable success at numerous choir competitions, including Children’s Choir of the World at Llangollen, and Choir of Wales on S4C’s Côr Cymru. As an accompanist Ieuan has travelled Great Britain extensively, and played in many prestigious venues, including the Royal Albert Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall and 10 Downing Street. He has also toured Ireland, France, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Spain, Italy, Poland, Austria, Canada and New York where he performed at Carnegie Hall. He is also the Musical Director of the British and Irish Lions Male Voice Choir, he toured New Zealand with them in 2017 and is looking forward to conduct them again in South Africa, 2021. His other musical interests include playing the ukulele, and entertaining audiences with his talent as a yodeller.

One of Wales’ premiere male voice choirs has claimed the first prize at the Cardigan Semi-National Eisteddfod for the fifth time!

Rhondda-based Pendyrus Male Choir – which was founded way back in 1924 – swept the boards in the heated competition held at Theatr Mwldan.

Pendyrus performed under the baton of Musical Director Stewart Roberts to fight off the opposition from four other award-winning choirs.

“We had significant opposition in the form of four talented choirs who have won at the National Eisteddfod and competitions such as ‘Côr Cymru’,” he explained.

“I’m glad to say that after months of tireless training and with total dedication and commitment, Pendyrus was named the victorious choir for a staggering fifth time!”

Pendyrus Male Choir beat Côr Ar Ôl Tri, Côr Meibion Tâf, Bechgyn Bro Tâf and Dunvant Male Choir to win the prize.

Pendyrus gave a performance of Bardos’ energetic ‘Dana Dana’ and a first public performance of a newly-commissioned piece for the choir by Gareth Glyn entitled ‘Ffynhonnau’, Streams.

Pendyrus Male Choir won the competition in 1958, 2010,2012 and 2017.

The choir now travel to Llanrwst in August for the National Eisteddfod when 15 choirs from all over Wales will compete for the Welsh Fusilier’s Cup.

DEAN POWELL
PR Consultant

http://www.deanpowellpr.com/index.php/newsroom/99-pendyrus-claim-champion-win

From the Archives,
It is ironic that Pendyrus have been commissioned to perform a new work by Gareth Glyn, written and composed by one of Wales leading present day composers. Gareth has dedicated it to Pendyrus and indeed to the history of Rhondda.

This is not the first occasion that Pendyrus have been involved with the story of Y Ffynhonnau, The photograph Below from 2003 was taken on Penrhys mountain in May of that year when Pendyrus provided the music for the film of the same name.

Y Ffynhonnau
This was a film shot entirely in the Rhondda, and particularly around the village of Penrhys. It was the story of Rhydwen Williams, author and poet, and indeed his poem Y Ffynhonnau (The Fountains). He was born in Pentre and educated at Pentre Grammar School before moving on to Swansea and Bangor University. Rhydwen won the crown at the National
Eistedddfods in Mountain Ash 1946 and Swansea in 1964. He wrote many novels including one on the Merthyr Riots of 1831, which was dramatised by the BBC, a new novel on the Senghenydd mining disaster and Mabon’s Day., Mabon is the bardic name of William
Abraham, the first ever Member of Parliament for Rhondda elected in 1885. He was awarded an honorary MA for his contribution to literature. Pendyrus played a significant part in this film, not only background music but also on vision. The film was made by Green Bay Media, and had its premiere at the Parc & Dare Theatre, Treorchy, in May 2003.

Pendyrus awards local man with Honorary Membership after decades of support.

Maerdy Community Concert – 13 July 2018

Pendyrus Choir awarded Cyril Jones Honorary Membership of the Choir at a recent concert in Maerdy Community School.
This award is in recognition of decades of support for the choir.
Once a member of the choir in the late ‘50’s and 60’s, Cyril remembers winning the Cardigan Semi-National Eisteddfod in 1959.
Due to work and health reasons, unfortunately Cyril had to give up singing with the choir but his support has never wavered. He has been the driving force behind the Annual Gala Concerts in Tylorstown, the biggest cultural event to be held annually in the Rhondda Valley. He has managed to bring world-renowned soloists like Lesley Garrett, Katherine Jenkins, Gwawr Edwards, Jon Owen Jones, Paul Potts, Rebecca Evans, Shân Cothi and Rhys Meirion to perform at this event. In addition to this, he and his team have acquired sponsorship and donations amounting to £1000’s for lighting , sound equipment and staging. This has come from generous grants and sponsorship from companies like Costain, Vattenfall, RCT Homes and the National Lottery.
Cyril has great communication and interpersonal skills and has used these to ensure that the future of the Gala Concert is here for many years to come. The choir is very grateful to Cyril for his efforts and there is undoubtedly no one more worthy of this award of Honorary Membership.
Congratulations Cyril and diolch yn fawr.
Pendyrus Male Choir

 

To view, download full report including photographs, please click on link below:-

Cyril Jones Report 2018