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Powys County Times
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Welshpool hosts Montgomeryshire County Music Festival
For the first time in more than 100 years, the Montgomeryshire County Music Festival (MCMF) choir staged its 2025 annual concert in Welshpool. Over the past decades, the Montgomeryshire County Music Festival concerts have been held in Newtown, with the venue being just infrequently located in Llanidloes. But this year it was Welshpool's Methodist Chapel that hosted the annual event on Saturday, May 10. Under the baton of resident musical director Patrick Larley, who was conducting the choir for the 15th year in succession, the 56 Montgomeryshire-based choristers were joined by mezzo soprano Samantha Lewis, soprano Sarah-Ann Cromwell, tenor William Smith and baritone Ben Watkins. The original 1921 MCMF choral society included more than 1,000 voices from 19 north Powys communities, but today it has whittled itself down to two separate area branches: Welshpool and Llanidloes. True to its century-long reputation of staging quality performances of world-renowned choral masterpieces, two major works - Antonín Dvořák's celebrated Romantic period Mass in D Major (Op.86) and Karl Jenkins ' Sacred Songs collection - were this year performed in front of packed-out audiences. The evening's musical accompaniment was provided by the highly acclaimed local freelance accompanist and repetiteur Aeron Preston; who masterfully supplied the organ accompaniment for the Dvořák's Mass in the first part, and the equally atmospheric and adept accompaniment on the grand piano, for Jenkins' Sacred Songs in the second part, of the concert. A spokesperson for MCMF said: 'The appreciative final applause confirmed that an exceptionally splendid musical evening had been experienced by everyone present.
Powys County Times
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Welshpool: Guilsfield Singers perform at Methodist Church
Guilsfield Singers celebrated Welsh music in a concert at Welshpool Methodist Church. The performance marked the culmination of a successful period under the leadership of musical director Paul Wardell. The church was packed with an audience for the concert, titled The Gentle Earth of Wales. The first half of the programme included Robat Arwyn's Benedictus and Bugeilio'r Gwenith Gwyn, alongside two pieces written for the choir: Ar lan y Mor and Si Hei Lwli Mabi. Choir member David Thomas read three poems by R.S. Thomas, capturing the essence of farming life and the Welsh countryside. The first half concluded with the rousing Pantyfedwen. Mezzo-soprano Samantha Lewis performed The Water Mill and The Last Rose of Summer. Her expressive use of British Sign Language while singing added to her performance. Baritone Patrick Larley offered a masterful rendition of Handel's Ombra Mai Fu and Where'er You Walk. Guest accompanist Heather Howells accompanied the pieces. The second half began with a performance of Calon Lan by the entire audience. This was followed by Patrick Larley's Gentle Earth of Wales, a bilingual suite featuring folk songs and Welsh poetry. Ms Lewis and Mr Larley continued to captivate the audience with their solo performances, interwoven with the choir's versatile contributions and Nicky Dixon's piano accompaniment. The evening was dedicated to former choir member Jill Turner.
Powys County Times
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Welshpool to host Montgomeryshire County Music Festival
A music festival that's been running for more than a century will be held in Welshpool for the first time. The Montgomeryshire County Music Festival was established in 1921 and continues the tradition of performing larger choral works sung by amalgamating choirs from across north Powys. However, due to spiralling costs and reduced funding, the festival needed to find a smaller venue for this year's performances. Organisers said the Methodist Church in Welshpool proved to be an 'excellent' musical venue being the home of the town's Music Club. For the event held on Saturday, May 10, the two affiliated choirs, Welshpool and Llanidloes Choral Societies, are augmented by individual singers from the county and the borders. Patrick Larley, a freelance composer, conductor, tenor and keyboard player, returns to conduct the festival choir with a performance of Dvorak's Mass in D major and the ever-popular Sacred Songs by Welsh composer Sir Karl Jenkins. The choir will be joined on the night by soloists Sarah Anne Cromwell (soprano), Samantha Lewis (contralto), Wiliam Smith (tenor) and Ben Watkins (bass). Aeron Preston will accompany on the organ joined by his sister, Lowri Preston, on the cello.
